Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa

South Africa: Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases was 590 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
590
Change on year
down 88.8%
World rank
60th
of 100 countries
All-time high
23,381
in 2017
All-time low
590
in 2024
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa, 2015–2024

05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k2015201920242015: 4.9k2016: 4.3k2017: 23.4k2018: 9.6k2019: 4.8k2020: 4.5k2021: 1.6k2022: 2.0k2023: 5.3k2024: 590

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa is 590, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of down 88.8% on the previous year and down 88.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa peaked at 23,381 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 590, in 2024.

South Africa ranks 60th of 100 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa, 2015 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2015 4,946
2016 4,323 -12.6%
2017 23,381 +440.9%
2018 9,562 -59.1%
2019 4,821 -49.6%
2020 4,463 -7.4%
2021 1,598 -64.2%
2022 2,043 +27.8%
2023 5,291 +159.0%
2024 590 -88.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 590 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.5, 62.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 590 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.22 million, 0% of the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 9,407 4,323 23,381 5
2020s 2,797 590 5,291 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 57 Namibia 3,134 compare
  2. 58 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 1,447 compare
  3. 59 Dominican Republic 1,203 compare
  4. 61 Nicaragua 566 compare
  5. 62 Iran, Islamic Republic of 537 compare
  6. 63 Costa Rica 232 compare

See the full ranking of 108 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa?
Number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa was 590 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 23,381 in 2017.
What is the lowest number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 590 in 2024.
How does South Africa rank for number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases?
South Africa ranks 60th out of 100 countries with data for 2024.
Is number of indigenous p. falciparum malaria cases rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 88.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-indigenous-p-falciparum-malaria-cases/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of indigenous P. falciparum malaria cases
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
108 places, 1,005 data points, 2015–2024
Last refreshed