Tuberculosis cases in South Africa
South Africa: Tuberculosis cases was 249,000 cases in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tuberculosis cases in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: WHO (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cases.
Analysis
In 2024, tuberculosis cases in South Africa stood at 249,000 cases. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 7.8% on the previous year and down 58.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tuberculosis cases in South Africa peaked at 651,000 cases in 2008 and was at its lowest, 249,000 cases, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 10th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Tuberculosis cases in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cases | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 360,000 cases | — |
| 2001 | 413,000 cases | +14.7% |
| 2002 | 466,000 cases | +12.8% |
| 2003 | 518,000 cases | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 564,000 cases | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 601,000 cases | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 627,000 cases | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 643,000 cases | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 651,000 cases | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 651,000 cases | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 646,000 cases | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 636,000 cases | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 625,000 cases | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 604,000 cases | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 594,000 cases | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 561,000 cases | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 461,000 cases | -17.8% |
| 2017 | 426,000 cases | -7.6% |
| 2018 | 397,000 cases | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 366,000 cases | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 340,000 cases | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 315,000 cases | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 292,000 cases | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 270,000 cases | -7.5% |
| 2024 | 249,000 cases | -7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 549,400 cases | 360,000 cases | 651,000 cases | 10 |
| 2010s | 531,600 cases | 366,000 cases | 646,000 cases | 10 |
| 2020s | 293,200 cases | 249,000 cases | 340,000 cases | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tuberculosis cases in South Africa?
- Tuberculosis cases in South Africa was 249,000 cases in 2024, according to WHO (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tuberculosis cases recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 651,000 cases in 2008.
- What is the lowest tuberculosis cases recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 249,000 cases in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for tuberculosis cases?
- South Africa ranks 10th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tuberculosis cases rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tuberculosis cases. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated number of new and relapse tuberculosis cases arising in a given year. All forms of the disease are included, including cases in people living with HIV.