Prevalence of hypertension in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of hypertension was 44.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Prevalence of hypertension in South Africa, 1990–2019
Source: World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of adults ages 30-79.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 44.1% for prevalence of hypertension in 2019.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of hypertension in South Africa peaked at 45.5% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 34.8%, in 1990.
That places South Africa 35th out of 192 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Prevalence of hypertension in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of adults ages 30-79 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34.8% | — |
| 1991 | 35.1% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 35.5% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 35.8% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 36.2% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 36.6% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 37.0% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 37.5% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 38.0% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 38.6% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 39.2% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 39.9% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 40.7% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 41.5% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 42.3% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 43.0% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 43.8% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 44.4% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 44.9% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 45.2% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 45.4% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 45.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 45.3% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 45.2% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 45.0% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 44.8% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 44.6% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 44.4% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 44.1% | -0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 44.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40.5%, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 44.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 37.5%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.5% | 34.8% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.5% | 39.2% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.0% | 44.1% | 45.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 33 Bosnia and Herzegovina 44.2% compare
- 33 Palau 44.2% compare
- 35 Botswana 44.1% compare
- 35 Cape Verde 44.1% compare
- 38 Latvia 43.9% compare
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of hypertension in South Africa?
- Prevalence of hypertension in South Africa was 44.1% in 2019, according to World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
- What is the highest prevalence of hypertension recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.5% in 2011.
- What is the lowest prevalence of hypertension recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.8% in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of hypertension?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
- Is prevalence of hypertension rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository, published as part of Prevalence of hypertension (% of adults ages 30-79). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Prevalence of hypertension is the percentage of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension (defined as having systolic blood pressure =140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure =90 mmHg, or taking medication for hypertension). The data is age-standardized.