Reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Reported cases of measles, gaps filled was 931 Cases in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa, 1979–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in Cases.
Analysis
In 2024, reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa stood at 931 Cases.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.9% on the previous year and up 1,310.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 22,745 Cases in 1992 and was at its lowest, 17 Cases, in 2015.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 210 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Cases | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 4,115 Cases | — |
| 1980 | 19,193 Cases | +366.4% |
| 1981 | 15,809 Cases | -17.6% |
| 1982 | 12,906 Cases | -18.4% |
| 1983 | 16,735 Cases | +29.7% |
| 1984 | 16,160 Cases | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 17,884 Cases | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 13,459 Cases | -24.7% |
| 1987 | 22,559 Cases | +67.6% |
| 1988 | 15,258 Cases | -32.4% |
| 1989 | 18,268 Cases | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 10,624 Cases | -41.8% |
| 1991 | 4,777 Cases | -55.0% |
| 1992 | 22,745 Cases | +376.1% |
| 1993 | 12,870 Cases | -43.4% |
| 1994 | 6,845 Cases | -46.8% |
| 1995 | 8,845 Cases | +29.2% |
| 1996 | 6,501 Cases | -26.5% |
| 1997 | 1,337 Cases | -79.4% |
| 1998 | 977 Cases | -26.9% |
| 1999 | 385 Cases | -60.6% |
| 2000 | 1,459 Cases | +279.0% |
| 2001 | 1,166 Cases | -20.1% |
| 2002 | 1,043 Cases | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 244 Cases | -76.6% |
| 2004 | 830 Cases | +240.2% |
| 2005 | 615 Cases | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 81 Cases | -86.8% |
| 2007 | 31 Cases | -61.7% |
| 2008 | 39 Cases | +25.8% |
| 2009 | 5,857 Cases | +14917.9% |
| 2010 | 12,499 Cases | +113.4% |
| 2011 | 92 Cases | -99.3% |
| 2012 | 32 Cases | -65.2% |
| 2013 | 25 Cases | -21.9% |
| 2014 | 66 Cases | +164.0% |
| 2015 | 17 Cases | -74.2% |
| 2016 | 18 Cases | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 210 Cases | +1066.7% |
| 2018 | 71 Cases | -66.2% |
| 2019 | 59 Cases | -16.9% |
| 2020 | 40 Cases | -32.2% |
| 2021 | 21 Cases | -47.5% |
| 2022 | 400 Cases | +1804.8% |
| 2023 | 1,033 Cases | +158.2% |
| 2024 | 931 Cases | -9.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 931 Cases is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.5 Cases, 98.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 931 Cases is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 551 Cases, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +14917.9% | 39 Cases | 5,857 Cases |
| 2022 | +1804.8% | 21 Cases | 400 Cases |
| 2017 | +1066.7% | 18 Cases | 210 Cases |
| 1992 | +376.1% | 4,777 Cases | 22,745 Cases |
| 1980 | +366.4% | 4,115 Cases | 19,193 Cases |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,115 Cases | 4,115 Cases | 4,115 Cases | 1 |
| 1980s | 16,823 Cases | 12,906 Cases | 22,559 Cases | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,591 Cases | 385 Cases | 22,745 Cases | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,136 Cases | 31 Cases | 5,857 Cases | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,309 Cases | 17 Cases | 12,499 Cases | 10 |
| 2020s | 485 Cases | 21 Cases | 1,033 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)
- 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 reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa?
- Reported cases of measles, gaps filled in South Africa was 931 Cases in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest reported cases of measles, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22,745 Cases in 1992.
- What is the lowest reported cases of measles, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17 Cases in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for reported cases of measles, gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is reported cases of measles, gaps filled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,310.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Reported cases of measles, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Reported cases of measles with 433 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Reported cases of measles World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Reported cases of measles with 433 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.