Reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa
South Africa: Reported cases of measles, per square kilometre was 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa, 1979–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in Cases per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa stood at 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre.
That represents a change of up 158.2% on the previous year and up 4,032.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa peaked at 0.0187 Cases per square kilometre in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0 Cases per square kilometre, in 2015.
That places South Africa 72nd out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Cases per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0.0034 Cases per square kilometre | — |
| 1980 | 0.0158 Cases per square kilometre | +366.4% |
| 1981 | 0.013 Cases per square kilometre | -17.6% |
| 1982 | 0.0106 Cases per square kilometre | -18.4% |
| 1983 | 0.0138 Cases per square kilometre | +29.7% |
| 1984 | 0.0133 Cases per square kilometre | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 0.0147 Cases per square kilometre | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 0.0111 Cases per square kilometre | -24.7% |
| 1987 | 0.0186 Cases per square kilometre | +67.6% |
| 1988 | 0.0126 Cases per square kilometre | -32.4% |
| 1989 | 0.0151 Cases per square kilometre | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 0.0088 Cases per square kilometre | -41.8% |
| 1991 | 0.0039 Cases per square kilometre | -55.0% |
| 1992 | 0.0187 Cases per square kilometre | +376.1% |
| 1993 | 0.0106 Cases per square kilometre | -43.4% |
| 1994 | 0.0056 Cases per square kilometre | -46.8% |
| 1995 | 0.0073 Cases per square kilometre | +29.2% |
| 1996 | 0.0054 Cases per square kilometre | -26.5% |
| 1997 | 0.0011 Cases per square kilometre | -79.4% |
| 1998 | 0.0008 Cases per square kilometre | -26.9% |
| 1999 | 0.0003 Cases per square kilometre | -60.6% |
| 2000 | 0.0012 Cases per square kilometre | +279.0% |
| 2001 | 0.001 Cases per square kilometre | -20.1% |
| 2002 | 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre | -10.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0002 Cases per square kilometre | -76.6% |
| 2004 | 0.0007 Cases per square kilometre | +240.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0005 Cases per square kilometre | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 0.0001 Cases per square kilometre | -86.8% |
| 2007 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -61.7% |
| 2008 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | +25.8% |
| 2009 | 0.0048 Cases per square kilometre | +14918.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0103 Cases per square kilometre | +113.4% |
| 2011 | 0.0001 Cases per square kilometre | -99.3% |
| 2012 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -65.2% |
| 2013 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -21.9% |
| 2014 | 0.0001 Cases per square kilometre | +164.0% |
| 2015 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -74.2% |
| 2016 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 2017 | 0.0002 Cases per square kilometre | +1066.7% |
| 2018 | 0.0001 Cases per square kilometre | -66.2% |
| 2019 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -16.9% |
| 2020 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -32.2% |
| 2021 | 0 Cases per square kilometre | -47.5% |
| 2022 | 0.0003 Cases per square kilometre | +1804.8% |
| 2023 | 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre | +158.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0001 Cases per square kilometre, 9.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0029 Cases per square kilometre, 30% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Reported cases of measles, per square kilometre 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 | +14918.0% | 0 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0048 Cases per square kilometre |
| 2022 | +1804.8% | 0 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0003 Cases per square kilometre |
| 2017 | +1066.7% | 0 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0002 Cases per square kilometre |
| 1992 | +376.1% | 0.0039 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0187 Cases per square kilometre |
| 1980 | +366.4% | 0.0034 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0158 Cases per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.0034 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0034 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0034 Cases per square kilometre | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.0139 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0106 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0186 Cases per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0063 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0003 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0187 Cases per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre | 0 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0048 Cases per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0011 Cases per square kilometre | 0 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0103 Cases per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0003 Cases per square kilometre | 0 Cases per square kilometre | 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 69 Morocco 0.0011 Cases per square kilometre compare
- 70 Saudi Arabia 0.001 Cases per square kilometre compare
- 71 Belarus 0.001 Cases per square kilometre compare
- 73 Mozambique 0.0008 Cases per square kilometre compare
- 74 Russia 0.0008 Cases per square kilometre compare
- 75 Sudan 0.0007 Cases per square kilometre 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 reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa?
- Reported cases of measles, per square kilometre in South Africa was 0.0009 Cases per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest reported cases of measles, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0187 Cases per square kilometre in 1992.
- What is the lowest reported cases of measles, per square kilometre recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 Cases per square kilometre in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for reported cases of measles, per square kilometre?
- South Africa ranks 72nd out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is reported cases of measles, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4,032.0%. 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, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Reported cases of measles divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Reported cases of measles ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Reported cases of measles World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.