Respiratory infection death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Respiratory infection death rate was 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
138.46 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 165.3%
World rank
6th
of 109 countries
All-time high
155.32 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2005
All-time low
51.84 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2018
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Respiratory infection death rate in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2020, respiratory infection death rate in South Africa stood at 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people.
That represents a change of up 165.3% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, respiratory infection death rate in South Africa peaked at 155.32 deaths per 100,000 people in 2005 and was at its lowest, 51.84 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 6th of 109 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Respiratory infection death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 54.02 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 54.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 75.82 deaths per 100,000 people | +39.8% |
| 1999 | 79.48 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 96.54 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.5% |
| 2001 | 116.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +20.7% |
| 2002 | 131.18 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.6% |
| 2003 | 153.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +17.2% |
| 2004 | 150.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 155.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 155.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 147.23 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 136.6 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 132 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 119.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 105.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.6% |
| 2012 | 85.94 deaths per 100,000 people | -18.7% |
| 2013 | 74.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.4% |
| 2014 | 68.5 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 65.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 62.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 58.06 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 51.84 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 52.19 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people | +165.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.89 deaths per 100,000 people | 54.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 79.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 137.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 96.54 deaths per 100,000 people | 155.32 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 51.84 deaths per 100,000 people | 119.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people | 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people | 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 3 Colombia 175.9 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 4 Cuba 151.27 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 5 Oman 145.7 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Antigua and Barbuda 103.14 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 8 Argentina 92.29 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 9 Croatia 91.34 deaths per 100,000 people 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)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is respiratory infection death rate in South Africa?
- Respiratory infection death rate in South Africa was 138.46 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest respiratory infection death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 155.32 deaths per 100,000 people in 2005.
- What is the lowest respiratory infection death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.84 deaths per 100,000 people in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for respiratory infection death rate?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 109 countries with data for 2020.
- Is respiratory infection death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Respiratory infection death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported deaths from respiratory infections in both sexes in those aged all ages per 100,000 people.