Respiratory infections death rate by age group in South Africa
South Africa: Respiratory infections death rate by age group was 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
147.05 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 24.9%
World rank
11th
of 109 countries
All-time high
894.29 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2006
All-time low
147.05 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Respiratory infections death rate by age group 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 infections death rate by age group in South Africa stood at 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 24.9% on the previous year and down 69.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, respiratory infections death rate by age group in South Africa peaked at 894.29 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006 and was at its lowest, 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 11th of 109 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Respiratory infections death rate by age group in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 295.15 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 1997 | 310.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 389.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +25.6% |
| 1999 | 444 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 517.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +16.6% |
| 2001 | 600.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.9% |
| 2002 | 689.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +14.8% |
| 2003 | 780.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2004 | 797.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 842.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 894.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 806.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.8% |
| 2008 | 798.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 513.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -35.7% |
| 2010 | 473.68 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 361.43 deaths per 100,000 people | -23.7% |
| 2012 | 302.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -16.3% |
| 2013 | 290.84 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 286.03 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 261.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 221.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -15.5% |
| 2017 | 193.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -12.7% |
| 2018 | 195.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 195.7 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -24.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 359.79 deaths per 100,000 people | 295.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 444 deaths per 100,000 people | 4 |
| 2000s | 724.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 513.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 894.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 278.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 193.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 473.68 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 8 Moldova 181.12 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 9 Philippines 168.72 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 10 Belize 149.76 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 12 Mauritius 145.7 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 13 Antigua and Barbuda 140.84 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 14 Mongolia 140.63 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 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is respiratory infections death rate by age group in South Africa?
- Respiratory infections death rate by age group in South Africa was 147.05 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 infections death rate by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 894.29 deaths per 100,000 people in 2006.
- What is the lowest respiratory infections death rate by age group recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 147.05 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for respiratory infections death rate by age group?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 109 countries with data for 2020.
- Is respiratory infections death rate by age group rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 infections death rate by age group. 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
Reported deaths from respiratory infections per 100,000 people in both sexes aged less than 1 year.