Share of deaths from homicide in South Africa
South Africa: Share of deaths from homicide was 1.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of deaths from homicide in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of deaths from homicide in South Africa stood at 1.2%.
The figure is down 29.8% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from homicide in South Africa peaked at 1.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 113 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of deaths from homicide in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.1% | — |
| 1997 | 0.4% | +446.9% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | -13.0% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | +106.6% |
| 2000 | 0.5% | -33.2% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +62.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -47.8% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +59.9% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +12.5% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 1.6% | +33.5% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 1.7% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -29.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 19 Philippines 1.4% compare
- 20 Antigua and Barbuda 1.3% compare
- 21 French Guiana 1.2% compare
- 23 Mongolia 1.1% compare
- 24 Suriname 1.1% compare
- 25 Uruguay 1.0% 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 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0221 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 0.8639 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0217 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from homicide in South Africa?
- Share of deaths from homicide in South Africa was 1.2% in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from homicide recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from homicide recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for share of deaths from homicide?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of deaths from homicide rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Share of deaths from homicide. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of annual deaths which are homicides.