Share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa
South Africa: Share of deaths from each major cause was 2.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa is 2.1%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 15.5% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa peaked at 2.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 107th out of 113 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.8% | — |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 2.7% | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 2.7% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 2.9% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.9% | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 2.7% | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 2.7% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 2.5% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.6% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -15.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.8% | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
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)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,666 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa?
- Share of deaths from each major cause in South Africa was 2.1% in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from each major cause recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from each major cause recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of deaths from each major cause?
- South Africa ranks 107th out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of deaths from each major cause rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. 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 Share of deaths from each major cause. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of total reported deaths in both sexes in those aged all ages that are from digestive diseases.