Share of deaths from major causes in South Africa
South Africa: Share of deaths from major causes was 2.07 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of deaths from major causes in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of deaths from major causes in South Africa is 2.07, 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 major causes in South Africa peaked at 2.92 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 2.07, 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 major causes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2.82 | — |
| 1997 | 2.83 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 2.69 | -5.2% |
| 1999 | 2.75 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.77 | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 2.92 | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 2.74 | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 2.69 | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.86 | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 2.72 | -5.1% |
| 2006 | 2.73 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 2.64 | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.58 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 2.53 | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 2.52 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 2.58 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 2.58 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 2.58 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.62 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 2.62 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 2.55 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.57 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 2.55 | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 2.46 | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 2.07 | -15.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.07 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.48, 60% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.77 | 2.69 | 2.83 | 4 |
| 2000s | 2.72 | 2.53 | 2.92 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.56 | 2.46 | 2.62 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.07 | 2.07 | 2.07 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from major causes in South Africa?
- Share of deaths from major causes in South Africa was 2.07 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from major causes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.92 in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from major causes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.07 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for share of deaths from major causes?
- South Africa ranks 107th out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of deaths from major causes 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Share of deaths from major causes. 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).