Share of deaths from underlying causes in South Africa
South Africa: Share of deaths from underlying causes was 8.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of deaths from underlying causes in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 8.2% for share of deaths from underlying causes in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.3% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from underlying causes in South Africa peaked at 9.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5.6%, in 2006.
South Africa ranks 109th of 113 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of deaths from underlying causes in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 9.2% | — |
| 1997 | 8.8% | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 8.1% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 8.0% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | -7.6% |
| 2001 | 6.9% | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 6.5% | -6.4% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | -7.0% |
| 2004 | 6.0% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 5.8% | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 5.8% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 7.3% | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 8.3% | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 8.6% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 9.3% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 9.6% | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 9.9% | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 9.9% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | -16.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.5% | 8.0% | 9.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 6.2% | 5.6% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 6.7% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 106 Tajikistan 8.8% compare
- 107 Turkmenistan 8.3% compare
- 108 Uzbekistan 8.3% compare
- 110 Maldives 6.5% compare
- 111 Syria 6.2% compare
- 112 Egypt 5.8% 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 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from underlying causes in South Africa?
- Share of deaths from underlying causes in South Africa was 8.2% in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from underlying causes recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from underlying causes recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.6% in 2006.
- How does South Africa rank for share of deaths from underlying causes?
- South Africa ranks 109th out of 113 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of deaths from underlying causes rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. 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 underlying causes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates.