Suicide mortality rate, male (per 100,000 male population) in South Africa
South Africa: Suicide mortality rate, male (per 100,000 male population) was 35.4 per 100,000 male population in 2021. ▲ Rising
Suicide mortality rate, male in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/)., World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in per 100,000 male population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide mortality rate, male in South Africa is 35.4 per 100,000 male population, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide mortality rate, male in South Africa peaked at 35.4 per 100,000 male population in 2021 and was at its lowest, 21.33 per 100,000 male population, in 2000.
That places South Africa 9th out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide mortality rate, male (per 100,000 male population) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | per 100,000 male population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.33 per 100,000 male population | — |
| 2001 | 21.64 per 100,000 male population | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 23.4 per 100,000 male population | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 24.37 per 100,000 male population | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 25.25 per 100,000 male population | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 25.04 per 100,000 male population | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 25.65 per 100,000 male population | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 24.63 per 100,000 male population | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 24.17 per 100,000 male population | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 23.18 per 100,000 male population | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 25.69 per 100,000 male population | +10.8% |
| 2011 | 23.91 per 100,000 male population | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 26.99 per 100,000 male population | +12.9% |
| 2013 | 28.61 per 100,000 male population | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 31.43 per 100,000 male population | +9.9% |
| 2015 | 33.08 per 100,000 male population | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 31.36 per 100,000 male population | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 29.11 per 100,000 male population | -7.2% |
| 2018 | 30.94 per 100,000 male population | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 32.65 per 100,000 male population | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 34.03 per 100,000 male population | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 35.4 per 100,000 male population | +4.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 35.4 per 100,000 male population is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.32 per 100,000 male population, 3.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 35.4 per 100,000 male population is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.16 per 100,000 male population, 3.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.87 per 100,000 male population | 21.33 per 100,000 male population | 25.65 per 100,000 male population | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.38 per 100,000 male population | 23.91 per 100,000 male population | 33.08 per 100,000 male population | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.72 per 100,000 male population | 34.03 per 100,000 male population | 35.4 per 100,000 male population | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 6 Ukraine 37.65 per 100,000 male population compare
- 7 Lithuania 36.73 per 100,000 male population compare
- 8 Russia 36.68 per 100,000 male population compare
- 10 Mongolia 32.16 per 100,000 male population compare
- 11 Micronesia (country) 31.06 per 100,000 male population compare
- 12 Kiribati 31 per 100,000 male population 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)
- 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 suicide mortality rate, male in South Africa?
- Suicide mortality rate, male in South Africa was 35.4 per 100,000 male population in 2021, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/)., World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest suicide mortality rate, male recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 35.4 per 100,000 male population in 2021.
- What is the lowest suicide mortality rate, male recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.33 per 100,000 male population in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for suicide mortality rate, male?
- South Africa ranks 9th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide mortality rate, male rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/)., World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Suicide mortality rate, male (per 100,000 male population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).