Suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa

South Africa: Suicide rate 2000 2019 who was 20.34 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
20.34
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
12th
of 194 countries
All-time high
20.62
in 2015
All-time low
15.51
in 2001
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa, 2000–2021

051015202000201020212000: 15.62001: 15.52002: 16.92003: 17.82004: 17.82005: 17.32006: 17.62007: 17.42008: 18.12009: 17.42010: 20.52011: 18.72012: 19.42013: 19.32014: 20.32015: 20.62016: 19.42017: 17.92018: 18.42019: 18.82020: 19.72021: 20.3

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa is 20.34, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa peaked at 20.62 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 15.51, in 2001.

South Africa ranks 12th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 15.56 —
2001 15.51 -0.3%
2002 16.9 +8.9%
2003 17.81 +5.4%
2004 17.84 +0.2%
2005 17.27 -3.2%
2006 17.61 +2.0%
2007 17.42 -1.1%
2008 18.07 +3.7%
2009 17.38 -3.8%
2010 20.55 +18.2%
2011 18.7 -9.0%
2012 19.37 +3.6%
2013 19.34 -0.1%
2014 20.27 +4.8%
2015 20.62 +1.7%
2016 19.4 -5.9%
2017 17.87 -7.9%
2018 18.37 +2.8%
2019 18.84 +2.6%
2020 19.73 +4.8%
2021 20.34 +3.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 20.34 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.85, 3.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 20.34 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.73, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17.14 15.51 18.07 10
2010s 19.33 17.87 20.62 10
2020s 20.04 19.73 20.34 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 9 Micronesia (country) 21.93 compare
  2. 10 Eritrea 21.6 compare
  3. 11 South Korea 20.55 compare
  4. 13 Solomon Islands 20.3 compare
  5. 14 Mozambique 20.15 compare
  6. 15 Mongolia 19.86 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa?
Suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa was 20.34 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest suicide rate 2000 2019 who recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 20.62 in 2015.
What is the lowest suicide rate 2000 2019 who recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 15.51 in 2001.
How does South Africa rank for suicide rate 2000 2019 who?
South Africa ranks 12th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is suicide rate 2000 2019 who rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate 2000 2019 who. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Suicide rate 2000 2019 who in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/suicide-rate-2000-2019-who/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Suicide rate 2000 2019 who
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,268 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed