Suicide rate vs. income inequality in South Africa
South Africa: Suicide rate vs. income inequality was 20.34 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
20.34 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
12th
of 194 countries
All-time high
20.62 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2015
All-time low
15.51 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2001
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate vs. income inequality in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, suicide rate vs. income inequality in South Africa stood at 20.34 deaths per 100,000 people.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate vs. income inequality in South Africa peaked at 20.62 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015 and was at its lowest, 15.51 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2001.
That places South Africa 12th out of 194 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 rate vs. income inequality in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.56 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 15.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 16.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.9% |
| 2003 | 17.81 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 17.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 17.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 17.61 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 17.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 18.07 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 17.38 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 20.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 18.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 19.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 19.34 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 20.27 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 20.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 19.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 17.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 18.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 18.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 19.73 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 20.34 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 15.51 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.07 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 17.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 20.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.04 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 20.34 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 9 Micronesia (country) 21.93 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 10 Eritrea 21.6 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 11 South Korea 20.55 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 13 Solomon Islands 20.3 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 14 Mozambique 20.15 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 15 Mongolia 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people 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 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 suicide rate vs. income inequality in South Africa?
- Suicide rate vs. income inequality in South Africa was 20.34 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate vs. income inequality recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.62 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015.
- What is the lowest suicide rate vs. income inequality recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.51 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for suicide rate vs. income inequality?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate vs. income inequality 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 World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate vs. income inequality. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.