Reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa
South Africa: Reported suicide rates among young men was 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population
Change on year
down 57.0%
World rank
85th
of 110 countries
All-time high
1.6 deaths per 100,000 population
in 2012
All-time low
0.2601 deaths per 100,000 population
in 1997
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa, 1996–2020
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa is 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 57.0% on the previous year and down 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa peaked at 1.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.2601 deaths per 100,000 population, in 1997.
South Africa ranks 85th of 110 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.3144 deaths per 100,000 population | — |
| 1997 | 0.2601 deaths per 100,000 population | -17.3% |
| 1998 | 0.5448 deaths per 100,000 population | +109.4% |
| 1999 | 1.18 deaths per 100,000 population | +116.5% |
| 2000 | 0.4765 deaths per 100,000 population | -59.6% |
| 2001 | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 population | +152.7% |
| 2002 | 0.9151 deaths per 100,000 population | -24.0% |
| 2003 | 0.7892 deaths per 100,000 population | -13.8% |
| 2004 | 0.9679 deaths per 100,000 population | +22.7% |
| 2005 | 1.19 deaths per 100,000 population | +22.6% |
| 2006 | 1.34 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 1.13 deaths per 100,000 population | -15.9% |
| 2008 | 1.39 deaths per 100,000 population | +23.1% |
| 2009 | 0.8875 deaths per 100,000 population | -35.9% |
| 2010 | 0.5867 deaths per 100,000 population | -33.9% |
| 2011 | 1.07 deaths per 100,000 population | +82.3% |
| 2012 | 1.6 deaths per 100,000 population | +49.6% |
| 2013 | 1.41 deaths per 100,000 population | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 1.46 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 1.06 deaths per 100,000 population | -27.3% |
| 2016 | 1.19 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.9% |
| 2017 | 0.5755 deaths per 100,000 population | -51.6% |
| 2018 | 0.781 deaths per 100,000 population | +35.7% |
| 2019 | 0.9407 deaths per 100,000 population | +20.4% |
| 2020 | 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population | -57.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.5748 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.2601 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.18 deaths per 100,000 population | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.03 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.4765 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.39 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.07 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.5755 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.6 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 82 North Macedonia 1.9 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 83 Albania 1.37 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 84 El Salvador 1.28 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 86 Syrian Arab Republic 0.1762 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 87 Egypt 0.1578 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 88 Malaysia 0.0726 deaths per 100,000 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)
- 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 75-79, female, annual growth rate 7.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 8.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0039 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa?
- Reported suicide rates among young men in South Africa was 0.4045 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported suicide rates among young men recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.6 deaths per 100,000 population in 2012.
- What is the lowest reported suicide rates among young men recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2601 deaths per 100,000 population in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for reported suicide rates among young men?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 110 countries with data for 2020.
- Is reported suicide rates among young men rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.1%. 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 Reported suicide rates among young men. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported annual death rate from self-inflicted injuries per 100,000 people, based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates.