Reported suicide rates among young people in South Africa
South Africa: Reported suicide rates among young people was 0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population
Change on year
down 43.5%
World rank
89th
of 110 countries
All-time high
1.45 deaths per 100,000 population
in 2014
All-time low
0.1963 deaths per 100,000 population
in 1997
Years of data
25
1996–2020
Reported suicide rates among young people 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 people in South Africa is 0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 43.5% on the previous year and down 35.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported suicide rates among young people in South Africa peaked at 1.45 deaths per 100,000 population in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.1963 deaths per 100,000 population, in 1997.
That places South Africa 89th out of 110 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Reported suicide rates among young people in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.3162 deaths per 100,000 population | — |
| 1997 | 0.1963 deaths per 100,000 population | -37.9% |
| 1998 | 0.5272 deaths per 100,000 population | +168.6% |
| 1999 | 0.6756 deaths per 100,000 population | +28.1% |
| 2000 | 0.4396 deaths per 100,000 population | -34.9% |
| 2001 | 0.8604 deaths per 100,000 population | +95.7% |
| 2002 | 0.7105 deaths per 100,000 population | -17.4% |
| 2003 | 0.6437 deaths per 100,000 population | -9.4% |
| 2004 | 0.8631 deaths per 100,000 population | +34.1% |
| 2005 | 0.9727 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.7% |
| 2006 | 0.9 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.5% |
| 2007 | 1.08 deaths per 100,000 population | +19.8% |
| 2008 | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.2% |
| 2009 | 0.8553 deaths per 100,000 population | -28.6% |
| 2010 | 0.6303 deaths per 100,000 population | -26.3% |
| 2011 | 0.9576 deaths per 100,000 population | +51.9% |
| 2012 | 1.39 deaths per 100,000 population | +45.2% |
| 2013 | 1.08 deaths per 100,000 population | -22.5% |
| 2014 | 1.45 deaths per 100,000 population | +34.9% |
| 2015 | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 population | -30.6% |
| 2016 | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 population | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 0.7038 deaths per 100,000 population | -30.5% |
| 2018 | 0.7448 deaths per 100,000 population | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 0.7203 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population | -43.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4288 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.1963 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.6756 deaths per 100,000 population | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.8522 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.4396 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9699 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.6303 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.45 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population | 0.4071 deaths per 100,000 population | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 86 Greece 1.69 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 87 Puerto Rico 1.47 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 88 North Macedonia 0.9777 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 90 Kuwait 0.3942 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 91 Azerbaijan 0.3235 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 92 Egypt 0.1855 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 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported suicide rates among young people in South Africa?
- Reported suicide rates among young people in South Africa was 0.4071 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 people recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.45 deaths per 100,000 population in 2014.
- What is the lowest reported suicide rates among young people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1963 deaths per 100,000 population in 1997.
- How does South Africa rank for reported suicide rates among young people?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 110 countries with data for 2020.
- Is reported suicide rates among young people rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.4%. 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 Reported suicide rates among young people. 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.