Treatment for hypertension in South Africa

South Africa: Treatment for hypertension was 46.5% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
46.5%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
81st
of 192 countries
All-time high
46.5%
in 2019
All-time low
13.5%
in 1990
Years of data
30
1990–2019

Treatment for hypertension in South Africa, 1990–2019

10203040501990200420191990: 13.5 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1991: 14.2 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1992: 14.9 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1993: 15.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1994: 16.5 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1995: 17.4 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1996: 18.4 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1997: 19.4 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1998: 20.5 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension1999: 21.7 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2000: 23 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2001: 24.3 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2002: 25.8 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2003: 27.2 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2004: 28.7 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2005: 30.2 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2006: 31.7 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2007: 33.1 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2008: 34.4 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2009: 35.8 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2010: 37 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2011: 38.3 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2012: 39.4 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2013: 40.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2014: 41.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2015: 42.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2016: 43.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2017: 44.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2018: 45.6 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension2019: 46.5 % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension

Source: World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Measured in % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension.

Analysis

The most recent figure for treatment for hypertension in South Africa is 46.5%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 29.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, treatment for hypertension in South Africa peaked at 46.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13.5%, in 1990.

That places South Africa 81st out of 192 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.

Treatment for hypertension in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Treatment for hypertension (% of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension) in South Africa, 1990 to 2019.
Year % of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension Change
1990 13.5%
1991 14.2% +5.2%
1992 14.9% +4.9%
1993 15.6% +4.7%
1994 16.5% +5.8%
1995 17.4% +5.5%
1996 18.4% +5.7%
1997 19.4% +5.4%
1998 20.5% +5.7%
1999 21.7% +5.9%
2000 23.0% +6.0%
2001 24.3% +5.7%
2002 25.8% +6.2%
2003 27.2% +5.4%
2004 28.7% +5.5%
2005 30.2% +5.2%
2006 31.7% +5.0%
2007 33.1% +4.4%
2008 34.4% +3.9%
2009 35.8% +4.1%
2010 37.0% +3.4%
2011 38.3% +3.5%
2012 39.4% +2.9%
2013 40.6% +3.0%
2014 41.6% +2.5%
2015 42.6% +2.4%
2016 43.6% +2.3%
2017 44.6% +2.3%
2018 45.6% +2.2%
2019 46.5% +2.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 46.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 44.8%, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 46.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 24.9%, 1.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 17.2% 13.5% 21.7% 10
2000s 29.4% 23.0% 35.8% 10
2010s 42.0% 37.0% 46.5% 10

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 78 Guyana 47.1% compare
  2. 79 Norway 46.7% compare
  3. 79 Trinidad and Tobago 46.7% compare
  4. 82 Turkmenistan 46.4% compare
  5. 83 Afghanistan 45.6% compare
  6. 83 Dominica 45.6% compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is treatment for hypertension in South Africa?
Treatment for hypertension in South Africa was 46.5% in 2019, according to World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository.
What is the highest treatment for hypertension recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 46.5% in 2019.
What is the lowest treatment for hypertension recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 13.5% in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for treatment for hypertension?
South Africa ranks 81st out of 192 countries with data for 2019.
Is treatment for hypertension rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 29.9%. 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's Global Health Observatory Data Repository, published as part of Treatment for hypertension (% of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Treatment for hypertension in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/treatment-for-hypertension-percent-of-adults-ages-30-79-with-hypertension/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Treatment for hypertension (% of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension)
Unit
% of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension
Source
World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
235 places, 7,050 data points, 1990–2019
Last refreshed

Treatment for hypertension is the percentage of adults ages 30-79 with hypertension who were taking medicine for hypertension. Hypertension is defined as having systolic blood pressure =140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure =90 mmHg, or taking medication for hypertension.