Data / Deaths / South Africa

Deaths in South Africa

Deaths in South Africa was 584,015 in 2023, according to the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. That is down 0.4% from 2022. That is the 22nd highest of 236 countries in 2023.

2023, count584,015 Estimated
Change on 2022-0.4%
Rank22nd of 236Countries ranked
Series high733,8952021
Series low233,3771960
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Deaths in South Africa, 1950 to 2023

200K400K600K800K19501961197219831994200520231950: 281,293 count1951: 275,288 count1952: 269,518 count1953: 263,912 count1954: 257,799 count1955: 252,075 count1956: 246,575 count1957: 241,806 count1958: 237,465 count1959: 235,104 count1960: 233,377 count1961: 234,075 count1962: 235,424 count1963: 238,844 count1964: 242,442 count1965: 247,250 count1966: 251,936 count1967: 257,377 count1968: 262,519 count1969: 267,488 count1970: 272,204 count1971: 275,722 count1972: 278,473 count1973: 281,165 count1974: 282,790 count1975: 282,983 count1976: 283,951 count1977: 283,642 count1978: 283,388 count1979: 284,007 count1980: 284,796 count1981: 288,427 count1982: 292,565 count1983: 296,794 count1984: 301,221 count1985: 306,174 count1986: 311,905 count1987: 316,825 count1988: 321,239 count1989: 327,044 count1990: 335,441 count1991: 343,105 count1992: 352,290 count1993: 362,996 count1994: 382,979 count1995: 397,323 count1996: 410,766 count1997: 423,892 count1998: 443,106 count1999: 466,121 count2000: 490,137 count2001: 526,754 count2002: 574,032 count2003: 622,286 count2004: 641,920 count2005: 659,851 count2006: 669,557 count2007: 663,057 count2008: 648,293 count2009: 624,185 count2010: 594,053 count2011: 568,153 count2012: 545,855 count2013: 544,732 count2014: 536,325 count2015: 522,818 count2016: 519,286 count2017: 508,904 count2018: 515,166 count2019: 521,416 count2020: 586,414 count2021: 733,895 count2022: 586,476 count2023: 584,015 count
count. Source: UN WPP, World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths). Retrieved 2026-10-12, published 2024-12-13.
All 74 values
Periodcount
2023584,015 Estimated
2022586,476 Estimated
2021733,895 Estimated
2020586,414 Estimated
2019521,416 Estimated
2018515,166 Estimated
2017508,904 Estimated
2016519,286 Estimated
2015522,818 Estimated
2014536,325 Estimated
2013544,732 Estimated
2012545,855 Estimated
2011568,153 Estimated
2010594,053 Estimated
2009624,185 Estimated
2008648,293 Estimated
2007663,057 Estimated
2006669,557 Estimated
2005659,851 Estimated
2004641,920 Estimated
2003622,286 Estimated
2002574,032 Estimated
2001526,754 Estimated
2000490,137 Estimated
1999466,121 Estimated
1998443,106 Estimated
1997423,892 Estimated
1996410,766 Estimated
1995397,323 Estimated
1994382,979 Estimated
1993362,996 Estimated
1992352,290 Estimated
1991343,105 Estimated
1990335,441 Estimated
1989327,044 Estimated
1988321,239 Estimated
1987316,825 Estimated
1986311,905 Estimated
1985306,174 Estimated
1984301,221 Estimated
1983296,794 Estimated
1982292,565 Estimated
1981288,427 Estimated
1980284,796 Estimated
1979284,007 Estimated
1978283,388 Estimated
1977283,642 Estimated
1976283,951 Estimated
1975282,983 Estimated
1974282,790 Estimated
1973281,165 Estimated
1972278,473 Estimated
1971275,722 Estimated
1970272,204 Estimated
1969267,488 Estimated
1968262,519 Estimated
1967257,377 Estimated
1966251,936 Estimated
1965247,250 Estimated
1964242,442 Estimated
1963238,844 Estimated
1962235,424 Estimated
1961234,075 Estimated
1960233,377 Estimated
1959235,104 Estimated
1958237,465 Estimated
1957241,806 Estimated
1956246,575 Estimated
1955252,075 Estimated
1954257,799 Estimated
1953263,912 Estimated
1952269,518 Estimated
1951275,288 Estimated
1950281,293 Estimated

Rankings

Definition

Deaths of residents in the area during the year.

How to cite

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths). Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-12. CC BY 3.0 IGO.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths) (Deaths, South Africa, 1950 to 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz

MLA 9

World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths), Deaths, South Africa, 1950 to 2023. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 13 Dec. 2024, https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/deaths/south-africa. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. 2024. World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths). Deaths, South Africa, 1950 to 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/deaths/south-africa.

Harvard

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024) World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths), Deaths, South Africa, 1950 to 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/en/deaths/south-africa (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{united_deaths_south_africa_2023,
  author = {{United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division}},
  title = {{World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths): Deaths, South Africa, 1950 to 2023}},
  year = {2024},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/deaths/south-africa. Publisher attribution: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths). Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel\%20Files/1\_Indicator\%20(Standard)/CSV\_FILES/WPP2024\_Demographic\_Indicators\_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-12. CC BY 3.0 IGO.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division
TI  - World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths): Deaths, South Africa, 1950 to 2023
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/12/13
PB  - United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz
L2  - https://invokely.ai/en/deaths/south-africa
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/deaths/south-africa.
N1  - Publisher attribution: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths). Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-12. CC BY 3.0 IGO.
ER  -
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Questions

What is the deaths in South Africa?

Deaths in South Africa was 584,015 in 2023, according to the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. That is down 0.4% from 2022. That is the 22nd highest of 236 countries in 2023.

Where does this figure come from?

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Total deaths during the calendar year, estimates 1950 to 2023 (Deaths). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-12.

What was the highest deaths in South Africa?

733,895 in 2021, the highest value since 1950 in this series.

Deaths in other countries

Related statistics for South Africa

All statistics for South Africa | South Africa in figures