Number of deaths in South Africa today so far:
328
A person dies approximately every 52.52 seconds
Number of deaths per year: 600,461
Number of deaths per day: 1,645
Number of deaths per hour: 69
Source: United Nations World Population Prospects 2024
Methodology: The figures shown on this page are based on projections from the 2024 revision of World Population Prospects. Deaths are distributed evenly across the year to produce per-day and per-second estimates. Actual daily counts may vary due to seasonal factors, disease outbreaks, or natural disasters.
The table below shows the top 10 causes of death in South Africa according to 2021 data from the World Health Organization.
| Rank | Cause | Annual Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | COVID-19 | 181,864 |
| 2 | Tuberculosis | 61,620 |
| 3 | HIV/AIDS | 50,047 |
| 4 | Stroke | 41,970 |
| 5 | Lower respiratory infections | 36,196 |
| 6 | Diabetes mellitus | 35,569 |
| 7 | Ischaemic heart disease | 31,204 |
| 8 | Interpersonal violence | 21,641 |
| 9 | Hypertensive heart disease | 19,484 |
| 10 | Diarrhoeal diseases | 17,666 |
Source: WHO Global Health Estimates 2021
What is the leading cause of death in South Africa?
The leading cause of death in South Africa is COVID-19, approximately 181,864 deaths per year.
What are the top causes of death in South Africa?
The top three causes of death in South Africa are COVID-19, Tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
How many people die from COVID-19 in South Africa each year?
Approximately 181,864 people die from COVID-19 in South Africa each year, making it the country's leading cause of mortality.
Why is COVID-19 shown as a leading cause of death in South Africa?
The WHO data shown here covers 2021, the peak year of the COVID-19 pandemic. 181,864 deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in South Africa that year. Excluding COVID-19, the leading cause of death was Tuberculosis, which reflects the country's typical mortality profile. Future WHO updates are expected to show COVID-19 declining or absent from the top 10.