What are the top 5 causes of death in South Africa?

The latest data available for mortality in South Africa is based on the year 2018. Here’s what we know:

454 014 died in 2018, compared to 446 544 in 2017. In 2018, the age group comprising the highest percentage (8.4%) of deaths in the country were between 65-69, that’s a total of 38 006 people. 

In 2018, 52.7% of deaths were male and 47.3% were female. There were a total of 399 853 natural deaths and 54 161 non-natural deaths. The age group most affected by non-natural deaths? The 20–24 years cohort, comprising 49.2% of the total non-natural deaths in 2018. 

The leading cause of death in South Africa was circulatory disease with 85 656 people dying in South Africa because of it. The second leading cause of death (75 302 deaths) in South Africa was ‘Certain infectious and parasitic diseases’. 

1. The leading cause of death in South Africa in 2018 was tuberculosis, comprising 6% of total natural deaths with a figure of 27 450 people.  
2. The next highest natural cause of death was Diabetes mellitus and was the cause of 26 879 deaths in South Africa in 2018, comprising 5.9% of total deaths.
3. Cerebrovascular diseases claimed the lives of 22 997 (5.1%) of South Africans.
4. 22 940 South Africans died of ‘other forms of heart disease’. 
5. For three consecutive years, HIV has been the fifth leading cause of death in South Africa with 21 894 dying in 2018. 

In 2018, diabetes mellitus was the leading cause of non-communicable diseases deaths and tuberculosis was the leading cause of death for communicable diseases.

Communicable diseases vs non-communicable diseases 

Communicable diseases are diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and malaria. A communicable disease is also something that can be spread either directly or indirectly from one person to another. 

Non-communicable diseases are diseases such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, and heart disease. A non-communicable disease is not transmissible and non-infectious. 

More women died due to diabetes than men in 2018

In 2018, diabetes was the leading cause of natural deaths amongst females, claiming the lives of 16 447 South Africans. While 10 404 men died because of the disease.

The leading cause of death amongst men was tuberculosis with 17 110 men dying from this disease in 2018. 

A look at the leading causes of death globally

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally. 

Globally, more than 50% of people that die are 70 years or older. 

What could lead to premature death?

• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• Environmental factors including air pollution

Where does Covid-19 fit into all of this?

102 595 were the total number of deaths recorded because of Covid-19 in South Africa. 

In 2018, there was an average death of 8.77 people per 1000 inhabitants. In 2021, there was an average of 11.43 people per 1000 inhabitants. 

85-95% of the excess natural deaths can be attributed to COVID-19.

According to data compiled by Discovery Health Medical Scheme, higher death rates were recorded during the peak pandemic years (2020-2021), with the leading cause of death (34.8%) in 2021 being attributed to Covid-19.