Suicide Rate (International Monetary) in South Africa
South Africa: Suicide Rate (International Monetary) was 22.3 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Suicide Rate in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 22.3 for suicide rate in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 29.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in South Africa peaked at 22.3 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 13.13, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 6th of 184 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide Rate (International Monetary) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.13 | — |
| 2001 | 13.25 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 14.6 | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 15.76 | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 16.07 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 15.64 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 16.1 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 15.96 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 16.84 | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 16.41 | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 18.78 | +14.4% |
| 2011 | 17.29 | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 18.18 | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 18.7 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 20.07 | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 20.74 | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 19.58 | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 18.19 | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 19.15 | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 20.14 | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 21.1 | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 22.3 | +5.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 22.3 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.95, 3.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 22.3 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.21, 3.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15.38 | 13.13 | 16.84 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.08 | 17.29 | 20.74 | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.7 | 21.1 | 22.3 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate in South Africa?
- Suicide rate in South Africa was 22.3 in 2021, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest suicide rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 22.3 in 2021.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.13 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for suicide rate?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Suicide Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on health outcomes.