In 2023, the average crude death rate in Africa was **** deaths per 1,000 people. The mortality rate on the continent has decreased gradually since the 2000s. In comparison, the death rate stood at roughly **** deaths per 1,000 population in 2000. Decreasing mortality, together with high fertility and rising life expectancy, is a key driver of Africa's population growth.

The average for 2022 based on 47 countries was 8.41 deaths per 1000 people. The highest value was in Lesotho: 14.07 deaths per 1000 people and the lowest value was in Senegal: 5.55 deaths per 1000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2022. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2023, the crude death rate in Africa was *** deaths per 1,000 people. Significant variations were observed between the continent's regions. Specifically, Western Africa registered the highest crude death rate, counting almost ** deaths per 1,000 inhabitants, while the lowest levels of mortality were recorded in Northern Africa.

The statistic shows the death rate in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2013 to 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa includes almost all countries south of the Sahara desert. In 2023, there were about **** deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2025, the mortality rate among children under the age of one in Africa was around ** deaths per thousand live births. Infant mortality on the continent decreased significantly compared to 2000, when approximately ** newborn infants out of a thousand died before one year of age. Many African nations rank among the countries with the highest infant mortality rate worldwide.

Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in South Africa was reported at 9.239 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Africa - Death rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Historical dataset showing Africa death rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Historical dataset showing Sub-Saharan Africa death rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In 2022, the mortality rate in Southern Africa was highest in Lesotho, with around 14 deaths per thousand population. Conversely, Botswana had the lowest rate, with approximately seven deaths per thousand population.

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SPDYNIMRTINSSA) from 1990 to 2023 about Sub-Saharan Africa, mortality, infant, and rate.

This horizontal bar chart displays death rate (per 1,000 people) by countries using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Africa. The data is about countries.

Historical dataset showing Central African Republic death rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Infant Mortality Rate: All Income Levels for Middle East and North Africa (SPDYNIMRTINMEA) from 1990 to 2023 about North Africa, Middle East, mortality, infant, income, and rate.

license: apache-2.0 tags: - africa - sustainable-development-goals - world-health-organization - development

  Under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1000 live births)





  Dataset Description

This dataset provides country-level data for the indicator "3.2.1 Under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1000 live births)" across African nations, sourced from the World Health Organization's (WHO) data portal on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The data is presented in a… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/under-five-mortality-rate-for-african-countries.

license: apache-2.0 tags: - africa - sustainable-development-goals - world-health-organization - development

  Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1000 live births)





  Dataset Description

This dataset provides country-level data for the indicator "3.2.1 Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1000 live births)" across African nations, sourced from the World Health Organization's (WHO) data portal on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The data is presented in a wide… See the full description on the dataset page: https://huggingface.co/datasets/electricsheepafrica/infant-mortality-rate-for-african-countries.

In 2021, the leading causes of death in Africa were lower respiratory infections, malaria, and stroke. That year, lower respiratory infections resulted in around 65 deaths per 100,000 population in Africa. Leading causes of death in Africa vs the world Worldwide, the top three leading causes of death in 2021 were heart disease, COVID-19, and stroke. At that time, some of the leading causes of death in Africa, such as lower respiratory infections and stroke, were among the leading causes worldwide, but there were also stark differences in the leading causes of death in Africa compared to the leading causes worldwide. For example, malaria, diarrheal disease, and preterm birth complications were among the top ten leading causes of death in Africa, but not worldwide. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS was the eighth leading cause of death in Africa at that time, but was not among the top ten leading causes worldwide. HIV/AIDS in Africa Although HIV/AIDS impacts every region of the world, Africa is still the region most impacted by this deadly virus. Worldwide, there are around 40 million people currently living with HIV, with about 20.8 million found in Eastern and Southern Africa and 5.1 million in Western and Central Africa. The countries with the highest HIV prevalence worldwide include Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa, with the leading 20 countries by HIV prevalence all found in Africa. However, due in part to improvements in education and awareness, the prevalence of HIV in many African countries has decreased. For example, in Botswana, the prevalence of HIV decreased from 26.1 percent to 16.6 percent in the period from 2000 to 2023.

This line chart displays death rate (per 1,000 people) by date using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Africa. The data is about countries per year.

Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births in Selected West African Countries

Abstract

This cumulative dataset contains statistics on mortality and causes of death in South Africa covering the period 1997-2017. The mortality and causes of death dataset is part of a regular series published by Stats SA, based on data collected through the civil registration system. This dataset is the most recent cumulative round in the series which began with the separately available dataset Recorded Deaths 1996.

The main objective of this dataset is to outline emerging trends and differentials in mortality by selected socio-demographic and geographic characteristics for deaths that occurred in the registered year and over time. Reliable mortality statistics, are the cornerstone of national health information systems, and are necessary for population health assessment, health policy and service planning; and programme evaluation. They are essential for studying the occurrence and distribution of health-related events, their determinants and management of related health problems. These data are particularly critical for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 which share the same goal for a high standard of living and quality of life, sound health and well-being for all and at all ages. Mortality statistics are also required for assessing the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCD's), emerging infectious diseases, injuries and natural disasters.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Individuals

Universe

This dataset is based on information on mortality and causes of death from the South African civil registration system. It covers all death notification forms from the Department of Home Affairs for deaths that occurred in 1997-2017, that reached Stats SA during the 2018/2019 processing phase.

Kind of data

Administrative records data [adm]

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Research instrument

The registration of deaths is captured using two instruments: form BI-1663 and form DHA-1663 (Notification/Register of death/stillbirth).

Data appraisal

This cumulative dataset is part of a regular series published by Stats SA and includes all previous rounds in the series (excluding Recorded Deaths 1996). Stats SA only includes one variable to classify the occupation group of the deceased (OccupationGrp) in the current round (1997-2017). Prior to 2016, Stats SA included both occupation group (OccupationGrp) and industry classification (Industry) in all previous rounds. Therefore, DataFirst has made the 1997-2015 cumulative round available as a separately downloadable dataset which includes both occupation group and industry classification of the deceased spanning the years 1997-2015.

This line chart displays death rate (per 1,000 people) by date using the aggregation average, weighted by population in Middle Africa. The data is about countries per year.