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.

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 average for 2022 based on 53 countries was 8.33 deaths per 1000 people. The highest value was in the Central African Republic: 55.13 deaths per 1000 people and the lowest value was in Algeria: 4.6 deaths per 1000 people. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2023, the number of deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in Sub-Saharan Africa was ****. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by *****, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

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.

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

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

Actual value and historical data chart for South Africa Death Rate Crude Per 1 000 People

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.

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.

Central African Republic CF: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 9.419 Ratio in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 55.126 Ratio for 2022. Central African Republic CF: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 16.688 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72.483 Ratio in 2009 and a record low of 9.419 Ratio in 2023. Central African Republic CF: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude death rate indicates the number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics; (4) United Nations Statistics Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years).;Weighted average;

The Central African Republic: Death rate, per 1000 people: The latest value from 2023 is 9.42 deaths per 1000 people, a decline from 55.13 deaths per 1000 people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 7.70 deaths per 1000 people, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for the Central African Republic from 1960 to 2023 is 19.08 deaths per 1000 people. The minimum value, 9.42 deaths per 1000 people, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 72.48 deaths per 1000 people was recorded in 2009.

This 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.

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.

Method

The dataset contains several confirmed COVID-19 cases, number of deaths, and death rate in six regions. The objective of the study is to compare the number of confirmed cases in Africa to other regions.

Death rate = Total number of deaths from COVID-19 divided by the Total Number of infected patients.

The study provides evidence for the country-level in six regions by the World Health Organisation's classification.

Findings

Based on the descriptive data provided above, we conclude that the lack of tourism is one of the key reasons why COVID-19 reported cases are low in Africa compared to other regions. We also justified this claim by providing evidence from the economic freedom index, which indicates that the vast majority of African countries recorded a low index for a business environment. On the other hand, we conclude that the death rate is higher in the African region compared to other regions. This points to issues concerning health-care expenditure, low capacity for testing for COVID-19, and poor infrastructure in the region.

Apart from COVID-19, there are significant pre-existing diseases, namely; Malaria, Flu, HIV/AIDS, and Ebola in the continent. This study, therefore, invites the leaders to invest massively in the health-care system, infrastructure, and human capital in order to provide a sustainable environment for today and future generations. Lastly, policy uncertainty has been a major issue in determining a sustainable development goal on the continent. This uncertainty has differentiated Africa to other regions in terms of stepping up in the time of global crisis.

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

South Africa: Death rate, per 1000 people: The latest value from 2023 is 9.24 deaths per 1000 people, a decline from 9.4 deaths per 1000 people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 7.70 deaths per 1000 people, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for South Africa from 1960 to 2023 is 10.64 deaths per 1000 people. The minimum value, 8.23 deaths per 1000 people, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 14.2 deaths per 1000 people was recorded in 1960.

As of November 18, 2022, the overall deaths due to coronavirus (COVID-19) in Africa reached 257,984. South Africa recorded the highest number of casualties. With over 100,000 deaths, the country accounted for roughly 40 percent of the total. Tunisia was the second most affected on the continent, as the virus made almost 30,000 victims in the nation, around 11 percent of the overall deaths in Africa. Egypt accounted for around 10 percent of the casualties on the continent, with 24,600 victims. By the same date, Africa had recorded more than 12 million cases of COVID-19.

South Africa ZA: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 9.793 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.102 Ratio for 2015. South Africa ZA: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 11.455 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.815 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 8.199 Ratio in 1991. South Africa ZA: Death Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Africa – Table ZA.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude death rate indicates the number of deaths occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;