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.

Latest data from 2017 show that Tuberculosis was with approximately ****** cases the leading cause of death in South Africa. Diabetes mellitus caused ** thousand casualties and was the second highest underlying cause of death, whereas ****** people passed away due to Cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. stroke, carotid stenosis). HIV/AIDS was the fifth ranked disease, causing ****** casualties. In total, roughly **** million people in East and Southern Africa lived with HIV in 2018, causing over ******* AIDS-related deaths.

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.

Abstract

This cumulative dataset contains statistics on mortality and causes of death in South Africa covering the period 1997-2020. 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

The survey has 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 1997-2020, that reached Stats SA during the 2021/2022 processing phase.

Kind of data

Administrative records

Mode of data collection

Other

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 (1997-2020). Prior to 2016, Stats SA included both occupation group (OccupationGrp) and industry classifcation (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.

A database detailing the top twenty single underlying causes of death in South Africa, with separate rankings for males and females.

In 2021, the leading cause of death in South Africa was COVID-19, with a distribution of 15.1 percent. Diabetes mellitus and hypertensive diseases followed, with a share of six percent and around five percent, respectively.

The leading causes of death among Black residents in the United States in 2022 included diseases of the heart, cancer, unintentional injuries, and stroke. The leading causes of death for African Americans generally reflects the leading causes of death for the entire United States population. However, a major exception is that death from assault or homicide is the seventh leading cause of death among African Americans, but is not among the ten leading causes for the general population. Homicide among African Americans The homicide rate among African Americans has been higher than that of other races and ethnicities for many years. In 2023, around 9,284 Black people were murdered in the United States, compared to 7,289 white people. A majority of these homicides are committed with firearms, which are easily accessible in the United States. In 2022, around 14,189 Black people died by firearms. However, suicide deaths account for over half of all deaths from firearms in the United States. Cancer disparities There are also major disparities in access to health care and the impact of various diseases. For example, the incidence rate of cancer among African American males is the greatest among all ethnicities and races. Furthermore, although the incidence rate of cancer is lower among African American women than it is among white women, cancer death rates are still higher among African American women.

The leading cause of death in low-income countries worldwide in 2021 was lower respiratory infections, followed by stroke and ischemic heart disease. The death rate from lower respiratory infections that year was 59.4 deaths per 100,000 people. While the death rate from stroke was around 51.6 per 100,000 people. Many low-income countries suffer from health issues not seen in high-income countries, including infectious diseases, malnutrition and neonatal deaths, to name a few. Low-income countries worldwide Low-income countries are defined as those with per gross national incomes (GNI) per capita of 1,045 U.S. dollars or less. A majority of the world’s low-income countries are located in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Some of the lowest-income countries as of 2023 include Burundi, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. Low-income countries have different health problems that lead to worse health outcomes. For example, Chad, Lesotho, and Nigeria have some of the lowest life expectancies on the planet. Health issues in low-income countries Low-income countries also tend to have higher rates of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases as a consequence of poor health infrastructure and a lack of qualified health workers. Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa have some of the highest rates of new HIV infections worldwide. Likewise, tuberculosis, a treatable condition that affects the respiratory system, has high incident rates in lower income countries. Other health issues can be affected by the income of a country as well, including maternal and infant mortality. In 2023, Afghanistan had one of the highest rates of infant mortality rates in the world.

Analysis of ‘Death Cause by Country’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from https://www.kaggle.com/majyhain/death-cause-by-country on 13 February 2022.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

Context

Across low- and middle-income countries, mortality from infectious disease, malnutrition, nutritional deficiencies, neonatal and maternal deaths are common – and in some cases, dominant. In Kenya, for example, diarrheal infections are still the primary cause of death. HIV/AIDS is the major cause of death in South Africa and Botswana. However, in high-income countries, the proportion of deaths due by these causes is quite low.

Content

The dataset contains thirty two columns and contains the death causes by All Genders (Male, Female) and by all age group.

Acknowledgements

Users are allowed to use, copy, distribute and cite the dataset as follows: “Majyhain, Death Causes by Country, Kaggle Dataset, February 04, 2022.”

Inspiration

The ideas for this data is to: • The amount of people dying by various diseases.

• What is the death cause reasons by country.

• Number of People dying by various diseases.

• Which disease is causing more deaths by country.

• Which disease is causing more deaths by world.

References:

The Data is collected from the following sites:

https://www.who.int/

--- Original source retains full ownership of the source dataset ---

BackgroundStroke in adults is a critical clinical condition and a leading cause of death and disability globally. Epidemiological data on stroke in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. This study describes incidence rates, stroke types and antecedent factors among patients hospitalized with stroke in Zanzibar.MethodsThis was a prospective, observational study of stroke patients at hospitals in Unguja, Zanzibar. Socioeconomic and demographic data were recorded alongside relevant past medical history, medicine use and risk factors. The modified National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (mNIHSS) was used to assess admission stroke severity and, when possible, stroke was confirmed by neuroimaging.ResultsA total of 869 stroke admissions were observed from 1st October 2019 through 30th September 2020. Age-standardized to the World Health Organization global population, the yearly incidence was 286.8 per 100,000 adult population (95%CI: 272.4–301.9). Among these patients, 720 (82.9%) gave consent to participate in the study. Median age of participants was 62 years (53–70), 377 (52.2%) were women, and 463 (64.3%) had a first-ever stroke. Known stroke risk factors included hypertension in 503 (72.3%) patients, of whom 279 (55.5%) reported regularly using antihypertensive medication, of whom 161 (57.7%) had used this medication within the last week before stroke onset. A total of 460 (63.9%) participants had neuroimaging performed; among these there was evidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in 140 (30.4%). Median stroke severity score using mNIHSS was 19 (10–27).ConclusionZanzibar has high incidence of hospitalization for stroke, indicating a very high population incidence of stroke. The proportion of strokes due to ICH is substantially higher than in high-income countries. Most stroke patients had been in contact with health care providers prior to stroke onset and been diagnosed with hypertension. However, few were using antihypertensive medication at the time of stroke onset.www.ClinicalTrial.gov registration NCT04095806.

Two datasets that explore causes of death due to cancer in South Africa, drawing on data from the Revised Burden of Disease estimates for the Comparative Risk Factor Assessment for South Africa, 2000.

The number and percentage of deaths due to cancer by cause are ranked for persons, males and females in the tables below.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer in SA accounting for 17% of all cancer deaths. This is followed by oesophagus Ca which accounts for 13%, cervix cancer accounting for 8%, breast cancer accounting for 8% and liver cancer which accounts for 6% of all cancers. Many more males suffer from lung and oesophagus cancer than females.

This statistic presents the death rates for the five leading causes of deaths among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in each WHO region in 2015 (per 100,000 population). In low- and middle-income countries in Africa the leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 19 years was lower respiratory infections with a death rate of **** per 100,000 population. In high income WHO countries road injury was the leading cause of death among adolescents with a rate of ***. Road injury was the only cause to be in the five leading causes of death among adolescents in every WHO region.

The global landscape of mortality has undergone significant changes from 1990 to 2021, but cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide. In 2021, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 28.6 percent of all deaths, followed by cancers at 14.6 percent. Notably, COVID-19 emerged as the third leading cause of death in 2021, responsible for 11.6 percent of global fatalities. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic The emergence of COVID-19 as a major cause of death underscores the profound impact of the pandemic on global health. By May 2023, the virus had infected over 687 million people worldwide and claimed nearly 6.87 million lives. The United States, India, and Brazil were among the most severely affected countries. The pandemic's effects extended beyond direct mortality, influencing healthcare systems and potentially exacerbating other health conditions. Shifts in global health priorities While infectious diseases like COVID-19 have gained prominence, long-term health trends reveal significant progress in certain areas. The proportion of neonatal deaths decreased from 6.4 percent in 1990 to 2.7 percent in 2021, reflecting improvements in maternal and child health care. However, challenges persist in addressing malnutrition and hunger, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The Global Hunger Index 2024 identified Somalia, Yemen, and Chad as the countries most affected by hunger and malnutrition, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted interventions in these regions.

N, number of systematic reviews.§Number of deaths in children younger than age 5 years other than neonates and their distribution by cause (yearly average for 2000–03) according to the World Health Organization Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group.*Includes immunizations for Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (n = 1), Hepatitis A (n = 1), Hepatitis B (n = 1), N. meningitidis (n = 2), Varicella (n = 1), Patient reminder and recall systems (n = 1).

Life expectancy from birth in Africa was just over 36 years in 1950. As a wave of independence movements and decolonization swept the continent between the 1950s and early 1970s, life expectancy rose greatly in Africa; particularly due to improvements and control over medical services, better sanitation and the widespread promotion of vaccinations in the country resulted in a sharp decrease in child mortality; one of the most significant reasons for Africa’s low life expectancy rates. Life expectancy in the continent would continue to steadily increase for much of the second half of the 20th century, however, life expectancy would flatline at around 52 years in the latter half of the 1980s, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic quickly grew to become one of the leading causes of death in the continent. After hovering around the low-fifties in the 1980s to and 1990s, life expectancy would begin to rise again at the turn of the millennium, and is estimated to be over 64 years in 2020.

UNICEF's country profile for South Africa, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

The number of deaths registered in Africa was 11.3 million in 2023. This was a decline from the past two year, when the continent experienced rising COVID-19 related deaths. Furthermore, 2021 had the highest registered death number with slightly over 12 million deaths.

This statistic shows the 20 countries* with the highest infant mortality rate in 2024. An estimated 101.3 infants per 1,000 live births died in the first year of life in Afghanistan in 2024. Infant and child mortality Infant mortality usually refers to the death of children younger than one year. Child mortality, which is often used synonymously with infant mortality, is the death of children younger than five. Among the main causes are pneumonia, diarrhea – which causes dehydration – and infections in newborns, with malnutrition also posing a severe problem. As can be seen above, most countries with a high infant mortality rate are developing countries or emerging countries, most of which are located in Africa. Good health care and hygiene are crucial in reducing child mortality; among the countries with the lowest infant mortality rate are exclusively developed countries, whose inhabitants usually have access to clean water and comprehensive health care. Access to vaccinations, antibiotics and a balanced nutrition also help reducing child mortality in these regions. In some countries, infants are killed if they turn out to be of a certain gender. India, for example, is known as a country where a lot of girls are aborted or killed right after birth, as they are considered to be too expensive for poorer families, who traditionally have to pay a costly dowry on the girl’s wedding day. Interestingly, the global mortality rate among boys is higher than that for girls, which could be due to the fact that more male infants are actually born than female ones. Other theories include a stronger immune system in girls, or more premature births among boys.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in sub-Saharan Africa with increasing incidence. In Kenya, it is a neglected condition with a paucity of evidence despite its need for urgent care and hefty economic burden. Therefore, we reviewed studies on stroke epidemiology, care, and outcomes in Kenya to highlight existing evidence and gaps on stroke in Kenya.Methods: We reviewed all published studies on epidemiology, care, and outcomes of stroke in Kenya between 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2020 from PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and African journal online. We excluded case reports, reviews, and commentaries. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa scale adapted for cross-sectional studies to assess the quality of included studies.Results: Twelve articles were reviewed after excluding 111 duplicates and 94 articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Five studies were of low quality, two of medium quality, and five of high quality. All studies were hospital-based and conducted between 2003 and 2017. Of the included studies, six were prospective and five were single-center. Stroke patients in the studies were predominantly female, in their seventh decade with systemic hypertension. The mortality rate ranged from 5 to 27% in-hospital and 23.4 to 26.7% in 1 month.Conclusions: Our study highlights that stroke is a significant problem in Kenya, but current evidence is of low quality and limited in guiding policy development and improving stroke care. There is thus a need for increased investment in hospital- and community-based stroke care and research.

In 2021, close to 37,000 deaths were attributable to diabetes in South Africa. This represents an increase of around 39 percent compared to 2019. The chronic metabolic disease ranked second among the leading causes of death in the country.