SA’s death rate had decreased by 22% in 2022, with mortality rates returning to near pre-COVID levels, according to new data released by Statistics South Africa (STATS SA), reported The Citizen (29 August 2025).
“Nearly 60% of all deaths in 2022 were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with communicable diseases accounting for 28%. Diabetes mellitus was identified as the single biggest killer, responsible for 5.2% of male deaths and a significantly higher 8.6% of female deaths. It was the primary cause of mortality for people aged 45-64. For women, hypertensive diseases were the second most common cause of death, at 8.2%.”