Cardiovascular disease remains a significant burden in South Africa, with the latest mortality figures revealing that chronic diseases account for more than 60% of deaths in the country. In 2024, 474,366 individual deaths were registered with the Department of Home Affairs, with cardiovascular disease accounting for 17.8% of all registered deaths. This makes cardiovascular disease the largest contributor to mortality in South Africa.
The mortality profile in South Africa has changed over time, with non-communicable diseases dominating the country's mortality profile from 1997 to 2002. Communicable diseases took the lead during the period of heightened HIV-related mortality, but chronic diseases regained their predominance in 2010 and have remained the leading contributor to mortality since.
Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertensive diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, other forms of heart disease, and ischaemic heart diseases, have consistently been among the leading causes of death in South Africa. Between 2014 and 2024, CVDs accounted for an average of about 17.9% of all deaths. The figures also show differences between males and females across age groups, with mortality among males accelerating sharply from age 40 and peaking among those aged 65–69.
In 2024, hypertensive diseases accounted for 5.5% of all registered deaths, while cerebrovascular diseases accounted for 5.4%. They ranked second and third among the country's leading causes of death, respectively, behind diabetes at 6.1%. Across the 10-year period, older age groups consistently accounted for the largest share of deaths from both conditions.
The data shows distinct age and sex patterns in deaths attributed to hypertensive diseases. In 2014, the largest proportion of male deaths from hypertensive diseases occurred among those aged 65–69, while among females, the highest proportion was recorded among those aged 80–84. By 2024, hypertensive diseases ranked as the fourth leading cause of death among males and second among females.
A similar age-related pattern was observed for cerebrovascular diseases, particularly stroke. In 2014, the largest proportion of male deaths from cerebrovascular diseases was recorded among those aged 65–69, while among females, the highest proportion was recorded among those aged 80–84. By 2024, cerebrovascular diseases ranked as the second leading cause of death among males and third among females.
The burden of cardiovascular disease also varied across South Africa's provinces, with hypertensive diseases being the leading cause of death in six provinces and cerebrovascular diseases being the leading cause of death in the three coastal provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Key points
- Cardiovascular disease accounts for 17.8% of deaths in South Africa.
- Hypertension and cerebrovascular disease are among the leading causes of death in South Africa.
- Chronic diseases account for more than 60% of deaths in South Africa.
