Stats SA: Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 17.8% of SA deaths in 2024

In 2024, South Africa recorded 474,366 deaths, with over 60% attributed to chronic diseases—the highest proportion since 1997. Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, cerebrovascular diseases, other heart conditions, and ischemic heart diseases, accounted for 17.8% of all deaths. Mortality from CVDs increases sharply after age 40, peaking in the 65-69 age group with 5,176 deaths among men and 5,015 among women.