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Public health and Covid-19 in South Africa

Healthcare in South Africa

Healthcare in South Africa is slightly below average in a worldwide comparison.

Probably the most important indicator that can be used to summarize the efficiency of all measures is general life expectancy. In other words, the theoretical age that a newborn child could potentially reach today. At the moment, this age in South Africa is 59.5 years for men and 65.0 years for women. For comparison: worldwide life expectancy is about 9.2 years lower (men: 68.9 / women: 73.9 years).

A total of 489.64 USD per inhabitant is spent annually on health measures at state expense. This corresponds to approximately 8.6 percent of the gross domestic product. Internationally, this amount averages 1,177.15 USD (~ 10.9% of the respective GDP).


Back to overview: South Africa


Spread of COVID-19 in South Africa

Since the beginning of the pandemic until June 7th, 2023, a total of 4,072,533 infected people and 102,595 deaths have been reported in South Africa.

The total of 4,072,533 infected people currently represents 6.9 percent of the total population.

Current vaccination status

According to official WHO data, a total of 38.84 million vaccine doses have been administered as of May 14th, 2023. More recent data are not yet available to WHO. There are 24.21 million people who have received at least one vaccination (40.8 percent). The booster vaccination was received by 4.38 million people (7.4 percent).

21.04 million of these are considered fully vaccinated in South Africa (= 35.5 percent).
This puts South Africa well behind in terms of vaccination coverage. The vaccination rate is higher in 181 countries.

Weight and size

MaleFemale
Body height169 cm158 cm
BMI25.129.5
Weight71.9 kg74.1 kg

Diseases

South AfricaØ worldwide
Diabetes *12.70%8.81%
Tuberculosis5.13‰1.34‰
Malaria0.2%5.7%
HIV / Aids0.69%0.03%

* The number of people suffering from diabetes refers only to inhabitants aged between 20 and 79 years.


Child vaccinations

South AfricaØ worldwide
Measles87.0%81.7%
Hepatitis B0.09%0.08%
Tetanus8.8%0.0%
DTP *8.60%8.14%

* DTP is a combined basic vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus, which should be given to children up to the age of 23 months.

In South Africa, 20.3 percent of all over 15-year-olds are still smokers.


Medical supplies

Public health and Covid-19 in South AfricaMedical care provided by doctors and hospitals in South Africa is below average compared to the world population. The country provides 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants. The global mean here is 2.9 beds. Within the EU, 4.6 beds are available for every 1,000 residents.

With about 54,100 physicians in South Africa, there are about 0.91 doctors per 1000 inhabitants. Here again the comparison: worldwide this standard is 1.50 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants and in the EU is 3.57.

Through medical care, the mortality rate of major known diseases can be reduced as far as possible. For example, only about 24 percent of all people who suffer from cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or chylomicron retention disease (CRD) currently die.

Sources

The above data correspond to the information from the World Health Organization, Global Health Workforce Statistics, UNICEF, State of the World's Children, Childinfo, Global Health Observatory Data Repository and OECD. The case numbers for the spread of the COVID-19 come from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Comparison: average ageAverage age by countryRising average age worldwide: since 1950 alone, more than 4 years. A list by country.
Comparison: Life expectancyAverage life expectancy by countryInternational ranking of life expectancy in 119 countries including summary by continents. Explanation of significant factors.
Comparison: quality of lifeQuality of life 2023 in country comparisonCompare the quality of life around the globe: In which countries is life pleasant, safe and healthy?