
Spread of COVID-19 in South Africa
Current incidence in the week ending 01/26/2023: 2.4 new infections per 100,000 populationSince the beginning of the pandemic until January 26th, 2023, a total of 4,053,527 infected people and 102,568 deaths have been reported in South Africa.
The total of 4,053,527 infected people currently represents 6.8 percent of the total population. The number of new infections during the seven days preceding January 26th, 2023, was 1,413, for a 7-day incidence of 2.4 cases per 100,000 population. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, this results in a mortality rate of about 2.5 percent in South Africa.
Current vaccination status
According to official WHO data, a total of 38.05 million vaccine doses have been administered as of December 25th, 2022. More recent data are not yet available to WHO. There are 23.97 million people who have received at least one vaccination (40.4 percent). The booster vaccination was received by 3.88 million people (6.5 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 175 countries.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we update the worldwide case numbers daily. A list of all infections and deaths by country can be found on our COVID-19 virus topic page.
Weight and size
Male | Female | |
---|---|---|
Body height | 169 cm | 158 cm |
BMI | 25.1 | 29.5 |
Weight | 71.9 kg | 74.1 kg |
Diseases
South Africa | Ø worldwide | |
---|---|---|
Diabetes * | 12.70% | 8.81% |
Tuberculosis | 5.13‰ | 1.34‰ |
Malaria | 0.2% | 5.7% |
HIV / Aids | 0.69% | 0.03% |
* The number of people suffering from diabetes refers only to inhabitants aged between 20 and 79 years.
Child vaccinations
South Africa | Ø worldwide | |
---|---|---|
Measles | 87.0% | 81.7% |
Hepatitis B | 0.09% | 0.08% |
Tetanus | 8.8% | 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.
The number of underweight newborns is 14 percent.
Medical supplies

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.