South Africa: Incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, South Africa's incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) fell 38 on 2023 (from 427 to 389).

Across the 23 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2023), the average change was −14.57 and a typical year strayed about 69.92 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 105 in 2001 and the biggest yearly fall was 183 in 2016. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is downward, about 60.19 a year. A straight line explains 95% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, South Africa had the 12th highest value of the 208 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to South Africa in the 2024 ranking

• Namibia — 9th of 208: 422
• Central African Republic — 10th of 208: 419
• Marshall Islands — 11th of 208: 411
• Indonesia — 13th of 208: 382
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 14th of 208: 377
• Angola — 15th of 208: 373

What this measures

Incidence of tuberculosis is the estimated number of new and relapse tuberculosis cases arising in a given year, expressed as the rate per 100,000 population. All forms of TB are included, including cases in people living with HIV. Estimates for all years are recalculated as new information becomes available and techniques are refined, so they may differ from those published previously.

Limitations: The limited availability of data on health status is a major constraint in assessing the health situation in developing countries. Surveillance data are lacking for many major public health concerns. Estimates of prevalence and incidence are available for some diseases but are often unreliable and incomplete. National health authorities differ widely in capacity and willingness to collect or report information. To compensate for this and improve reliability and international comparability, the World Health Organization (WHO) prepares estimates in accordance with epidemiological models and statistical standards. Uncertainty bounds for the incidence are available at http://data.worldbank.org

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 25 values

Incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) in nearby economies

• Angola — 373 (2024)
• Benin — 40 (2024)
• Botswana — 143 (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 57 (2024)
• Burundi — 83 (2024)
• Cabo Verde — 47 (2024)
• Cameroon — 132 (2024)
• Central African Republic — 419 (2024)
• Chad — 118 (2024)
• Comoros — 22 (2024)

More health data for South Africa

• Population ages 00-04, female (% of female population) — 8.76% (2025)
• Population ages 00-04, male (% of male population) — 9.45% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, female — 8.28 million (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) — 24.92% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, male — 8.37 million (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, male (% of male population) — 26.57% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, total — 16.66 million (2025)
• Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) — 25.72% (2025)
• Population ages 05-09, female (% of female population) — 8.27% (2025)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is South Africa's incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people)?

389 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2000?

It is down 48.95% from 762 in 2000 (2.76% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1,270 in 2007 and the lowest 389 in 2024.

How does South Africa rank?

12th highest of 208 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) unusual for South Africa?

In 2024, South Africa's incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) fell 38 on 2023 (from 427 to 389). Across the 23 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2023), the average change was −14.57 and a typical year strayed about 69.92 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SH.TBS.INCD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Global Tuberculosis Report, World Health Organization (WHO) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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