Among the leading causes of death attributed to chronic diseases are diseases of the circulatory system, commonly referred to as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs include hypertensive diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, other forms of heart disease and ischaemic heart diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scale of cardiovascular mortality becomes even clearer when viewed over time. Over a ten-year period from 2014 to 2024, CVDs accounted for an average of about 17,9% of all deaths. In 2024, the proportion stood at 17,8%, with CVDs remaining the largest contributor to mortality in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The burden of CVDs also shows a clear sex and age differential. In 2024, it was observed that mortality among males accelerated sharply from age 40, peaking at age group 65\u201369 years (5 176 deaths). After age 70, deaths decline steadily (3 298 deaths at age group 80\u201384 years). On the contrary, female deaths were consistently lower than males until age group 65\u201369 years (5 015 deaths). From age 70 years, female deaths surpass males, peaking at 80-84 years (5 903 deaths) and remain high even at ages over 90 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leading cardiovascular diseases: hypertensive and cerebrovascular diseases<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Within the broader cardiovascular picture, two conditions stand out for consistently ranking among the ten leading causes of death throughout the period 2014-2024: hypertensive diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. In 2024, hypertensive diseases accounted for 5,5% of all registered deaths, while cerebrovascular diseases accounted for 5,4%. Both ranked among the country\u2019s leading causes of death, second and third respectively, behind diabetes at 6,1%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the ten-year period from 2014 to 2024, the age and sex distribution of deaths from both conditions remained relatively consistent, with older age groups consistently accounting for the largest share of deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hypertensive diseases showed distinct age and sex patterns over the period. In 2014, deaths among males were most concentrated in the 65\u201369 age group, which accounted for 13,9% of male deaths from hypertensive diseases, while among females, the highest proportion was recorded in the 80\u201384 age group at 14,1%. By 2024, hypertensive diseases ranked as the fourth leading cause of death among males, accounting for 4,1% of all male deaths. The highest proportion of male deaths from the condition occurred among those aged 70\u201374, at 15,3%. Among females, hypertensive diseases ranked second overall, accounting for 7,1% of deaths, with the highest proportion recorded among those aged 80\u201384, at 14,4%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A similar age-related pattern is evident for cerebrovascular diseases, particularly stroke. In 2014, the largest proportion of male deaths from cerebrovascular diseases was recorded among those aged 65\u201369, at 13,9%, while among females, the highest proportion was among those aged 80\u201384, at 14,0%. By 2024, cerebrovascular diseases ranked as the second leading cause of death among males, accounting for 4,5% of all male deaths, with the highest proportion among males aged 70\u201374, at 14,5%. Among females, cerebrovascular diseases ranked third, accounting for 6,4% of all female deaths, with the highest proportion occurring among those aged 70\u201374, at 14,0%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focusing on the leading causes of death attributable to cardiovascular diseases in each province, variations in the burden of CVDs were observed. Hypertensive diseases were the leading cause of death in six provinces, excluding the coastal provinces of Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Cerebrovascular diseases were the leading cause of death in the coastal provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, download the Mortality and Causes of Death in South Africa: Findings from death notification, 2024 report here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every year, September turns the spotlight on one of the body\u2019s most vital organs: the heart. In South Africa, Heart Awareness Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the importance of protecting heart health through healthy lifestyle choices. The month culminates in World Heart Day on 29 September; a global read more »<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Final-Cardiovascular-Deaths-by-Age-and-Sex--scaled.png\")
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