The number of deaths in South Africa is declining for the first time, after more than a decade of annual increases. A report released by Statistics South Africa this week, shows that mortality in South Africa declined by 1,8% from 2006 to 2007.

The report showed that the number of deaths in all age groups below 55 years had dropped,  for both males and females.

“The greatest decline was observed in age groups 1–4 and 15–34, as well as among females. The age pattern at death has remained more or less the same between 2003 and 2007, with more deaths observed at ages 30–34,” said Statistics SA.

Unnatural causes
Although the amount of deaths due to unnatural causes, including crime and transport accident related deaths, has risen slightly from 2006 to 2007, the percentage declined from 17% of deaths in 1997 to 9% in 2007. This seems to contradict the viewpoint that crime related deaths have been escalating in the past decade.

Increase in life expectancy
The report also shows a slight increase in life expectancy of South Africans. While the median age of death in South Africa had been dropping until 2004, indicating a shorter life expectancy, the age of death has been slightly increasing since 2004, emphasising the decrease in mortality.

The Western Cape boasted the lowest mortality rate among the provinces.

The majority of reported deaths in South Africa occurred at health facilities, although the report states that a substantial number of deaths still occurred at home.

Natural causes
According to the report most deaths in South Africa are still due to natural causes, accounting for 91% of deaths in 2007.

Tuberculosis is still the main killer, responsible for 12,8% of deaths. “Influenza and pneumonia was the second leading cause, followed by intestinal infectious diseases, other forms of heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease was only the ninth leading cause of death, accounting for about 2,2% of all deaths occurring in 2007,” said Statistics SA.

The report states that deaths due to HIV disease declined by almost 10% between 2006 and 2007, while those due to influenza and pneumonia declined by 6,7%.

The statistical information in the report was based on all death notification forms received from the Department of Home Affairs for deaths that occurred in 2007.

Statistics South Africa is the country's official provider of statistics.

For the full report, please visit StatsOnline.