Average HDL cholesterol levels in South Africa
South Africa: Average HDL cholesterol levels was 1.3 in 2018. ▲ Rising
Average HDL cholesterol levels in South Africa, 1980–2018
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average hdl cholesterol levels in South Africa is 1.3, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average hdl cholesterol levels in South Africa peaked at 1.3 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.2, in 1980.
That places South Africa 48th out of 191 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.21 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 Bahamas 1.3 compare
- 48 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.3 compare
- 48 Botswana 1.3 compare
- 48 Brunei 1.3 compare
- 48 China 1.3 compare
- 48 Guyana 1.3 compare
- 48 Israel 1.3 compare
- 48 Lebanon 1.3 compare
- 48 Malaysia 1.3 compare
- 48 Moldova 1.3 compare
- 48 North Korea 1.3 compare
- 48 Turkmenistan 1.3 compare
- 48 Zimbabwe 1.3 compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average hdl cholesterol levels in South Africa?
- Average hdl cholesterol levels in South Africa was 1.3 in 2018, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average hdl cholesterol levels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3 in 2009.
- What is the lowest average hdl cholesterol levels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2 in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for average hdl cholesterol levels?
- South Africa ranks 48th out of 191 countries with data for 2018.
- Is average hdl cholesterol levels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average HDL cholesterol levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The estimated average level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, commonly known as "good cholesterol". Healthy levels are considered to be 1mmol/L or above for men or 1.2mmol/L or above for women.