Number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa
South Africa: Number of confirmed cases of tetanus was 33 Cases in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa, 1974–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Cases.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa is 33 Cases, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 153.8% on the previous year and up 1,550.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa peaked at 356 Cases in 1981 and was at its lowest, 0 Cases, in 2013.
South Africa ranks 34th of 210 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Cases | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 248 Cases | — |
| 1975 | 337 Cases | +35.9% |
| 1976 | 326 Cases | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 199 Cases | -39.0% |
| 1978 | 249 Cases | +25.1% |
| 1979 | 279 Cases | +12.0% |
| 1980 | 288 Cases | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 356 Cases | +23.6% |
| 1982 | 250 Cases | -29.8% |
| 1983 | 308 Cases | +23.2% |
| 1984 | 273 Cases | -11.4% |
| 1985 | 251 Cases | -8.1% |
| 1986 | 189 Cases | -24.7% |
| 1987 | 237 Cases | +25.4% |
| 1988 | 177 Cases | -25.3% |
| 1989 | 139 Cases | -21.5% |
| 1990 | 117 Cases | -15.8% |
| 1991 | 93 Cases | -20.5% |
| 1992 | 68 Cases | -26.9% |
| 1993 | 39 Cases | -42.6% |
| 1996 | 21 Cases | -46.2% |
| 1997 | 15 Cases | -28.6% |
| 1998 | 16 Cases | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 4 Cases | -75.0% |
| 2000 | 11 Cases | +175.0% |
| 2001 | 13 Cases | +18.2% |
| 2002 | 38 Cases | +192.3% |
| 2003 | 18 Cases | -52.6% |
| 2004 | 8 Cases | -55.6% |
| 2005 | 3 Cases | -62.5% |
| 2006 | 10 Cases | +233.3% |
| 2007 | 3 Cases | -70.0% |
| 2008 | 1 Cases | -66.7% |
| 2009 | 1 Cases | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1 Cases | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0 Cases | -100.0% |
| 2014 | 2 Cases | — |
| 2017 | 1 Cases | -50.0% |
| 2018 | 9 Cases | +800.0% |
| 2019 | 4 Cases | -55.6% |
| 2020 | 3 Cases | -25.0% |
| 2021 | 4 Cases | +33.3% |
| 2022 | 9 Cases | +125.0% |
| 2023 | 13 Cases | +44.4% |
| 2024 | 33 Cases | +153.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 33 Cases is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5 Cases, 66.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 33 Cases is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.5 Cases, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +800.0% | 1 Cases | 9 Cases |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 273 Cases | 199 Cases | 337 Cases | 6 |
| 1980s | 246.8 Cases | 139 Cases | 356 Cases | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.62 Cases | 4 Cases | 117 Cases | 8 |
| 2000s | 10.6 Cases | 1 Cases | 38 Cases | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.83 Cases | 0 Cases | 9 Cases | 6 |
| 2020s | 12.4 Cases | 3 Cases | 33 Cases | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 31 Bangladesh 40 Cases compare
- 31 Nigeria 40 Cases compare
- 33 Cameroon 36 Cases compare
- 34 Liberia 33 Cases compare
- 36 Mexico 31 Cases compare
- 37 Papua New Guinea 29 Cases compare
- 37 South Korea 29 Cases compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa?
- Number of confirmed cases of tetanus in South Africa was 33 Cases in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of confirmed cases of tetanus recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 356 Cases in 1981.
- What is the lowest number of confirmed cases of tetanus recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 Cases in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for number of confirmed cases of tetanus?
- South Africa ranks 34th out of 210 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of confirmed cases of tetanus rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,550.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Number of confirmed cases of tetanus. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The annual number of confirmed cases of tetanus. Confirmed numbers underestimate the actual number of tetanus cases, due to limited testing and reporting capacity.