IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

This statistical release presents mortality and causes of death data based on all death notification forms received from the Department of Home Affairs for the years 2003 and 2004. Some reference is made in the release to 1997-2002 mortality data based on data updated with forms received in the current year of processing and improvements in the determination of stillbirths in order to make the information for eight years (1997-2004) comparable.

The most significant finding is that the number of deaths has increased from 1997 to 2004. In all the years, the number of deaths was higher at ages 0-4 and 30-34 as compared to other ages. In addition, female deaths increase was twice that of males between 2003 and 2004.  The prevalence of various causes of death remained unchanged between 2003 and 2004. For both years, the dominant contributors to the growth in mortality were deaths associated with tuberculosis, and influenza and pneumonia. This was also the case among males and females. The contribution of deaths linked to non-natural underlying causes of death has declined from 17% in 1997 to 9% in 2004.