South Africa
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 50% plant-based · 65.3 yr life expectancy · UHC 74/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 158 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
South Africa faces a quadruple burden: HIV and TB, plus a fast-rising tide of heart disease (158/100k), diabetes, and obesity driven by a Westernized urban diet heavy in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods. Coverage is the region's strongest but stretched across all four fronts.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Cut sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods, the main drivers of surging obesity and diabetes.
- Sustain HIV and TB programs while building chronic-disease prevention into primary care.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 158 CVD deaths per 100k · 50% plant-based diet