Mortality Level in the New South Africa: Looking for Causes

Mortality levels display the extent to which a country has advanced to take care of her citizens. Developed countries have lower mortality rates (high life expectancy) while developing countries have higher mortality rates (lower life expectancy). Knowledge about the level of mortality induces governments to take appropriate measures to improve all spheres of human life, economic, religious, social, and environmental. South Africa lacks quality data on mortality and fertility. This study adjusts the defective mortality data from the 10% sample of South African 2001 census and uses that to estimate mortality levels and factors influencing the level. Demographic and statistical analyses, including Brass growth balance method have been employed. The study produces the following results for the country: life expectancy of 52.5 years for females and 49.8 years for males, median age of 23 years, mean household size of 4 persons, annual population growth rate of 1.2 percent, literacy rate of 76 percent and mean household income of R3356 (about US$480).