Voluntary assisted dying activity snapshot (Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board Annual Report 2024-25)

First requests for voluntary assisted dying

First request by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024

2023-24 2024-25 % change
Accepted 399*** 574  
Refused 6 5  
Total 405*** 579 43% increase

First assessments

first assessments by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024

2023-24 2024-25 % change
Eligible 344 514
Ineligible 36 40
Total 380 554 46% increase

Consulting assessments

Consulting assessments by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024

2023-24 2024-25 % change
Eligible 307 459
Ineligible 7*** 3
Total 314*** 462 47% increase

Permits issued*

Permits issued by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024

2023-24 2024-25 % change
Self-administration* 230*** 343
Practitioner administration* 24*** 63
Total 254*** 403 60% increase

Voluntary assisted dying substance dispensed

Substance dispensed by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024

2023-24 2024-25 % change
Self-administration 214 280
Practitioner administration 20 54
Total 234 334 43% increase

Voluntary assisted dying deaths*

Deaths by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024

2023-24 2024-25 % change
Self-administration 141 200
Practitioner administration 15 51
Total 156 251 61% increase

Voluntary assisted dying deaths as a proportion of all deaths in SA**

Deaths as a proportion of all deaths by year, between 2022-23 and June 2024
2023-24 2024-25 % change
1.0% 1.6% 60% increase

Notes

* Deaths from administration of the VAD substance.

**Total deaths in SA in 2023-24 were 15,296 and in 2024-25 were 15,629 (Registrar, BDM)

***Some figures have been revised for 2023-24:

  • first requests previously reported as 404
  • consulting assessments previously reported as 311
  • permits issued previously reported as 250, for further details see voluntary assisted dying statistics, table 2 — permit applications by type