Average annual surface temperature in South Africa
South Africa: Average annual surface temperature was 18.35 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
18.35
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
123rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
19.13
in 2019
All-time low
16.39
in 1955
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Average annual surface temperature in South Africa, 1940–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average annual surface temperature in South Africa is 18.35, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.0% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual surface temperature in South Africa peaked at 19.13 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 16.39, in 1955.
That places South Africa 123rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 86 years of available data.
Average annual surface temperature in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 17.73 | — |
| 1941 | 17.89 | +0.9% |
| 1942 | 16.94 | -5.3% |
| 1943 | 16.72 | -1.3% |
| 1944 | 16.62 | -0.6% |
| 1945 | 17.33 | +4.3% |
| 1946 | 17.17 | -1.0% |
| 1947 | 16.72 | -2.6% |
| 1948 | 16.57 | -0.9% |
| 1949 | 17.66 | +6.6% |
| 1950 | 17.38 | -1.6% |
| 1951 | 17.4 | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 17.54 | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 17.82 | +1.6% |
| 1954 | 16.69 | -6.4% |
| 1955 | 16.39 | -1.8% |
| 1956 | 16.87 | +2.9% |
| 1957 | 17.22 | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 17.39 | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 17.23 | -0.9% |
| 1960 | 17.26 | +0.2% |
| 1961 | 17.25 | -0.1% |
| 1962 | 17.61 | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 17.21 | -2.3% |
| 1964 | 17.04 | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 17.19 | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 17.62 | +2.5% |
| 1967 | 17.01 | -3.4% |
| 1968 | 16.56 | -2.6% |
| 1969 | 17.38 | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 17.52 | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 17.07 | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 17.44 | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 17.28 | -0.9% |
| 1974 | 16.69 | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 16.74 | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 16.53 | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 17.32 | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 17.17 | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 17.46 | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 17.49 | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 16.89 | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 17.58 | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 18.01 | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 17.78 | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 17.89 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 17.84 | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 17.92 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 17.37 | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 17.19 | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 17.53 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 17.51 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 18.02 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 18.05 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 17.43 | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 17.53 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 16.83 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 17.27 | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 17.87 | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 18.33 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 17.24 | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 17.6 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 17.77 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 18.11 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 18.04 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 18.12 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 17.44 | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 17.85 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 17.88 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 17.76 | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 18.23 | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 17.32 | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 17.71 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 17.86 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 17.95 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 18.84 | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 18.83 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 18.28 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 18.37 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 19.13 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 18.18 | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 17.85 | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 18.12 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 18.24 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 18.92 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 18.35 | -3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 18.35 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23.03, 80% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 18.35 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 25.65, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 17.13 | 16.57 | 17.89 | 10 |
| 1950s | 17.19 | 16.39 | 17.82 | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.21 | 16.56 | 17.62 | 10 |
| 1970s | 17.12 | 16.53 | 17.52 | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.59 | 16.89 | 18.01 | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.64 | 16.83 | 18.33 | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.78 | 17.24 | 18.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.25 | 17.32 | 19.13 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.28 | 17.85 | 18.92 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 average annual surface temperature in South Africa?
- Average annual surface temperature in South Africa was 18.35 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average annual surface temperature recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.13 in 2019.
- What is the lowest average annual surface temperature recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.39 in 1955.
- How does South Africa rank for average annual surface temperature?
- South Africa ranks 123rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average annual surface temperature rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Average annual surface temperature. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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