Global change over the last 50 years in South Africa
South Africa: Global change over the last 50 years was 530,377 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
530,377
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
42nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.21 million
in 1968
All-time low
455,573
in 1996
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Global change over the last 50 years in South Africa, 1965–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for global change over the last 50 years in South Africa is 530,377, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, global change over the last 50 years in South Africa peaked at 2.21 million in 1968 and was at its lowest, 455,573, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Global change over the last 50 years in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.42 million | — |
| 1966 | 1.42 million | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 1.77 million | +24.5% |
| 1968 | 2.21 million | +24.7% |
| 1969 | 1.97 million | -10.9% |
| 1970 | 1.37 million | -30.6% |
| 1971 | 1.29 million | -5.5% |
| 1972 | 1.27 million | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 1.51 million | +18.8% |
| 1974 | 1.55 million | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 1.49 million | -3.6% |
| 1976 | 1.27 million | -14.6% |
| 1977 | 1.10 million | -13.7% |
| 1978 | 1.11 million | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 1.09 million | -2.4% |
| 1980 | 932,571 | -14.2% |
| 1981 | 948,011 | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 929,551 | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 995,571 | +7.1% |
| 1984 | 785,460 | -21.1% |
| 1985 | 849,726 | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 854,131 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 1.47 million | +71.8% |
| 1988 | 1.34 million | -8.8% |
| 1989 | 907,705 | -32.1% |
| 1990 | 553,697 | -39.0% |
| 1991 | 516,997 | -6.6% |
| 1992 | 716,648 | +38.6% |
| 1993 | 592,934 | -17.3% |
| 1994 | 557,912 | -5.9% |
| 1995 | 600,879 | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 455,573 | -24.2% |
| 1997 | 543,733 | +19.4% |
| 1998 | 588,375 | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 637,296 | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 696,819 | +9.3% |
| 2001 | 818,758 | +17.5% |
| 2002 | 843,634 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 878,617 | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 953,523 | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 856,607 | -10.2% |
| 2006 | 659,160 | -23.0% |
| 2007 | 731,363 | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 701,533 | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 553,322 | -21.1% |
| 2010 | 693,071 | +25.3% |
| 2011 | 581,002 | -16.2% |
| 2012 | 796,152 | +37.0% |
| 2013 | 511,860 | -35.7% |
| 2014 | 736,274 | +43.8% |
| 2015 | 638,552 | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 667,844 | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 596,899 | -10.6% |
| 2018 | 632,878 | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 529,100 | -16.4% |
| 2020 | 663,839 | +25.5% |
| 2021 | 626,731 | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 596,148 | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 532,180 | -10.7% |
| 2024 | 530,377 | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 530,377 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 39,945, 13.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 530,377 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 96,501, 5.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.76 million | 1.42 million | 2.21 million | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.30 million | 1.09 million | 1.55 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.00 million | 785,460 | 1.47 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 576,404 | 455,573 | 716,648 | 10 |
| 2000s | 769,334 | 553,322 | 953,523 | 10 |
| 2010s | 638,363 | 511,860 | 796,152 | 10 |
| 2020s | 589,855 | 530,377 | 663,839 | 5 |
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 global change over the last 50 years in South Africa?
- Global change over the last 50 years in South Africa was 530,377 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest global change over the last 50 years recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.21 million in 1968.
- What is the lowest global change over the last 50 years recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 455,573 in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for global change over the last 50 years?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is global change over the last 50 years rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Global change over the last 50 years. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).