Global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate was -100 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-100 % change on previous year
Change on year
down 50.0%
World rank
22nd
of 72 countries
All-time high
100 % change on previous year
in 2001
All-time low
-100 % change on previous year
in 1978
Years of data
13
1978–2025
Global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1978–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2025, global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa stood at -100 % change on previous year. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 50.0% on the previous year and unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 100 % change on previous year in 2001 and was at its lowest, -100 % change on previous year, in 1978.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 72 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | -100 % change on previous year | — |
| 1998 | -100 % change on previous year | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 100 % change on previous year | -200.0% |
| 2002 | 50 % change on previous year | -50.0% |
| 2003 | -33.33 % change on previous year | -166.7% |
| 2004 | -100 % change on previous year | +200.0% |
| 2010 | -100 % change on previous year | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -100 % change on previous year | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2021 | -100 % change on previous year | — |
| 2023 | -25 % change on previous year | -75.0% |
| 2024 | -66.67 % change on previous year | +166.7% |
| 2025 | -100 % change on previous year | +50.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -100 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -100 % change on previous year, 1.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -100 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -100 % change on previous year, 1.0× the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -100 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | 1 |
| 1990s | -100 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | 1 |
| 2000s | 4.17 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | 100 % change on previous year | 4 |
| 2010s | -100 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | 2 |
| 2020s | -58.33 % change on previous year | -100 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 21 China -66.67 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Afghanistan -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Albania -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Argentina -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Australia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Austria -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Belgium -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Bulgaria -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Bosnia and Herzegovina -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Bolivia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Switzerland -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Democratic Republic of Congo -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Costa Rica -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Cuba -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Czechia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Germany -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Dominican Republic -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Ecuador -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 United Kingdom -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Greece -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Guatemala -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Honduras -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Croatia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Haiti -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Indonesia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 India -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Ireland -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Kenya -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 South Korea -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Sri Lanka -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Madagascar -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Mexico -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Mozambique -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Nigeria -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Nicaragua -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Netherlands -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Pakistan -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Panama -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Papua New Guinea -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Poland -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Portugal -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Romania -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Russia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Serbia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Slovakia -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Tajikistan -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Turkey -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Uganda -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Uruguay -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Venezuela -100 % change on previous year compare
- 22 Vietnam -100 % change on previous year compare
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 number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate in South Africa was -100 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 100 % change on previous year in 2001.
- What is the lowest global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -100 % change on previous year in 1978.
- How does South Africa rank for global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Global number of reported disasters by size, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Global number of reported disasters by size. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Global number of reported disasters by size EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Global number of reported disasters by size. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.