Global number of reported disasters by size per decade in South Africa
South Africa: Global number of reported disasters by size per decade was 10 events in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Global number of reported disasters by size per decade in South Africa, 1950–2020
Source: EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
The most recent figure for global number of reported disasters by size per decade in South Africa is 10 events, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 233.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, global number of reported disasters by size per decade in South Africa peaked at 10 events in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 events, in 1950.
That places South Africa 8th out of 156 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 events | 0 events | 0 events | 1 |
| 1960s | 0 events | 0 events | 0 events | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1980s | 0 events | 0 events | 0 events | 1 |
| 1990s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 2000s | 9 events | 9 events | 9 events | 1 |
| 2010s | 3 events | 3 events | 3 events | 1 |
| 2020s | 10 events | 10 events | 10 events | 1 |
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 number of reported disasters by size per decade in South Africa?
- Global number of reported disasters by size per decade in South Africa was 10 events in 2020, according to EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest global number of reported disasters by size per decade recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10 events in 2020.
- What is the lowest global number of reported disasters by size per decade recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 events in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for global number of reported disasters by size per decade?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 156 countries with data for 2020.
- Is global number of reported disasters by size per decade rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 233.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Global number of reported disasters by size per decade. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Reported disasters that result in no more than 5 deaths, affect no more than 1,500 people, and cause economic damages not exceeding 13 million current US dollars. The economic threshold for previous years is adjusted for inflation accordingly.