Red List Index in South Africa
South Africa: Red List Index was 0.87 index in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
0.87 index
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
104th
of 247 countries
All-time high
0.92 index
in 1980
All-time low
0.87 index
in 2023
Years of data
46
1980–2025
Red List Index in South Africa, 1980–2025
Source: BirdLife International and IUCN – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in index.
Analysis
The most recent figure for red list index in South Africa is 0.87 index, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 46 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, red list index in South Africa peaked at 0.92 index in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.87 index, in 2023.
That places South Africa 104th out of 247 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Red List Index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | index | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.92 index | — |
| 1981 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.92 index | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.91 index | -1.1% |
| 1989 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.91 index | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.9 index | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.9 index | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.9 index | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.9 index | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.89 index | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 0.89 index | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.89 index | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.89 index | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.88 index | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 0.88 index | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.88 index | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.88 index | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.87 index | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 0.87 index | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.87 index | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.87 index is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.825 index, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.87 index is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.92 index, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.918 index | 0.91 index | 0.92 index | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.91 index | 0.91 index | 0.91 index | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.91 index | 0.91 index | 0.91 index | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.895 index | 0.88 index | 0.91 index | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.875 index | 0.87 index | 0.88 index | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 104 Bolivia 0.87 index compare
- 104 Macao 0.87 index compare
- 104 Papua New Guinea 0.87 index compare
- 104 Syria 0.87 index compare
- 104 United Arab Emirates 0.87 index 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 red list index in South Africa?
- Red list index in South Africa was 0.87 index in 2025, according to BirdLife International and IUCN – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest red list index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.92 index in 1980.
- What is the lowest red list index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.87 index in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for red list index?
- South Africa ranks 104th out of 247 countries with data for 2025.
- Is red list index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from BirdLife International and IUCN – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Red List Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Red List Index.