Annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa
South Africa: Annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people was 236.49 articles per million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
236.49 articles per million people
Change on year
down 7.1%
World rank
73rd
of 196 countries
All-time high
254.59 articles per million people
in 2022
All-time low
84.07 articles per million people
in 2000
Years of data
28
1996–2023
Annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa, 1996–2023
Source: National Science Foundation Science and Engineering Indicators, via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed. Measured in articles per million people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa stood at 236.49 articles per million people.
The figure is down 7.1% on the previous year and up 35.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa peaked at 254.59 articles per million people in 2022 and was at its lowest, 84.07 articles per million people, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 73rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa, year by year
| Year | articles per million people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 86.99 articles per million people | — |
| 1997 | 85.93 articles per million people | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 86.64 articles per million people | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 86.56 articles per million people | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 84.07 articles per million people | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 87.39 articles per million people | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 93.34 articles per million people | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 89.75 articles per million people | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 100.89 articles per million people | +12.4% |
| 2005 | 106.02 articles per million people | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 116.32 articles per million people | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 118.18 articles per million people | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 123.97 articles per million people | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 137.59 articles per million people | +11.0% |
| 2010 | 144.75 articles per million people | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 155.51 articles per million people | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 166.36 articles per million people | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 174.62 articles per million people | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 181.43 articles per million people | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 191.96 articles per million people | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 208.79 articles per million people | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 222.25 articles per million people | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 225.76 articles per million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 246.53 articles per million people | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 252.78 articles per million people | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 251.67 articles per million people | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 254.59 articles per million people | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 236.49 articles per million people | -7.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 236.49 articles per million people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 142.49 articles per million people, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 236.49 articles per million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.81 articles per million people, 13.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 86.53 articles per million people | 85.93 articles per million people | 86.99 articles per million people | 4 |
| 2000s | 105.75 articles per million people | 84.07 articles per million people | 137.59 articles per million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 191.8 articles per million people | 144.75 articles per million people | 246.53 articles per million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 248.88 articles per million people | 236.49 articles per million people | 254.59 articles per million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 70 North Macedonia 272.99 articles per million people compare
- 71 Armenia 270.38 articles per million people compare
- 72 Morocco 257.87 articles per million people compare
- 74 Fiji 235.75 articles per million people compare
- 75 Thailand 232.29 articles per million people compare
- 76 Barbados 201.14 articles per million people 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 annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa?
- Annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people in South Africa was 236.49 articles per million people in 2023, according to National Science Foundation Science and Engineering Indicators, via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed.
- What is the highest annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 254.59 articles per million people in 2022.
- What is the lowest annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.07 articles per million people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people?
- South Africa ranks 73rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from National Science Foundation Science and Engineering Indicators, via World Bank (2026); United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed, published as part of Annual articles published in scientific and technical journals per million people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Scientific and technical journal articles per million people. Disciplines include physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, clinical medicine, biomedical research, engineering and technology, and earth and space sciences.