Terrestrial protected areas in South Africa
South Africa: Terrestrial protected areas was 9.6 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Terrestrial protected areas in South Africa, 2013–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, terrestrial protected areas in South Africa stood at 9.6.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial protected areas in South Africa peaked at 14.1 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 7, in 2013.
That places South Africa 155th out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Terrestrial protected areas in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7 | — |
| 2014 | 8.9 | +27.1% |
| 2015 | 11.2 | +25.8% |
| 2016 | 14.1 | +25.9% |
| 2017 | 14.1 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8 | -43.3% |
| 2019 | 8.3 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 8.6 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 8.7 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 9.3 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 9.3 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 9.5 | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 9.6 | +1.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 9.6 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.6, 62% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 9.6 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.9, 57% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Terrestrial protected areas in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | -43.3% | 14.1 | 8 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10.23 | 7 | 14.1 | 7 |
| 2020s | 9.17 | 8.6 | 9.6 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 152 British Virgin Islands 10.5 compare
- 153 Kazakhstan 10.1 compare
- 154 Palestine 10 compare
- 156 Bosnia and Herzegovina 9.5 compare
- 157 Saint Martin (French Part) 9.3 compare
- 158 Belarus 9.2 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 terrestrial protected areas in South Africa?
- Terrestrial protected areas in South Africa was 9.6 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest terrestrial protected areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.1 in 2016.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- South Africa ranks 155th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. 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 Terrestrial protected areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).