Number of terrorist attacks in South Africa
South Africa: Number of terrorist attacks was 15 attacks in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Number of terrorist attacks in South Africa, 1970–2021
Source: National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in attacks.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of terrorist attacks in South Africa is 15 attacks, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 11.8% on the previous year and down 44.4% over five years.
Over the whole period, number of terrorist attacks in South Africa peaked at 271 attacks in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0 attacks, in 1970.
That places South Africa 31st out of 188 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of terrorist attacks in South Africa, year by year
| Year | attacks | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1971 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1972 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1973 | 0 attacks | — |
| 1974 | 1 attacks | — |
| 1975 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 1976 | 1 attacks | — |
| 1977 | 15 attacks | +1400.0% |
| 1978 | 9 attacks | -40.0% |
| 1979 | 16 attacks | +77.8% |
| 1980 | 23 attacks | +43.8% |
| 1981 | 42 attacks | +82.6% |
| 1982 | 26 attacks | -38.1% |
| 1983 | 56 attacks | +115.4% |
| 1984 | 60 attacks | +7.1% |
| 1985 | 106 attacks | +76.7% |
| 1986 | 159 attacks | +50.0% |
| 1987 | 133 attacks | -16.4% |
| 1988 | 245 attacks | +84.2% |
| 1989 | 149 attacks | -39.2% |
| 1990 | 154 attacks | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 127 attacks | -17.5% |
| 1992 | 271 attacks | +113.4% |
| 1994 | 174 attacks | -35.8% |
| 1995 | 32 attacks | -81.6% |
| 1996 | 47 attacks | +46.9% |
| 1997 | 17 attacks | -63.8% |
| 1998 | 6 attacks | -64.7% |
| 1999 | 17 attacks | +183.3% |
| 2000 | 21 attacks | +23.5% |
| 2001 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 8 attacks | — |
| 2003 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 0 attacks | — |
| 2005 | 0 attacks | — |
| 2006 | 0 attacks | — |
| 2007 | 2 attacks | — |
| 2008 | 1 attacks | -50.0% |
| 2009 | 0 attacks | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 0 attacks | — |
| 2011 | 0 attacks | — |
| 2012 | 4 attacks | — |
| 2013 | 13 attacks | +225.0% |
| 2014 | 20 attacks | +53.8% |
| 2015 | 5 attacks | -75.0% |
| 2016 | 27 attacks | +440.0% |
| 2017 | 29 attacks | +7.4% |
| 2018 | 41 attacks | +41.4% |
| 2019 | 23 attacks | -43.9% |
| 2020 | 17 attacks | -26.1% |
| 2021 | 15 attacks | -11.8% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15 attacks is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1 attacks, 15.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of terrorist attacks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +1400.0% | 1 attacks | 15 attacks |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.2 attacks | 0 attacks | 16 attacks | 10 |
| 1980s | 99.9 attacks | 23 attacks | 245 attacks | 10 |
| 1990s | 93.89 attacks | 6 attacks | 271 attacks | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.2 attacks | 0 attacks | 21 attacks | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2 attacks | 0 attacks | 41 attacks | 10 |
| 2020s | 16 attacks | 15 attacks | 17 attacks | 2 |
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 number of terrorist attacks in South Africa?
- Number of terrorist attacks in South Africa was 15 attacks in 2021, according to National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of terrorist attacks recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 271 attacks in 1992.
- What is the lowest number of terrorist attacks recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 attacks in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for number of terrorist attacks?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 188 countries with data for 2021.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of terrorist attacks. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total number of terrorist attacks.