Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita was 0.9439 million ton-km per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in million ton-km per person.
Analysis
In 2023, tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa stood at 0.9439 million ton-km per person.
That represents a change of down 58.9% on the previous year and down 95.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa peaked at 24.66 million ton-km per person in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.246 million ton-km per person, in 2021.
That places South Africa 101st out of 180 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | million ton-km per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.55 million ton-km per person | — |
| 1971 | 2.79 million ton-km per person | +9.3% |
| 1972 | 3.21 million ton-km per person | +15.3% |
| 1973 | 4.64 million ton-km per person | +44.5% |
| 1974 | 5.75 million ton-km per person | +23.9% |
| 1975 | 5.54 million ton-km per person | -3.6% |
| 1976 | 5.54 million ton-km per person | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 6.41 million ton-km per person | +15.6% |
| 1978 | 7.97 million ton-km per person | +24.3% |
| 1979 | 8.28 million ton-km per person | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 8.51 million ton-km per person | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 10.2 million ton-km per person | +19.8% |
| 1982 | 10.06 million ton-km per person | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 11.22 million ton-km per person | +11.5% |
| 1984 | 13.07 million ton-km per person | +16.5% |
| 1985 | 11.18 million ton-km per person | -14.4% |
| 1986 | 8.52 million ton-km per person | -23.8% |
| 1987 | 7.18 million ton-km per person | -15.7% |
| 1988 | 6.19 million ton-km per person | -13.8% |
| 1989 | 5.19 million ton-km per person | -16.2% |
| 1990 | 4.4 million ton-km per person | -15.2% |
| 1991 | 4.58 million ton-km per person | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 6.2 million ton-km per person | +35.3% |
| 1993 | 7.69 million ton-km per person | +24.0% |
| 1994 | 6.28 million ton-km per person | -18.3% |
| 1995 | 5.91 million ton-km per person | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 7.28 million ton-km per person | +23.2% |
| 1997 | 9.21 million ton-km per person | +26.5% |
| 1998 | 11.59 million ton-km per person | +25.9% |
| 1999 | 14.73 million ton-km per person | +27.1% |
| 2000 | 14.58 million ton-km per person | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 15.88 million ton-km per person | +8.9% |
| 2002 | 16.32 million ton-km per person | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 18.38 million ton-km per person | +12.6% |
| 2004 | 18.96 million ton-km per person | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 18.66 million ton-km per person | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 24.66 million ton-km per person | +32.2% |
| 2007 | 18.59 million ton-km per person | -24.6% |
| 2008 | 14.89 million ton-km per person | -19.9% |
| 2009 | 13.08 million ton-km per person | -12.2% |
| 2010 | 19.59 million ton-km per person | +49.8% |
| 2011 | 20.25 million ton-km per person | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 21.84 million ton-km per person | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 20.54 million ton-km per person | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 18.76 million ton-km per person | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 15.74 million ton-km per person | -16.1% |
| 2016 | 13.4 million ton-km per person | -14.9% |
| 2017 | 14.46 million ton-km per person | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 11.89 million ton-km per person | -17.8% |
| 2019 | 9.49 million ton-km per person | -20.2% |
| 2020 | 1.69 million ton-km per person | -82.2% |
| 2021 | 0.246 million ton-km per person | -85.4% |
| 2022 | 2.3 million ton-km per person | +833.8% |
| 2023 | 0.9439 million ton-km per person | -58.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.9439 million ton-km per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.05 million ton-km per person, 31% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.9439 million ton-km per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0828 million ton-km per person, 11.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +833.8% | 0.246 million ton-km per person | 2.3 million ton-km per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.27 million ton-km per person | 2.55 million ton-km per person | 8.28 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.13 million ton-km per person | 5.19 million ton-km per person | 13.07 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.79 million ton-km per person | 4.4 million ton-km per person | 14.73 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.4 million ton-km per person | 13.08 million ton-km per person | 24.66 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.59 million ton-km per person | 9.49 million ton-km per person | 21.84 million ton-km per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.29 million ton-km per person | 0.246 million ton-km per person | 2.3 million ton-km per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 98 India 1.26 million ton-km per person compare
- 99 Pakistan 1.25 million ton-km per person compare
- 100 Uruguay 1.14 million ton-km per person compare
- 102 Tunisia 0.8983 million ton-km per person compare
- 103 Congo 0.7391 million ton-km per person compare
- 104 Papua New Guinea 0.6854 million ton-km per person 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 tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa?
- Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita in South Africa was 0.9439 million ton-km per person in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 24.66 million ton-km per person in 2006.
- What is the lowest tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.246 million ton-km per person in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita?
- South Africa ranks 101st out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 95.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Tonne-kilometers of air freight, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Tonne-kilometers of air freight divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Tonne-kilometers of air freight ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Tonne-kilometers of air freight International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Tonne-kilometers of air freight divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.