Per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita renewable freshwater resources was 718.2 in 2022. ▼ Falling
Per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa, 1961–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa is 718.2, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 62 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa peaked at 2,650 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 718.2, in 2022.
That places South Africa 145th out of 183 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2,650 | — |
| 1962 | 2,572 | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 2,495 | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 2,420 | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 2,347 | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 2,275 | -3.1% |
| 1967 | 2,205 | -3.1% |
| 1968 | 2,138 | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 2,073 | -3.0% |
| 1970 | 2,011 | -3.0% |
| 1971 | 1,953 | -2.9% |
| 1972 | 1,898 | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 1,844 | -2.8% |
| 1974 | 1,793 | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 1,744 | -2.7% |
| 1976 | 1,697 | -2.7% |
| 1977 | 1,652 | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 1,607 | -2.7% |
| 1979 | 1,565 | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 1,518 | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 1,467 | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 1,417 | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 1,368 | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 1,322 | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 1,278 | -3.3% |
| 1986 | 1,238 | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 1,200 | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 1,164 | -3.0% |
| 1989 | 1,130 | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 1,099 | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 1,075 | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 1,056 | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 1,035 | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 1,018 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 1,006 | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 992.84 | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 981.02 | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 969.2 | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 958.69 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 949.96 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 941.83 | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 932.96 | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 923.71 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 914.45 | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 905.23 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 896.03 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 886.63 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 876.46 | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 866.06 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 855.88 | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 845.36 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 832.98 | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 819.33 | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 805.83 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 789.8 | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 782.4 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 777.3 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 764.34 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 751.83 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 739.73 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 728.42 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 718.2 | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,353 | 2,073 | 2,650 | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,776 | 1,565 | 2,011 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,310 | 1,130 | 1,518 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,019 | 958.69 | 1,099 | 10 |
| 2000s | 909.33 | 866.06 | 949.96 | 10 |
| 2010s | 802.5 | 751.83 | 855.88 | 10 |
| 2020s | 728.78 | 718.2 | 739.73 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.3% (2025)
- Gas production 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa?
- Per capita renewable freshwater resources in South Africa was 718.2 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita renewable freshwater resources recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,650 in 1961.
- What is the lowest per capita renewable freshwater resources recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 718.2 in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for per capita renewable freshwater resources?
- South Africa ranks 145th out of 183 countries with data for 2022.
- Is per capita renewable freshwater resources rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. 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 Per capita renewable freshwater resources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).