Change in maximum river flow in South Africa
South Africa: Change in maximum river flow was 111.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Change in maximum river flow in South Africa, 2005–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for change in maximum river flow in South Africa is 111.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 12.1% on the previous year and up 1,923.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, change in maximum river flow in South Africa peaked at 111.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, -30.8%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 226 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Change in maximum river flow in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 29.1% | — |
| 2006 | -30.0% | -203.1% |
| 2007 | -17.9% | -40.2% |
| 2008 | -24.5% | +36.5% |
| 2009 | -18.2% | -25.7% |
| 2010 | -14.7% | -18.9% |
| 2011 | -4.2% | -71.8% |
| 2012 | -5.1% | +22.5% |
| 2013 | -4.5% | -11.3% |
| 2014 | -6.1% | +35.2% |
| 2015 | 16.4% | -369.0% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | -75.1% |
| 2017 | -21.7% | -629.8% |
| 2018 | -3.3% | -84.6% |
| 2019 | -2.1% | -36.4% |
| 2020 | -30.8% | +1348.4% |
| 2021 | -24.6% | -19.9% |
| 2022 | 43.2% | -275.3% |
| 2023 | 99.3% | +129.9% |
| 2024 | 111.3% | +12.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 111.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -1.0%. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 111.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.1%, 4.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Change in maximum river flow 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1348.4% | -2.1% | -30.8% |
| 2017 | -629.8% | 4.1% | -21.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -12.3% | -30.0% | 29.1% | 5 |
| 2010s | -4.1% | -21.7% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.7% | -30.8% | 111.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 United Arab Emirates 146.4% compare
- 3 Lesotho 83.8% compare
- 4 Burkina Faso 82.2% compare
- 5 Eswatini 70.7% compare
More development goals data for South Africa
- Red List Index 0.8693 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 1.8 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 651.49 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 105 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 101 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 33 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 40 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 56 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 61 (2025)
- Infant deaths 28,570 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is change in maximum river flow in South Africa?
- Change in maximum river flow in South Africa was 111.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest change in maximum river flow recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 111.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest change in maximum river flow recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -30.8% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for change in maximum river flow?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 226 countries with data for 2024.
- Is change in maximum river flow rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,923.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Change in maximum river flow (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 20 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).