Change in minimum river flow in South Africa
South Africa: Change in minimum river flow was 54.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Change in minimum river flow in South Africa, 2005–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, change in minimum river flow in South Africa stood at 54.6%.
The figure is up 8.9% on the previous year and up 508.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, change in minimum river flow in South Africa peaked at 78.7% in 2005 and was at its lowest, -44.2%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 7th of 226 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Change in minimum river flow in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 78.7% | — |
| 2006 | 25.0% | -68.2% |
| 2007 | -4.1% | -116.5% |
| 2008 | -31.8% | +671.4% |
| 2009 | -28.3% | -10.9% |
| 2010 | -29.9% | +5.7% |
| 2011 | -23.7% | -20.9% |
| 2012 | -19.3% | -18.3% |
| 2013 | -10.2% | -47.2% |
| 2014 | -13.4% | +30.9% |
| 2015 | -4.6% | -65.9% |
| 2016 | -13.8% | +201.7% |
| 2017 | -33.0% | +139.9% |
| 2018 | -32.9% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | -30.6% | -6.9% |
| 2020 | -44.2% | +44.2% |
| 2021 | -36.2% | -18.0% |
| 2022 | 2.5% | -107.0% |
| 2023 | 50.2% | +1892.3% |
| 2024 | 54.6% | +8.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 54.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is -6.0%. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 54.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.5%, 2.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Change in minimum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +1892.3% | 2.5% | 50.2% |
| 2008 | -671.4% | -4.1% | -31.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.9% | -31.8% | 78.7% | 5 |
| 2010s | -21.1% | -33.0% | -4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | -44.2% | 54.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 4 French Guiana 81.7% compare
- 5 Guam 63.8% compare
- 6 Ghana 58.0% compare
- 8 Gambia 53.8% compare
- 9 New Caledonia 53.2% compare
- 10 Burkina Faso 52.1% 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 minimum river flow in South Africa?
- Change in minimum river flow in South Africa was 54.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest change in minimum river flow recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 78.7% in 2005.
- What is the lowest change in minimum river flow recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -44.2% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for change in minimum river flow?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 226 countries with data for 2024.
- Is change in minimum river flow rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 508.9%. 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 minimum 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).