River flow minimum in South Africa

South Africa: River flow minimum was 14,574 m3 per sec in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
14,574 m3 per sec
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
69th
of 234 countries
All-time high
16,840 m3 per sec
in 2005
All-time low
5,262 m3 per sec
in 2020
Years of data
20
2005–2024

River flow minimum in South Africa, 2005–2024

5.0k7.5k10.0k12.5k15.0k17.5k2005201420242005: 16.8k m3 per sec2006: 11.8k m3 per sec2007: 9.0k m3 per sec2008: 6.4k m3 per sec2009: 6.8k m3 per sec2010: 6.6k m3 per sec2011: 7.2k m3 per sec2012: 7.6k m3 per sec2013: 8.5k m3 per sec2014: 8.2k m3 per sec2015: 9.0k m3 per sec2016: 8.1k m3 per sec2017: 6.3k m3 per sec2018: 6.3k m3 per sec2019: 6.5k m3 per sec2020: 5.3k m3 per sec2021: 6.0k m3 per sec2022: 9.7k m3 per sec2023: 14.2k m3 per sec2024: 14.6k m3 per sec

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in m3 per sec.

Analysis

In 2024, river flow minimum in South Africa stood at 14,574 m3 per sec.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 78.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, river flow minimum in South Africa peaked at 16,840 m3 per sec in 2005 and was at its lowest, 5,262 m3 per sec, in 2020.

South Africa ranks 69th of 234 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

River flow minimum in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for River flow minimum (m3/s) in South Africa, 2005 to 2024.
Year m3 per sec Change
2005 16,840 m3 per sec —
2006 11,782 m3 per sec -30.0%
2007 9,037 m3 per sec -23.3%
2008 6,428 m3 per sec -28.9%
2009 6,756 m3 per sec +5.1%
2010 6,604 m3 per sec -2.3%
2011 7,193 m3 per sec +8.9%
2012 7,602 m3 per sec +5.7%
2013 8,463 m3 per sec +11.3%
2014 8,166 m3 per sec -3.5%
2015 8,995 m3 per sec +10.2%
2016 8,128 m3 per sec -9.6%
2017 6,314 m3 per sec -22.3%
2018 6,322 m3 per sec +0.1%
2019 6,537 m3 per sec +3.4%
2020 5,262 m3 per sec -19.5%
2021 6,013 m3 per sec +14.3%
2022 9,662 m3 per sec +60.7%
2023 14,152 m3 per sec +46.5%
2024 14,574 m3 per sec +3.0%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 14,574 m3 per sec is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3,837 m3 per sec, 3.8× the median. (51 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 14,574 m3 per sec is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8,245 m3 per sec, 1.8× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10,168 m3 per sec 6,428 m3 per sec 16,840 m3 per sec 5
2010s 7,433 m3 per sec 6,314 m3 per sec 8,995 m3 per sec 10
2020s 9,933 m3 per sec 5,262 m3 per sec 14,574 m3 per sec 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 66 Croatia 15,931 m3 per sec compare
  2. 67 Turkmenistan 15,205 m3 per sec compare
  3. 68 Finland 14,868 m3 per sec compare
  4. 70 United Republic of Tanzania 14,371 m3 per sec compare
  5. 71 Afghanistan 14,198 m3 per sec compare
  6. 72 Iraq 13,326 m3 per sec compare

See the full ranking of 270 places →

More development goals data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is river flow minimum in South Africa?
River flow minimum in South Africa was 14,574 m3 per sec in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest river flow minimum recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 16,840 m3 per sec in 2005.
What is the lowest river flow minimum recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 5,262 m3 per sec in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for river flow minimum?
South Africa ranks 69th out of 234 countries with data for 2024.
Is river flow minimum rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 78.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of River flow minimum (m3/s). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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River flow minimum in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/river-flow-minimum-m3-s/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
River flow minimum (m3/s)
Unit
m3 per sec
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
270 places, 5,400 data points, 2005–2024
Last refreshed