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Water resources per capita — all countries

Water resources per capita — South Africa

Water resources per capita in South Africa in 2022 — 718 m³/person. Ranked 145 in the world out of 181. Since 1961, the indicator has fallen by 72.9%.

2022 718 m³/person −1.4% vs 2021
World rank 145of 181
Period maximum 2,650 m³/person1961
Period minimum 718 m³/person2022

Trend over time

1961–2022 · m³ per capita

Water resources per capita — South Africa, 1961–202201,0002,0003,00019611968197519821989199620032010201720221961: 2,650 m³/person1963: 2,495 m³/person1965: 2,347 m³/person1967: 2,205 m³/person1969: 2,073 m³/person1971: 1,953 m³/person1973: 1,844 m³/person1975: 1,744 m³/person1977: 1,652 m³/person1979: 1,565 m³/person1981: 1,467 m³/person1983: 1,368 m³/person1985: 1,278 m³/person1987: 1,200 m³/person1989: 1,130 m³/person1991: 1,075 m³/person1993: 1,035 m³/person1995: 1,006 m³/person1997: 981 m³/person1999: 959 m³/person2001: 942 m³/person2003: 924 m³/person2005: 905 m³/person2007: 887 m³/person2009: 866 m³/person2011: 845 m³/person2013: 819 m³/person2015: 790 m³/person2017: 777 m³/person2019: 752 m³/person2021: 728 m³/person2022: 718 m³/person
Change over the period: −1,931 (−72.89%) Average annual rate: -2.12 %

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 718 m³/person
World 5,393 m³/person
Sub-Saharan Africa 3,162 m³/person
Southern Africa computed 860 m³/person
Upper-middle-income countries computed 6,572 m³/person
Water resources per capita — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year m³/person Change Change, %
2022 718 −10 −1.4%
2021 728 −11 −1.53%
2020 740 −12 −1.61%
2019 752 −13 −1.64%
2018 764 −13 −1.67%
2017 777 −5 −0.65%
2016 782 −7 −0.94%
2015 790 −16 −1.99%
2014 806 −14 −1.65%
2013 819 −14 −1.64%
2012 833 −12 −1.46%
2011 845 −11 −1.23%
2010 856 −10 −1.18%
2009 866 −10 −1.19%
2008 876 −10 −1.15%
2007 887 −9 −1.05%
2006 896 −9 −1.02%
2005 905 −9 −1.01%
2004 914 −9 −1%
2003 924 −9 −0.99%
2002 933 −9 −0.94%
2001 942 −8 −0.86%
2000 950 −9 −0.91%
1999 959 −11 −1.08%
1998 969 −12 −1.21%
1997 981 −12 −1.19%
1996 993 −13 −1.29%
1995 1,006 −12 −1.21%
1994 1,018 −17 −1.61%
1993 1,035 −21 −1.97%
1992 1,056 −19 −1.78%
1991 1,075 −25 −2.26%
1990 1,099 −31 −2.74%
1989 1,130 −34 −2.9%
1988 1,164 −36 −3%
1987 1,200 −38 −3.07%
1986 1,238 −40 −3.15%
1985 1,278 −43 −3.28%
1984 1,322 −47 −3.4%
1983 1,368 −49 −3.43%
1982 1,417 −50 −3.4%
1981 1,467 −51 −3.35%
1980 1,518 −47 −3%
1979 1,565 −43 −2.67%
1978 1,607 −44 −2.69%
1977 1,652 −45 −2.67%
1976 1,697 −47 −2.67%
1975 1,744 −49 −2.73%
1974 1,793 −51 −2.78%
1973 1,844 −53 −2.82%
1972 1,898 −55 −2.83%
1971 1,953 −58 −2.89%
1970 2,011 −62 −2.99%
1969 2,073 −65 −3.04%
1968 2,138 −68 −3.07%
1967 2,205 −70 −3.07%
1966 2,275 −72 −3.05%
1965 2,347 −73 −3.03%
1964 2,420 −75 −3.01%
1963 2,495 −77 −2.99%
1962 2,572 −78 −2.93%
1961 2,650 — —

Southern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

LS Lesotho 2,288 SZ Eswatini 2,166 NA Namibia 2,132 BW Botswana 984 ZA South Africa 718
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Internal renewable water resources divided by the population. This is the conventional measure of water scarcity: below 1,700 cubic meters per person a year indicates water stress, below 1,000 scarcity, and below 500 absolute scarcity. The value falls even where the water itself does not diminish — simply from population growth — and the series shows which countries are entering scarcity demographically.

Important: The aggregate for a group is all of its water resources divided by all of its population. The thresholds of 1,700, 1,000 and 500 m³ are widely used benchmarks, not an official classification.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for South Africa

Environment Renewable water resources

How much water a country's own annual cycle gives it — with no inflow from abroad.

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How much water is withdrawn relative to the internal resources available.

South Africa by year Nutrition Safely managed drinking water

The share of people who have water at home, available round the clock and free of contamination.

South Africa by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

South Africa by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

South Africa by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa