15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Montane; Land Cover: Terrestrial in South Africa
South Africa: 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Montane; Land Cover: Terrestrial was 5,464 km2 in 2021. ▬ Flat
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Montane; Land Cover: Terrestrial in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in km2.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial in South Africa is 5,464 km2, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 27.7% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial in South Africa peaked at 7,553 km2 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5,464 km2, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 8th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Montane; Land Cover: Terrestrial in South Africa, year by year
| Year | km2 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6,500 km2 | — |
| 2005 | 6,124 km2 | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 5,747 km2 | -6.2% |
| 2015 | 5,972 km2 | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 7,553 km2 | +26.5% |
| 2021 | 5,464 km2 | -27.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 5,464 km2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7 km2, 780.6× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,312 km2 | 6,124 km2 | 6,500 km2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 6,424 km2 | 5,747 km2 | 7,553 km2 | 3 |
| 2020s | 5,464 km2 | 5,464 km2 | 5,464 km2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 5 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1.1 km2 compare
- 5 Tajikistan 17,924 km2 compare
- 6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 0.4 km2 compare
- 6 Pakistan 10,555 km2 compare
- 7 Morocco 7,227 km2 compare
- 7 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 0.3 km2 compare
- 8 United Republic of Tanzania 0.2 km2 compare
- 9 Kyrgyzstan 5,375 km2 compare
- 10 Lao People's Democratic Republic 0 km2
- 10 Namibia 4,662 km2 compare
- 10 Republic of Moldova 0 km2
- 10 Viet Nam 0 km2
- 11 Peru 4,062 km2 compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Agricultural Use, gaps filled 312,403 t (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Agricultural Use, annual growth rate 51.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Country area — Area, annual growth rate 0.0418 % change on previous year (2024)
- Country area — Area, per unit of GDP 0 1000 ha per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Country area — Area, per capita 0.0019 1000 ha per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial in South Africa?
- 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial in South Africa was 5,464 km2 in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7,553 km2 in 2018.
- What is the lowest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,464 km2 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 110 countries with data for 2021.
- Is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: montane; land cover: terrestrial rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Montane; Land Cover: Terrestrial barren land — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.