15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrub-covered in South Africa
South Africa: 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrub-covered was 104,745 km2 in 2021. ▼ Falling
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrub-covered in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in km2.
Analysis
In 2021, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered in South Africa stood at 104,745 km2. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered in South Africa peaked at 122,683 km2 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 104,745 km2, in 2021.
That places South Africa 2nd out of 170 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrub-covered in South Africa, year by year
| Year | km2 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 122,683 km2 | — |
| 2005 | 121,204 km2 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 119,725 km2 | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 116,220 km2 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 109,252 km2 | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 104,745 km2 | -4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 121,944 km2 | 121,204 km2 | 122,683 km2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 115,066 km2 | 109,252 km2 | 119,725 km2 | 3 |
| 2020s | 104,745 km2 | 104,745 km2 | 104,745 km2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Brazil 118,146 km2 compare
- 2 United Republic of Tanzania 11,954 km2 compare
- 3 Democratic Republic of the Congo 11,527 km2 compare
- 3 Spain 49,386 km2 compare
- 4 Lao People's Democratic Republic 4,483 km2 compare
- 4 Russian Federation 34,875 km2 compare
- 5 Sweden 21,254 km2 compare
- 5 Viet Nam 3,768 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)
- Roundwood — Import value, annual growth rate 5.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value, per capita 0.0008 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity, annual growth rate -23.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity, per capita 0.0128 m3 per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered in South Africa?
- 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered in South Africa was 104,745 km2 in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 122,683 km2 in 2000.
- What is the lowest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 104,745 km2 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered?
- South Africa ranks 2nd out of 170 countries with data for 2021.
- Is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrub-covered rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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: Total; Land Cover: Shrub-covered areas — 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.