15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrubs and/or in South Africa
South Africa: 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrubs and/or was 3,457 km2 in 2021. ▼ Falling
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrubs and/or 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: total; land cover: shrubs and/or in South Africa is 3,457 km2, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrubs and/or in South Africa peaked at 4,371 km2 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3,457 km2, in 2021.
That places South Africa 7th out of 170 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Shrubs and/or in South Africa, year by year
| Year | km2 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4,371 km2 | — |
| 2005 | 4,080 km2 | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 3,789 km2 | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 3,540 km2 | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 3,490 km2 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 3,457 km2 | -0.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3,457 km2 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.7 km2, 295.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3,457 km2 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 56.3 km2, 61.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,226 km2 | 4,080 km2 | 4,371 km2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 3,607 km2 | 3,490 km2 | 3,789 km2 | 3 |
| 2020s | 3,457 km2 | 3,457 km2 | 3,457 km2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 4 New Zealand 21,130 km2 compare
- 5 Chile 8,361 km2 compare
- 5 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,902 km2 compare
- 6 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 8,160 km2 compare
- 6 United Republic of Tanzania 1,509 km2 compare
- 7 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 1,464 km2 compare
- 8 Lao People's Democratic Republic 103.5 km2 compare
- 8 Sweden 3,162 km2 compare
- 9 Indonesia 2,772 km2 compare
- 9 Viet Nam 90.5 km2 compare
- 10 Kyrgyzstan 1,959 km2 compare
- 10 Timor-Leste 55.7 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: total; land cover: shrubs and/or in South Africa?
- 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrubs and/or in South Africa was 3,457 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: shrubs and/or recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,371 km2 in 2000.
- What is the lowest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrubs and/or recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,457 km2 in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrubs and/or?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 170 countries with data for 2021.
- Is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: shrubs and/or rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. 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: Shrubs and/or herbaceous vegetation, aquatic or regularly flooded — 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.