6.4.2 Level of water stress (No breakdown) — Value in South Africa
South Africa: 6.4.2 Level of water stress (No breakdown) — Value was 67.6 % in 2023. ▲ Rising
6.4.2 Level of water stress (No breakdown) — Value in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value in South Africa stood at 67.6 %. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value in South Africa peaked at 67.6 % in 2022 and was at its lowest, 31.87 %, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 24th of 168 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
6.4.2 Level of water stress (No breakdown) — Value in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.87 % | — |
| 2001 | 36.09 % | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 51.95 % | +43.9% |
| 2003 | 54.91 % | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 47.92 % | -12.7% |
| 2005 | 55.04 % | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 56.18 % | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 56.22 % | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 56.45 % | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 56.65 % | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 55.24 % | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 57.82 % | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 58.46 % | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 58.72 % | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 59.14 % | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 59.75 % | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 60.97 % | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 62.06 % | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 62.89 % | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 64.04 % | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 65.03 % | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 66.89 % | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 67.6 % | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 67.6 % | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.33 % | 31.87 % | 56.65 % | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.91 % | 55.24 % | 64.04 % | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.78 % | 65.03 % | 67.6 % | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0126 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, annual growth rate 42.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Graphic papers — Import quantity, per capita 0.0047 t per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value in South Africa?
- 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value in South Africa was 67.6 % in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 67.6 % in 2022.
- What is the lowest 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.87 % in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 168 countries with data for 2023.
- Is 6.4.2 level of water stress (no breakdown) — value rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 6.4.2 Level of water stress (No breakdown) — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
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.