Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in South Africa
South Africa: Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly was -11.78 Percentage change in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in South Africa, 1981–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage change.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -11.78 Percentage change for exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in 2024.
The figure is down 254.7% on the previous year and down 114.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in South Africa peaked at 14.8 Percentage change in 2000 and was at its lowest, -15.52 Percentage change, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 176th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Percentage change | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 4.69 Percentage change | — |
| 1982 | -3.45 Percentage change | -173.7% |
| 1983 | -5.25 Percentage change | +51.9% |
| 1984 | -5.42 Percentage change | +3.3% |
| 1985 | -2.1 Percentage change | -61.2% |
| 1986 | 0.9317 Percentage change | -144.3% |
| 1987 | 3.34 Percentage change | +258.9% |
| 1988 | 13.86 Percentage change | +314.6% |
| 1989 | 7.88 Percentage change | -43.2% |
| 1990 | -0.399 Percentage change | -105.1% |
| 1991 | 1.74 Percentage change | -535.0% |
| 1992 | -14.53 Percentage change | -936.9% |
| 1993 | -5.8 Percentage change | -60.1% |
| 1994 | -9.21 Percentage change | +58.9% |
| 1995 | -0.948 Percentage change | -89.7% |
| 1996 | 8.15 Percentage change | -959.6% |
| 1997 | 8.17 Percentage change | +0.3% |
| 1998 | -3.19 Percentage change | -139.1% |
| 1999 | -3.08 Percentage change | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 14.8 Percentage change | -580.9% |
| 2001 | 11.1 Percentage change | -25.0% |
| 2002 | -0.356 Percentage change | -103.2% |
| 2003 | -10.95 Percentage change | +2975.1% |
| 2004 | -2.56 Percentage change | -76.6% |
| 2005 | -3.22 Percentage change | +26.0% |
| 2006 | 13.03 Percentage change | -504.3% |
| 2007 | -7.93 Percentage change | -160.8% |
| 2008 | -5 Percentage change | -36.9% |
| 2009 | -0.2493 Percentage change | -95.0% |
| 2010 | -4.07 Percentage change | +1532.6% |
| 2011 | 9.28 Percentage change | -328.0% |
| 2012 | -2.13 Percentage change | -123.0% |
| 2013 | -8.52 Percentage change | +300.2% |
| 2014 | -5.48 Percentage change | -35.7% |
| 2015 | -11.12 Percentage change | +102.9% |
| 2016 | -8.8 Percentage change | -20.9% |
| 2017 | -8.37 Percentage change | -4.8% |
| 2018 | -9.55 Percentage change | +14.0% |
| 2019 | -15.52 Percentage change | +62.6% |
| 2020 | -5.88 Percentage change | -62.1% |
| 2021 | 0.302 Percentage change | -105.1% |
| 2022 | 8.54 Percentage change | +2728.8% |
| 2023 | -3.32 Percentage change | -138.9% |
| 2024 | -11.78 Percentage change | +254.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.61 Percentage change | -5.42 Percentage change | 13.86 Percentage change | 9 |
| 1990s | -1.91 Percentage change | -14.53 Percentage change | 8.17 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.868 Percentage change | -10.95 Percentage change | 14.8 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2010s | -6.43 Percentage change | -15.52 Percentage change | 9.28 Percentage change | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.43 Percentage change | -11.78 Percentage change | 8.54 Percentage change | 5 |
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)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 9.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0074 t per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -4.84 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0081 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import -37.67 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in South Africa?
- Exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly in South Africa was -11.78 Percentage change in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.8 Percentage change in 2000.
- What is the lowest exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -15.52 Percentage change in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly?
- South Africa ranks 176th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to drought — land soil moisture anomaly rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 114.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The dataset provides annual anomalies in land and cropland soil moisture content of the top soil layer compared to the reference period 1981-2010. Exposure indicators to drought have been prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Please see the working paper for a more complete description of the methods. The datasets span the period 1981-2022 and is the result of the use of a variety of geospatial data sources, including the ERA5-Land averaged monthly data of volumetric soil moisture and ESA CCI land cover data. Average anomalies have been calculated for both land and cropland exposure to drought. The dataset has a global coverage on a national level; on the sub-national TL2 level (i.e. large subnational regions) results are reported for all OECD countries as well as for Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa. A number of aggregates are included: Euro area, European Union, Advanced economies, Emerging market economies, G7, G20, OECD, OECD Europe, OECD Asia Oceania, OECD Americas and the LAC region. Data source(s): Copernicus Climate Change Initiative land cover data and Copernicus Climate Data Store monthly soil moisture data (ERA5). Contact: ENV.Stat@oecd.org Database documentation