Long run air pollution in South Africa
South Africa: Long run air pollution was 1.86 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.86 million
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
11th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.33 million
in 2014
All-time low
232.07
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in South Africa, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long run air pollution in South Africa is 1.86 million, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in South Africa peaked at 2.33 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 232.07, in 1750.
South Africa ranks 11th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long run air pollution in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 232.07 | — |
| 1751 | 232.83 | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 233.59 | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 234.34 | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 235.09 | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 235.85 | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 236.6 | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 237.35 | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 238.1 | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 238.85 | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 239.6 | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 240.42 | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 241.24 | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 242.06 | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 242.88 | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 243.7 | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 244.52 | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 245.34 | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 246.15 | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 246.97 | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 247.78 | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 248.68 | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 249.58 | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 250.47 | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 251.37 | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 252.26 | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 253.16 | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 254.05 | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 254.94 | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 255.83 | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 256.72 | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 257.7 | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 258.69 | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 259.67 | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 260.65 | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 261.63 | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 262.61 | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 263.59 | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 264.57 | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 265.55 | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 266.52 | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 267.61 | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 268.69 | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 269.77 | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 270.86 | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 271.94 | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 273.02 | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 274.09 | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 275.17 | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 276.24 | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 277.31 | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 278.68 | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 280.04 | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 281.4 | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 282.77 | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 284.13 | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 285.49 | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 286.85 | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 288.21 | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 289.57 | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 290.93 | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 293.72 | +1.0% |
| 1812 | 296.51 | +0.9% |
| 1813 | 299.3 | +0.9% |
| 1814 | 302.08 | +0.9% |
| 1815 | 304.87 | +0.9% |
| 1816 | 307.65 | +0.9% |
| 1817 | 310.43 | +0.9% |
| 1818 | 313.21 | +0.9% |
| 1819 | 315.99 | +0.9% |
| 1820 | 318.77 | +0.9% |
| 1821 | 321.97 | +1.0% |
| 1822 | 325.17 | +1.0% |
| 1823 | 328.37 | +1.0% |
| 1824 | 331.56 | +1.0% |
| 1825 | 334.76 | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 337.95 | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 341.14 | +0.9% |
| 1828 | 344.32 | +0.9% |
| 1829 | 347.51 | +0.9% |
| 1830 | 350.69 | +0.9% |
| 1831 | 354.38 | +1.1% |
| 1832 | 358.06 | +1.0% |
| 1833 | 361.75 | +1.0% |
| 1834 | 365.42 | +1.0% |
| 1835 | 369.1 | +1.0% |
| 1836 | 372.77 | +1.0% |
| 1837 | 376.44 | +1.0% |
| 1838 | 380.1 | +1.0% |
| 1839 | 383.77 | +1.0% |
| 1840 | 387.43 | +1.0% |
| 1841 | 391.69 | +1.1% |
| 1842 | 395.94 | +1.1% |
| 1843 | 400.2 | +1.1% |
| 1844 | 404.44 | +1.1% |
| 1845 | 408.68 | +1.0% |
| 1846 | 412.92 | +1.0% |
| 1847 | 417.16 | +1.0% |
| 1848 | 421.39 | +1.0% |
| 1849 | 425.62 | +1.0% |
| 1850 | 454.39 | +6.8% |
| 1851 | 478.28 | +5.3% |
| 1852 | 502.35 | +5.0% |
| 1853 | 526.61 | +4.8% |
| 1854 | 551.06 | +4.6% |
| 1855 | 575.7 | +4.5% |
| 1856 | 600.78 | +4.4% |
| 1857 | 626.05 | +4.2% |
| 1858 | 651.52 | +4.1% |
| 1859 | 677.2 | +3.9% |
| 1860 | 703.07 | +3.8% |
| 1861 | 730.29 | +3.9% |
| 1862 | 757.83 | +3.8% |
| 1863 | 785.73 | +3.7% |
| 1864 | 813.96 | +3.6% |
| 1865 | 842.53 | +3.5% |
| 1866 | 871.92 | +3.5% |
| 1867 | 901.66 | +3.4% |
| 1868 | 931.74 | +3.3% |
| 1869 | 962.19 | +3.3% |
| 1870 | 992.54 | +3.2% |
| 1871 | 1,052 | +6.0% |
| 1872 | 1,113 | +5.8% |
| 1873 | 1,174 | +5.5% |
| 1874 | 1,236 | +5.3% |
| 1875 | 1,299 | +5.1% |
| 1876 | 1,364 | +5.0% |
| 1877 | 1,430 | +4.8% |
| 1878 | 1,496 | +4.6% |
| 1879 | 1,563 | +4.5% |
| 1880 | 1,631 | +4.3% |
| 1881 | 1,677 | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 1,723 | +2.8% |
| 1883 | 1,770 | +2.7% |
| 1884 | 1,861 | +5.2% |
| 1885 | 1,938 | +4.1% |
| 1886 | 2,011 | +3.7% |
| 1887 | 2,061 | +2.5% |
| 1888 | 2,179 | +5.7% |
| 1889 | 2,335 | +7.1% |
| 1890 | 2,720 | +16.5% |
| 1891 | 2,800 | +3.0% |
| 1892 | 3,251 | +16.1% |
| 1893 | 5,991 | +84.3% |
| 1894 | 7,352 | +22.7% |
| 1895 | 9,259 | +25.9% |
| 1896 | 11,200 | +21.0% |
| 1897 | 12,336 | +10.1% |
| 1898 | 14,988 | +21.5% |
| 1899 | 14,007 | -6.5% |
| 1900 | 7,673 | -45.2% |
| 1901 | 11,187 | +45.8% |
| 1902 | 15,507 | +38.6% |
| 1903 | 20,022 | +29.1% |
| 1904 | 22,545 | +12.6% |
| 1905 | 25,690 | +13.9% |
| 1906 | 29,403 | +14.5% |
| 1907 | 32,682 | +11.2% |
| 1908 | 34,180 | +4.6% |
| 1909 | 39,458 | +15.4% |
| 1910 | 45,004 | +14.1% |
| 1911 | 44,427 | -1.3% |
| 1912 | 47,801 | +7.6% |
| 1913 | 52,793 | +10.4% |
| 1914 | 52,348 | -0.8% |
| 1915 | 53,610 | +2.4% |
| 1916 | 63,200 | +17.9% |
| 1917 | 68,374 | +8.2% |
| 1918 | 66,578 | -2.6% |
| 1919 | 70,201 | +5.4% |
| 1920 | 78,402 | +11.7% |
| 1921 | 78,994 | +0.8% |
| 1922 | 69,992 | -11.4% |
| 1923 | 84,549 | +20.8% |
| 1924 | 89,767 | +6.2% |
| 1925 | 94,739 | +5.5% |
| 1926 | 99,979 | +5.5% |
| 1927 | 98,184 | -1.8% |
| 1928 | 99,083 | +0.9% |
| 1929 | 102,638 | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 97,578 | -4.9% |
| 1931 | 89,233 | -8.6% |
| 1932 | 83,444 | -6.5% |
| 1933 | 90,283 | +8.2% |
| 1934 | 102,292 | +13.3% |
| 1935 | 113,797 | +11.2% |
| 1936 | 124,718 | +9.6% |
| 1937 | 131,193 | +5.2% |
| 1938 | 138,844 | +5.8% |
| 1939 | 145,128 | +4.5% |
| 1940 | 151,453 | +4.4% |
| 1941 | 162,828 | +7.5% |
| 1942 | 178,740 | +9.8% |
| 1943 | 182,350 | +2.0% |
| 1944 | 204,577 | +12.2% |
| 1945 | 211,999 | +3.6% |
| 1946 | 212,350 | +0.2% |
| 1947 | 211,476 | -0.4% |
| 1948 | 215,743 | +2.0% |
| 1949 | 227,714 | +5.5% |
| 1950 | 255,122 | +12.0% |
| 1951 | 274,933 | +7.8% |
| 1952 | 294,855 | +7.2% |
| 1953 | 293,691 | -0.4% |
| 1954 | 305,256 | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 337,196 | +10.5% |
| 1956 | 354,610 | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 358,409 | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 383,425 | +7.0% |
| 1959 | 372,448 | -2.9% |
| 1960 | 382,666 | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 399,272 | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 411,396 | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 423,023 | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 468,016 | +10.6% |
| 1965 | 485,822 | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 491,728 | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 511,267 | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 506,305 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 528,069 | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 559,040 | +5.9% |
| 1971 | 980,937 | +75.5% |
| 1972 | 955,563 | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.02 million | +7.0% |
| 1974 | 1.02 million | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.08 million | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 1.08 million | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 1.06 million | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 1.06 million | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 1.07 million | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 1.16 million | +8.4% |
| 1981 | 1.21 million | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 1.20 million | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 1.14 million | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 1.19 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 1.19 million | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 1.17 million | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 1.25 million | +6.6% |
| 1988 | 1.29 million | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 1.30 million | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 1.42 million | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 1.42 million | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.48 million | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 1.46 million | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 1.52 million | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 1.67 million | +9.2% |
| 1996 | 1.71 million | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 1.69 million | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.79 million | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 1.75 million | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 1.71 million | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 2.00 million | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 2.01 million | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 2.08 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 2.16 million | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 2.14 million | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 2.11 million | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 2.20 million | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 2.28 million | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 2.06 million | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 2.33 million | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 2.25 million | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 2.28 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 2.32 million | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 2.33 million | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 2.23 million | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 2.15 million | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 2.16 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 2.15 million | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 2.15 million | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.90 million | -11.4% |
| 2021 | 1.89 million | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 1.86 million | -1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.86 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784, 17.7× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.86 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992, 41.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | +84.3% | 3,251 | 5,991 |
| 1971 | +75.5% | 559,040 | 980,937 |
| 1900 | -45.2% | 14,007 | 7,673 |
| 1901 | +45.8% | 7,673 | 11,187 |
| 1902 | +38.6% | 11,187 | 15,507 |
| 1903 | +29.1% | 15,507 | 20,022 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 235.47 | 232.07 | 238.85 | 10 |
| 1760s | 243.29 | 239.6 | 246.97 | 10 |
| 1770s | 251.81 | 247.78 | 255.83 | 10 |
| 1780s | 261.14 | 256.72 | 265.55 | 10 |
| 1790s | 271.39 | 266.52 | 276.24 | 10 |
| 1800s | 283.44 | 277.31 | 289.57 | 10 |
| 1810s | 303.47 | 290.93 | 315.99 | 10 |
| 1820s | 333.15 | 318.77 | 347.51 | 10 |
| 1830s | 367.25 | 350.69 | 383.77 | 10 |
| 1840s | 406.55 | 387.43 | 425.62 | 10 |
| 1850s | 564.39 | 454.39 | 677.2 | 10 |
| 1860s | 830.09 | 703.07 | 962.19 | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,272 | 992.54 | 1,563 | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,919 | 1,631 | 2,335 | 10 |
| 1890s | 8,390 | 2,720 | 14,988 | 10 |
| 1900s | 23,835 | 7,673 | 39,458 | 10 |
| 1910s | 56,434 | 44,427 | 70,201 | 10 |
| 1920s | 89,633 | 69,992 | 102,638 | 10 |
| 1930s | 111,651 | 83,444 | 145,128 | 10 |
| 1940s | 195,923 | 151,453 | 227,714 | 10 |
| 1950s | 322,994 | 255,122 | 383,425 | 10 |
| 1960s | 460,756 | 382,666 | 528,069 | 10 |
| 1970s | 988,337 | 559,040 | 1.08 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.21 million | 1.14 million | 1.30 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.59 million | 1.42 million | 1.79 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.08 million | 1.71 million | 2.28 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.24 million | 2.15 million | 2.33 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.88 million | 1.86 million | 1.90 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 8 Saudi Arabia 2.69 million compare
- 9 Japan 2.07 million compare
- 10 United Arab Emirates 2.06 million compare
- 12 Iran 1.74 million compare
- 13 Pakistan 1.68 million compare
- 14 South Korea 1.63 million compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 1.3 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 69.19 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in South Africa?
- Long run air pollution in South Africa was 1.86 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.33 million in 2014.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 232.07 in 1750.
- How does South Africa rank for long run air pollution?
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).