Marine protected areas in South Africa
South Africa: Marine protected areas was 79,144 sq. km in 2010. β Volatile
Marine protected areas in South Africa, 1990β2010
Source: United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national authorities, national legislation and inter. Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for marine protected areas in South Africa is 79,144 sq. km, measured in 2010. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 98.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, marine protected areas in South Africa peaked at 79,144 sq. km in 2004 and was at its lowest, 8,251 sq. km, in 1990.
That places South Africa 6th out of 37 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8,304 sq. km | 8,251 sq. km | 8,519 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 63,450 sq. km | 39,911 sq. km | 79,144 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 79,144 sq. km | 79,144 sq. km | 79,144 sq. km | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 3 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 103,159 sq. km compare
- 4 Tanzania, United Republic of 94,915 sq. km compare
- 5 Egypt, Arab Republic of 93,353 sq. km compare
- 7 Namibia 67,972 sq. km compare
- 8 Kenya 60,778 sq. km compare
- 9 Mozambique, Republic of 26,016 sq. km compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 Β°C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 Β°C (2025)
- Recovered paper β Production 1.18 million t (2024)
- Total fibre furnish β Production 2.03 million t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified β Import value 30,837 1000 USD (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified β Import quantity 7,586 t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard β Export value 272,220 1000 USD (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard β Export quantity 385,631 t (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard β Import value 516,696 1000 USD (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is marine protected areas in South Africa?
- Marine protected areas in South Africa was 79,144 sq. km in 2010, according to United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national authorities, national legislation and inter.
- What is the highest marine protected areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 79,144 sq. km in 2004.
- What is the lowest marine protected areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,251 sq. km in 1990.
- How does South Africa rank for marine protected areas?
- South Africa ranks 6th out of 37 countries with data for 2010.
- Is marine protected areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 98.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national authorities, national legislation and inter, published as part of Marine protected areas (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.