Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in South Africa
South Africa: Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected was 21.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 21.9% for share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in South Africa peaked at 21.9% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 15.1%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 138th of 164 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.1% | — |
| 2001 | 15.8% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 15.8% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 15.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 18.2% | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 18.4% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 18.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 18.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 18.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 18.5% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 18.6% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 18.7% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 19.2% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 19.4% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 20.0% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 20.1% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 21.1% | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 21.3% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 21.4% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 21.5% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 21.6% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 21.7% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 21.8% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 21.9% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.3% | 15.1% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.6% | 18.6% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.6% | 21.4% | 21.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 135 Liberia 24.3% compare
- 136 Senegal 24.1% compare
- 137 Uzbekistan 23.0% compare
- 139 Kazakhstan 20.0% compare
- 140 Jordan 18.7% compare
- 141 Hong Kong, China 16.6% 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)
- Sawnwood — Export quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export quantity, per capita 0.0085 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, annual growth rate -0.695 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, per capita 0.0009 1000 USD per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in South Africa?
- Share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in South Africa was 21.9% in 2025, according to BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.9% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.1% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected?
- South Africa ranks 138th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%).