Domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Domestic material consumption per capita was 11.14 tonnes in 2024. ▼ Falling
Domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa stood at 11.14 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa peaked at 16.94 tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 11.12 tonnes, in 2020.
That places South Africa 84th out of 233 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.39 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 15.93 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 16.23 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 16.48 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 16.94 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 16.81 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 16.54 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 16.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 16.09 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 14.31 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2010 | 14.03 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 13.9 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 13.43 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 13.49 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 13.39 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 13.22 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 12.56 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 12.79 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 12.55 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 12.14 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 11.12 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 11.28 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 11.24 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 11.18 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 11.14 tonnes | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.23 tonnes | 14.31 tonnes | 16.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.15 tonnes | 12.14 tonnes | 14.03 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.19 tonnes | 11.12 tonnes | 11.28 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Services, value added (constant LCU), per capita 48,868 constant LCU per person (2025)
- GDP deflator (base year varies by country), annual growth rate 2.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), annual growth 6.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8998 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current US$), per capita 5,937 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), annual growth 3.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per unit of GDP 16.1 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross value added at basic prices (GVA) (current LCU), per capita 106,203 current LCU per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa?
- Domestic material consumption per capita in South Africa was 11.14 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest domestic material consumption per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.94 tonnes in 2004.
- What is the lowest domestic material consumption per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.12 tonnes in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for domestic material consumption per capita?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 233 countries with data for 2024.
- Is domestic material consumption per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Domestic material consumption per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Domestic material consumption per capita, by type of raw material (tonnes).