Annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of GDP was 0.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
0.0%
Change on year
down 100.0%
World rank
23rd
of 74 countries
All-time high
0.6%
in 1991
All-time low
0.0%
in 1964
Years of data
15
1964–2021
Annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of GDP in South Africa, 1964–2021
Source: EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp in South Africa is 0.0%, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1964.
South Africa ranks 23rd of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.6% | — |
| 1992 | 0.1% | -77.1% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | — |
| 2015 | 0.0% | — |
| 2016 | 0.0% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | +501.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -34.5% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -72.4% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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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 (current US$), annual growth rate 6.62 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6307 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current US$), per capita 4,161 current US$ per person (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per unit of GDP 11.28 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Services, value added (current LCU), per capita 74,434 current LCU per person (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Services, value added (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5809 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp in South Africa?
- Annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp in South Africa was 0.0% in 2021, according to EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1964.
- How does South Africa rank for annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 74 countries with data for 2021.
- Is annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from EM-DAT, CRED / UCLouvain (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual economic damages from all natural disasters as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total economic damages from natural disasters as a share of GDP.