Primary Forest Loss in South Africa
South Africa: Primary Forest Loss was 206 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary Forest Loss in South Africa, 2002–2025
Source: World Bank.
Analysis
In 2025, primary forest loss in South Africa stood at 206.
The figure is down 58.7% on the previous year and down 61.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary forest loss in South Africa peaked at 2,016 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 200, in 2023.
That places South Africa 60th out of 80 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary Forest Loss in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 350 | — |
| 2003 | 327 | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 430 | +31.5% |
| 2005 | 522 | +21.4% |
| 2006 | 439 | -15.9% |
| 2007 | 415 | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 541 | +30.4% |
| 2009 | 447 | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 273 | -38.9% |
| 2011 | 349 | +27.8% |
| 2012 | 335 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 541 | +61.5% |
| 2014 | 516 | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 533 | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 595 | +11.6% |
| 2017 | 2,016 | +238.8% |
| 2018 | 778 | -61.4% |
| 2019 | 938 | +20.6% |
| 2020 | 880 | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 633 | -28.1% |
| 2022 | 300 | -52.6% |
| 2023 | 200 | -33.3% |
| 2024 | 499 | +149.5% |
| 2025 | 206 | -58.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 206 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11,223, 2% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 206 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2,522, 8% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary Forest Loss 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +238.8% | 595 | 2,016 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 433.88 | 327 | 541 | 8 |
| 2010s | 687.4 | 273 | 2,016 | 10 |
| 2020s | 453 | 200 | 880 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary forest loss in South Africa?
- Primary forest loss in South Africa was 206 in 2025, according to the World Bank.
- What is the highest primary forest loss recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,016 in 2017.
- What is the lowest primary forest loss recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 200 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for primary forest loss?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary forest loss rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Primary Forest Loss. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).