South Africa

GDP (PPP) per capita (2024): 15,456.20 Int. Dollar Population (2024): 64,007,187 HDI (2024): 0.74
ND-GAIN Country Index rank 116
Score: 44.0
Vulnerability 0.436
Readiness 0.316

The low vulnerability score and low readiness score of South Africa places it in the lower-left quadrant of the ND-GAIN Matrix. Relative to other countries, its current vulnerabilities are manageable but improvements in readiness will help it better adapt to future challenges. South Africa is the 103rd most vulnerable country and the 139th most ready country.

ND-GAIN Ranking since 1995

Year 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Ranking
84
85
85
84
83
83
83
81
82
84
84
85
92
94
93
95
98
97
97
98
100
99
103
106
106
106
104
115
119
116
Denotes worst scores
Indicator 2005 to 2024 Score
Vulnerability
0.436
Food
0.439
Projected change of cereal yields
0.839
Projected population change
0.261
Food import dependency
0.108
Rural population
0.391
Agriculture capacity
0.884
Child malnutrition
0.149
Water
0.573
Projected change of annual runoff
1.000
Projected change of annual groundwater recharge
0.705
Fresh water withdrawal rate
0.404
Water dependency ratio
0.128
Dam capacity
0.875
Access to reliable drinking water
0.324
Health
0.395
Projected change of deaths from climate change induced diseases
0.364
Projected change in vector-borne diseases
0.665
Dependency on external resource for health services
0.070
Slum population
0.244
Medical staff
0.758
Access to improved sanitation facilities
0.267
Ecosystem Services
0.533
Projected change of biome distribution
0.600
Projected change of marine biodiversity
1.000
Natural capital dependency
0.075
Ecological footprint
0.288
Protected biome
0.710
Engagement in international environmental conventions
0.522
Human Habitat
0.492
Projected change of warm periods
0.087
Projected change of flood hazard
0.609
Urban concentration
0.609
Age dependency ratio
0.452
Quality of trade and transport infrastructure
0.359
Paved roads
0.837
Infrastructure
0.187
Projected change of hydropower generation capacity
0.439
Projected change of sea level rise impacts
0.008
Dependency on imported energy
0
Population living under 5m above sea level
0.012
Electricity access
0.124
Disaster preparedness
0.538