Annual precipitation in South Africa
South Africa: Annual precipitation was 652.16 millimeters in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
652.16 millimeters
Change on year
up 61.9%
World rank
142nd
of 192 countries
All-time high
742.08 millimeters
in 1974
All-time low
297.37 millimeters
in 1954
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Annual precipitation in South Africa, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in millimeters.
Analysis
In 2025, annual precipitation in South Africa stood at 652.16 millimeters.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 61.9% on the previous year and up 78.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual precipitation in South Africa peaked at 742.08 millimeters in 1974 and was at its lowest, 297.37 millimeters, in 1954.
That places South Africa 142nd out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual precipitation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | millimeters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 463.01 millimeters | — |
| 1941 | 414.34 millimeters | -10.5% |
| 1942 | 591.93 millimeters | +42.9% |
| 1943 | 599.85 millimeters | +1.3% |
| 1944 | 676.02 millimeters | +12.7% |
| 1945 | 534.6 millimeters | -20.9% |
| 1946 | 511.77 millimeters | -4.3% |
| 1947 | 541.74 millimeters | +5.9% |
| 1948 | 579.56 millimeters | +7.0% |
| 1949 | 358.72 millimeters | -38.1% |
| 1950 | 597.78 millimeters | +66.6% |
| 1951 | 491.07 millimeters | -17.9% |
| 1952 | 560.56 millimeters | +14.1% |
| 1953 | 442.73 millimeters | -21.0% |
| 1954 | 297.37 millimeters | -32.8% |
| 1955 | 527.8 millimeters | +77.5% |
| 1956 | 522.45 millimeters | -1.0% |
| 1957 | 595 millimeters | +13.9% |
| 1958 | 584.59 millimeters | -1.8% |
| 1959 | 533.25 millimeters | -8.8% |
| 1960 | 561.3 millimeters | +5.3% |
| 1961 | 594.95 millimeters | +6.0% |
| 1962 | 561.38 millimeters | -5.6% |
| 1963 | 628.64 millimeters | +12.0% |
| 1964 | 474.66 millimeters | -24.5% |
| 1965 | 383.45 millimeters | -19.2% |
| 1966 | 491.6 millimeters | +28.2% |
| 1967 | 596.58 millimeters | +21.4% |
| 1968 | 429.72 millimeters | -28.0% |
| 1969 | 482.49 millimeters | +12.3% |
| 1970 | 499.81 millimeters | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 588.03 millimeters | +17.6% |
| 1972 | 523.6 millimeters | -11.0% |
| 1973 | 599.02 millimeters | +14.4% |
| 1974 | 742.08 millimeters | +23.9% |
| 1975 | 624.79 millimeters | -15.8% |
| 1976 | 712.51 millimeters | +14.0% |
| 1977 | 617.66 millimeters | -13.3% |
| 1978 | 502.66 millimeters | -18.6% |
| 1979 | 498.28 millimeters | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 468.26 millimeters | -6.0% |
| 1981 | 596.19 millimeters | +27.3% |
| 1982 | 465.78 millimeters | -21.9% |
| 1983 | 469.91 millimeters | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 463.58 millimeters | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 605.38 millimeters | +30.6% |
| 1986 | 552.1 millimeters | -8.8% |
| 1987 | 607.77 millimeters | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 715.64 millimeters | +17.7% |
| 1989 | 606.33 millimeters | -15.3% |
| 1990 | 486.81 millimeters | -19.7% |
| 1991 | 597.88 millimeters | +22.8% |
| 1992 | 377.31 millimeters | -36.9% |
| 1993 | 504.76 millimeters | +33.8% |
| 1994 | 427.59 millimeters | -15.3% |
| 1995 | 572.95 millimeters | +34.0% |
| 1996 | 658.65 millimeters | +15.0% |
| 1997 | 556.81 millimeters | -15.5% |
| 1998 | 550.27 millimeters | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 545.24 millimeters | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 727.6 millimeters | +33.4% |
| 2001 | 660.83 millimeters | -9.2% |
| 2002 | 495.43 millimeters | -25.0% |
| 2003 | 418.47 millimeters | -15.5% |
| 2004 | 547.14 millimeters | +30.7% |
| 2005 | 506.62 millimeters | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 686.15 millimeters | +35.4% |
| 2007 | 453.79 millimeters | -33.9% |
| 2008 | 470.94 millimeters | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 542.2 millimeters | +15.1% |
| 2010 | 562.1 millimeters | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 620 millimeters | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 531.16 millimeters | -14.3% |
| 2013 | 470.62 millimeters | -11.4% |
| 2014 | 533.01 millimeters | +13.3% |
| 2015 | 365.62 millimeters | -31.4% |
| 2016 | 451.8 millimeters | +23.6% |
| 2017 | 486.04 millimeters | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 411.33 millimeters | -15.4% |
| 2019 | 398.03 millimeters | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 521.36 millimeters | +31.0% |
| 2021 | 627.27 millimeters | +20.3% |
| 2022 | 655.45 millimeters | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 507.78 millimeters | -22.5% |
| 2024 | 402.73 millimeters | -20.7% |
| 2025 | 652.16 millimeters | +61.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 652.16 millimeters is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,018 millimeters, 64% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 652.16 millimeters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 970.56 millimeters, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 527.15 millimeters | 358.72 millimeters | 676.02 millimeters | 10 |
| 1950s | 515.26 millimeters | 297.37 millimeters | 597.78 millimeters | 10 |
| 1960s | 520.48 millimeters | 383.45 millimeters | 628.64 millimeters | 10 |
| 1970s | 590.84 millimeters | 498.28 millimeters | 742.08 millimeters | 10 |
| 1980s | 555.09 millimeters | 463.58 millimeters | 715.64 millimeters | 10 |
| 1990s | 527.83 millimeters | 377.31 millimeters | 658.65 millimeters | 10 |
| 2000s | 550.92 millimeters | 418.47 millimeters | 727.6 millimeters | 10 |
| 2010s | 482.97 millimeters | 365.62 millimeters | 620 millimeters | 10 |
| 2020s | 561.13 millimeters | 402.73 millimeters | 655.45 millimeters | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 717.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual precipitation in South Africa?
- Annual precipitation in South Africa was 652.16 millimeters in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual precipitation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 742.08 millimeters in 1974.
- What is the lowest annual precipitation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 297.37 millimeters in 1954.
- How does South Africa rank for annual precipitation?
- South Africa ranks 142nd out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual precipitation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 78.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual precipitation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total annual precipitation—rain and snow—calculated as the sum of daily averages, reported as the depth of water falling to Earth's surface, excluding fog and dew.