Summer temperature anomalies in South Africa
South Africa: Summer temperature anomalies was 1.36 °C in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2026)
1.36 °C
Change on year
up 1,288.2%
World rank
50th
of 193 countries
All-time high
1.46 °C
in 2021
All-time low
-3.27 °C
in 1968
Years of data
87
1940–2026
Summer temperature anomalies in South Africa, 1940–2026
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in °C.
Analysis
In 2026, summer temperature anomalies in South Africa stood at 1.36 °C.
The figure is up 1,288.2% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, summer temperature anomalies in South Africa peaked at 1.46 °C in 2021 and was at its lowest, -3.27 °C, in 1968.
That places South Africa 50th out of 193 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Summer temperature anomalies in South Africa, year by year
| Year | °C | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 0.1779 °C | — |
| 1941 | 0.6999 °C | +293.4% |
| 1942 | 0.1894 °C | -72.9% |
| 1943 | 0.2847 °C | +50.3% |
| 1944 | -1.28 °C | -549.4% |
| 1945 | -1.64 °C | +28.5% |
| 1946 | -0.6712 °C | -59.2% |
| 1947 | -0.907 °C | +35.1% |
| 1948 | -0.6413 °C | -29.3% |
| 1949 | 0.3541 °C | -155.2% |
| 1950 | 0.3865 °C | +9.1% |
| 1951 | -0.6253 °C | -261.8% |
| 1952 | 0.6606 °C | -205.6% |
| 1953 | -0.3598 °C | -154.5% |
| 1954 | -1.59 °C | +342.6% |
| 1955 | -1.11 °C | -30.4% |
| 1956 | -1.03 °C | -6.9% |
| 1957 | -1.46 °C | +41.8% |
| 1958 | -1.16 °C | -21.0% |
| 1959 | 0.1687 °C | -114.6% |
| 1960 | -0.7554 °C | -547.6% |
| 1961 | 0.0361 °C | -104.8% |
| 1962 | -0.1715 °C | -575.3% |
| 1963 | -0.7124 °C | +315.4% |
| 1964 | -2.14 °C | +200.6% |
| 1965 | -2.68 °C | +25.2% |
| 1966 | 0.7273 °C | -127.1% |
| 1967 | -1.39 °C | -290.5% |
| 1968 | -3.27 °C | +135.7% |
| 1969 | -0.523 °C | -84.0% |
| 1970 | -0.5758 °C | +10.1% |
| 1971 | -0.0806 °C | -86.0% |
| 1972 | -0.9167 °C | +1037.1% |
| 1973 | 0.5673 °C | -161.9% |
| 1974 | -0.539 °C | -195.0% |
| 1975 | -0.183 °C | -66.0% |
| 1976 | -1.15 °C | +527.9% |
| 1977 | -0.3374 °C | -70.6% |
| 1978 | -1.36 °C | +303.7% |
| 1979 | -0.5638 °C | -58.6% |
| 1980 | -0.4188 °C | -25.7% |
| 1981 | -1.15 °C | +174.0% |
| 1982 | -0.4627 °C | -59.7% |
| 1983 | 0.288 °C | -162.2% |
| 1984 | -0.3192 °C | -210.8% |
| 1985 | 0.3002 °C | -194.0% |
| 1986 | 0.0934 °C | -68.9% |
| 1987 | -0.6543 °C | -800.8% |
| 1988 | -1.19 °C | +82.2% |
| 1989 | -0.8264 °C | -30.7% |
| 1990 | -0.8012 °C | -3.0% |
| 1991 | -0.9059 °C | +13.1% |
| 1992 | -0.326 °C | -64.0% |
| 1993 | -0.4078 °C | +25.1% |
| 1994 | -1.1 °C | +169.8% |
| 1995 | -0.6045 °C | -45.1% |
| 1996 | 0.0335 °C | -105.5% |
| 1997 | -0.9642 °C | -2977.6% |
| 1998 | 0.5397 °C | -156.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7071 °C | +31.0% |
| 2000 | 0.4207 °C | -40.5% |
| 2001 | 0.6546 °C | +55.6% |
| 2002 | -1.01 °C | -253.6% |
| 2003 | -0.5193 °C | -48.3% |
| 2004 | 0.0125 °C | -102.4% |
| 2005 | 0.4844 °C | +3772.9% |
| 2006 | -0.2642 °C | -154.5% |
| 2007 | -0.3375 °C | +27.7% |
| 2008 | 0.0792 °C | -123.5% |
| 2009 | 0.2822 °C | +256.3% |
| 2010 | -0.5119 °C | -281.4% |
| 2011 | -1.14 °C | +123.4% |
| 2012 | -0.2667 °C | -76.7% |
| 2013 | 0.1472 °C | -155.2% |
| 2014 | -0.1306 °C | -188.7% |
| 2015 | -0.03 °C | -77.0% |
| 2016 | 1.28 °C | -4384.9% |
| 2017 | 1.3 °C | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 0.8498 °C | -34.5% |
| 2019 | 1.33 °C | +56.6% |
| 2020 | 0.3944 °C | -70.4% |
| 2021 | 1.46 °C | +270.5% |
| 2022 | 0.2135 °C | -85.4% |
| 2023 | 0.5642 °C | +164.2% |
| 2024 | 1.17 °C | +107.7% |
| 2025 | -0.1149 °C | -109.8% |
| 2026 | 1.36 °C | -1288.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.36 °C is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5571 °C, 2.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.36 °C is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.6026 °C, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Summer temperature anomalies 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +4384.9% | -0.03 °C | 1.28 °C |
| 2005 | +3772.9% | 0.0125 °C | 0.4844 °C |
| 1997 | -2977.6% | 0.0335 °C | -0.9642 °C |
| 2026 | +1288.2% | -0.1149 °C | 1.36 °C |
| 1972 | -1037.1% | -0.0806 °C | -0.9167 °C |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -0.3437 °C | -1.64 °C | 0.6999 °C | 10 |
| 1950s | -0.6122 °C | -1.59 °C | 0.6606 °C | 10 |
| 1960s | -1.09 °C | -3.27 °C | 0.7273 °C | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.514 °C | -1.36 °C | 0.5673 °C | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.434 °C | -1.19 °C | 0.3002 °C | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.3829 °C | -1.1 °C | 0.7071 °C | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.0193 °C | -1.01 °C | 0.6546 °C | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2827 °C | -1.14 °C | 1.33 °C | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7221 °C | -0.1149 °C | 1.46 °C | 7 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 47 Honduras 1.4 °C compare
- 48 Romania 1.39 °C compare
- 49 El Salvador 1.37 °C compare
- 51 North Macedonia 1.34 °C compare
- 52 Ireland 1.31 °C compare
- 53 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 1.29 °C compare
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 summer temperature anomalies in South Africa?
- Summer temperature anomalies in South Africa was 1.36 °C in 2026, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest summer temperature anomalies recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.46 °C in 2021.
- What is the lowest summer temperature anomalies recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.27 °C in 1968.
- How does South Africa rank for summer temperature anomalies?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 193 countries with data for 2026.
- Is summer temperature anomalies rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Summer temperature anomalies. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 87 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Difference in a specific month's average surface temperature from the mean temperature of the same month during the period 1991-2020, measured in degrees Celsius.