by
South Africa

South Africa

29.3

Happy planet index score

113th out of 147 countries
up 6 places from 2019
62.3 years

Life expectancy.
125th out of 147 countries.

7.08 tCO2e

Carbon footprint.
90th out of 147 countries.

5.6/10

Wellbeing.
76th out of 147 countries.

$13,312

Gross domestic product

78th out of 147 countries.

59,392.3m

Population

24th out of 147 countries.

a note on human rights

Human rights abuses are a problem in most of the world, including in some of the high-ranking countries in the Happy Planet Index results. While the Happy Planet Index may reflect some of the negative impacts of these abuses, it does not seek to directly measure this. For more information about human rights in this country, visit Amnesty International.

South Africa over time

This graph maps the results of the country’s Happy Planet Index and component measures over time, including goals for attainable results in 2030. Learn more about how the Happy Planet Index is calculated.

2030 Goal
Business as usual

Happy Planet Index

Carbon footprint

Wellbeing

Life expectancy

2030 targets set as follows: For life expectancy, either the highest value from the last three years or 75 years - whichever is higher. For self-reported wellbeing, either the average of the last 6 years, or 6/10 – whichever is higher. For carbon footprint – CO2 emissions within a fair consumption space (2.95tCO2e in 2030).

Accessible data

HPI split by income group data in 2023

Hover over the text on the income decile axis to see the income ranges each decile refers to.

Happy Planet Index

Carbon footprint

Wellbeing

Life expectancy

*To find out more about this analysis, please download the report.

Accessible data

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