Freight volume, by mode of transport (tonne kilometres) in South Africa
South Africa: Freight volume, by mode of transport (tonne kilometres) was 24.38 million t km in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
24.38 million t km
Change on year
down 59.1%
World rank
90th
of 170 countries
All-time high
833.35 million t km
in 2017
All-time low
15.13 million t km
in 2021
Years of data
7
2017–2024
Freight volume, by mode of transport in South Africa, 2017–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in t km.
Analysis
In 2024, freight volume, by mode of transport in South Africa stood at 24.38 million t km.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 59.1% on the previous year and down 97.1% over ten years.
South Africa ranks 90th of 170 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Freight volume, by mode of transport (tonne kilometres) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | t km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 833.35 million t km | — |
| 2018 | 720.95 million t km | -13.5% |
| 2019 | 565.21 million t km | -21.6% |
| 2020 | 102.39 million t km | -81.9% |
| 2021 | 15.13 million t km | -85.2% |
| 2022 | 59.67 million t km | +294.3% |
| 2024 | 24.38 million t km | -59.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 24.38 million t km is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 44.01 million t km, 55% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 24.38 million t km is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 856,770 t km, 28.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 706.50 million t km | 565.21 million t km | 833.35 million t km | 3 |
| 2020s | 50.39 million t km | 15.13 million t km | 102.39 million t km | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 87 United Republic of Tanzania 29.88 million t km compare
- 88 El Salvador 27.79 million t km compare
- 89 Maldives 25.68 million t km compare
- 91 Serbia 24.20 million t km compare
- 92 Myanmar 23.68 million t km compare
- 93 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 18.00 million t km compare
More infrastructure data for South Africa
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 114.79 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions 179.34 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.01 million (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions 1.58 per 100 people (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per capita 0.0158 units per person (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, annual growth rate -25.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Fixed telephone subscriptions, gaps filled 1.01 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per capita 1.79 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is freight volume, by mode of transport in South Africa?
- Freight volume, by mode of transport in South Africa was 24.38 million t km in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest freight volume, by mode of transport recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 833.35 million t km in 2017.
- What is the lowest freight volume, by mode of transport recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.13 million t km in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for freight volume, by mode of transport?
- South Africa ranks 90th out of 170 countries with data for 2024.
- Is freight volume, by mode of transport rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 97.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Freight volume, by mode of transport (tonne kilometres). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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