South Africa vs Zimbabwe
South Africa vs Zimbabwe: Days above 35 °C
Days above 35 °C in 2014: 13.2 days in South Africa and 15.9 days in Zimbabwe, in the CMIP6 climate models’ median run. In 2014 the value was higher in Zimbabwe, by 2.8 days, or 1.21 times that in South Africa.
days a year · CMIP6
What the numbers say
- Zimbabwe has been higher since 2010, when it overtook South Africa.
- The CMIP6 model median (SSP2-4.5, middle of the road) puts South Africa at 40 days and Zimbabwe at 58.2 days in 2100.
Every year
days a year · CMIP6
| Year | South Africa | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 13.2 | 15.9 |
| 2013 | 15.2 | 17.1 |
| 2012 | 14.3 | 15.7 |
| 2011 | 11.7 | 12.5 |
| 2010 | 12.5 | 15.3 |
| 2009 | 13.2 | 13 |
| 2008 | 12.3 | 13.5 |
| 2007 | 12 | 14.3 |
| 2006 | 11.9 | 12.9 |
| 2005 | 13.3 | 14.6 |
| 2004 | 13.9 | 16.2 |
| 2003 | 12.6 | 15.4 |
| 2002 | 12.6 | 14.9 |
| 2001 | 11.1 | 14.6 |
| 2000 | 11.8 | 15.1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 12.5 |
| 1998 | 12.1 | 13.2 |
| 1997 | 11.3 | 12 |
| 1996 | 9.4 | 9.7 |
| 1995 | 8.3 | 10.5 |
| 1994 | 8.5 | 9.8 |
| 1993 | 7.8 | 7.4 |
| 1992 | 7.1 | 7.9 |
| 1991 | 11.1 | 8.9 |
| 1990 | 10.1 | 10.9 |
| 1989 | 11.5 | 12.1 |
| 1988 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| 1987 | 11.5 | 10.5 |
| 1986 | 10.2 | 10.4 |
| 1985 | 8.7 | 8.9 |
| 1984 | 8.7 | 8.9 |
| 1983 | 8.6 | 9 |
| 1982 | 10.5 | 9.2 |
| 1981 | 9.7 | 9.7 |
| 1980 | 10.3 | 10 |
| 1979 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| 1978 | 9.5 | 8 |
| 1977 | 9.3 | 9.4 |
| 1976 | 9 | 7.4 |
| 1975 | 9.3 | 10 |
| 1974 | 8.8 | 11 |
| 1973 | 9.5 | 10 |
| 1972 | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| 1971 | 8.7 | 8.4 |
| 1970 | 8.2 | 9.1 |
| 1969 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| 1968 | 8.4 | 8.6 |
| 1967 | 6.9 | 7.4 |
| 1966 | 7.8 | 7.5 |
| 1965 | 7.9 | 8.4 |
| 1964 | 6.4 | 6.2 |
| 1963 | 7 | 6.3 |
| 1962 | 8.9 | 9.1 |
| 1961 | 10.5 | 8.8 |
| 1960 | 9.7 | 9 |
| 1959 | 8.9 | 9.6 |
| 1958 | 9.3 | 10.2 |
| 1957 | 10.3 | 9.9 |
| 1956 | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| 1955 | 10.3 | 11.2 |
| 1954 | 9.1 | 8.8 |
| 1953 | 7.8 | 8.6 |
| 1952 | 9 | 9.4 |
| 1951 | 8.4 | 8.3 |
| 1950 | 8.7 | 9 |
CMIP6 model median (SSP2-4.5, middle of the road) · 2015–2100
| Year | South Africa | Zimbabwe |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 14.76.8–24 | 17.19.2–27.4 |
| 2016 | 13.46.3–22.2 | 17.37.9–31.7 |
| 2017 | 15.27.7–24.6 | 189–29.3 |
| 2018 | 179.7–28 | 18.78.6–33.5 |
| 2019 | 14.67.1–24.5 | 18.48.7–28.5 |
| 2020 | 15.77.4–23.5 | 2211.6–34.5 |
| 2021 | 17.99.4–27 | 17.48.9–31.5 |
| 2022 | 189.8–29 | 22.111.3–34.2 |
| 2023 | 18.69.9–27.1 | 23.914.6–37.2 |
| 2024 | 17.89.8–28 | 22.712.2–35.4 |
| 2025 | 16.57.5–29.6 | 19.47.7–35.5 |
| 2026 | 20.19.3–29.4 | 23.213.8–35.1 |
| 2027 | 19.910.5–32.8 | 24.313.2–47.8 |
| 2028 | 19.110.6–33.2 | 23.213.4–42.3 |
| 2029 | 21.412.9–33.6 | 26.913.5–41.7 |
| 2030 | 21.19.6–33.9 | 24.713.5–44.4 |
| 2031 | 20.79.9–35.4 | 21.710.1–43.4 |
| 2032 | 2110.9–34.8 | 23.913.4–37.9 |
| 2033 | 22.612.2–34.2 | 28.314.5–44.9 |
| 2034 | 24.615–35.1 | 30.915.4–52.5 |
| 2035 | 20.911.7–31.3 | 2714.6–44 |
| 2036 | 21.111.9–32.2 | 25.613–44.1 |
| 2037 | 23.412.6–35.2 | 29.415.2–46.3 |
| 2038 | 26.216–36.7 | 3316.3–54 |
| 2039 | 22.611.4–35.9 | 26.413.6–43.8 |
| 2040 | 21.510.9–35.4 | 2414.1–43.5 |
| 2041 | 23.213.2–35.8 | 29.216.6–45.4 |
| 2042 | 25.214.3–39.6 | 30.917.6–52.3 |
| 2043 | 25.613.4–39.9 | 32.416–51.2 |
| 2044 | 26.113.1–41.6 | 30.117.1–50.7 |
| 2045 | 26.813.1–40.3 | 29.414.1–46.6 |
| 2046 | 25.914.5–40.8 | 3318.1–50.4 |
| 2047 | 26.713.7–41.4 | 32.717.6–52.7 |
| 2048 | 29.215.6–45.4 | 35.519.2–56.3 |
| 2049 | 29.117.3–44.7 | 34.619.8–57.8 |
| 2050 | 29.815.7–48.6 | 38.920–58.3 |
| 2051 | 27.913.6–45.2 | 37.319.7–65.6 |
| 2052 | 31.918.3–46.8 | 42.321.3–67.1 |
| 2053 | 28.318.6–43.2 | 35.519.9–56.4 |
| 2054 | 30.717.3–50.1 | 43.823–73.8 |
| 2055 | 2917.8–48 | 40.622.1–66.4 |
| 2056 | 29.916–45.3 | 37.819.9–64.7 |
| 2057 | 3117.4–50.1 | 36.319.8–63.3 |
| 2058 | 31.115.7–46 | 38.519.1–60.6 |
| 2059 | 3216.1–49.9 | 46.824.8–70.1 |
| 2060 | 33.419.8–49.7 | 42.620.1–66.8 |
| 2061 | 32.718.1–51.1 | 42.920.8–66.2 |
| 2062 | 31.317.7–52.6 | 39.224.1–65.6 |
| 2063 | 32.317.4–50.7 | 40.424.4–62.1 |
| 2064 | 31.817.7–47.6 | 4122.2–59.1 |
| 2065 | 31.716.2–50.7 | 4523.3–75.1 |
| 2066 | 34.318.4–55.3 | 42.423.1–67.5 |
| 2067 | 32.617.2–52.4 | 38.622.2–72.6 |
| 2068 | 33.819.2–54.3 | 42.622.4–65 |
| 2069 | 34.621.3–52.4 | 45.524.4–72.1 |
| 2070 | 32.819.3–51.1 | 4223.8–65.3 |
| 2071 | 35.320.8–55.8 | 43.622.9–68.4 |
| 2072 | 37.820.3–54.6 | 47.623.8–70.9 |
| 2073 | 4425.6–62.1 | 52.827.6–86.9 |
| 2074 | 38.320.7–55.8 | 49.329–82.9 |
| 2075 | 34.218.7–53.1 | 41.824.5–70.4 |
| 2076 | 38.822.9–57.5 | 44.125.3–76.6 |
| 2077 | 39.124.2–60.3 | 47.728.3–86.8 |
| 2078 | 35.521.6–53.4 | 47.125–73.2 |
| 2079 | 40.522.9–59.7 | 48.326.6–83 |
| 2080 | 40.523.4–59 | 54.828.1–82.5 |
| 2081 | 38.523.8–59.9 | 49.525.8–88.8 |
| 2082 | 38.622.5–58.2 | 46.129–81.5 |
| 2083 | 38.518.7–62.9 | 46.623.8–90.9 |
| 2084 | 39.720.6–58.4 | 52.128.9–75.3 |
| 2085 | 4021.5–65.8 | 57.231.7–91.8 |
| 2086 | 40.823–63.7 | 49.230–75.3 |
| 2087 | 38.324.6–58.6 | 52.130.2–87.7 |
| 2088 | 42.222.6–66.3 | 58.629.2–86.4 |
| 2089 | 41.624.2–59.1 | 55.432–84.2 |
| 2090 | 42.326.1–66.4 | 54.730.4–83.6 |
| 2091 | 43.324.2–63.6 | 5226.4–87.2 |
| 2092 | 43.928–61.6 | 56.332.9–86.5 |
| 2093 | 37.521.3–63.4 | 53.624.6–86.7 |
| 2094 | 41.325.4–65.9 | 61.331.2–91.4 |
| 2095 | 43.522.9–70.2 | 56.329.4–87.6 |
| 2096 | 41.224.1–66.8 | 52.230.1–86.6 |
| 2097 | 37.723.7–60.9 | 48.627–81.7 |
| 2098 | 46.425.1–71.4 | 55.831.3–98.2 |
| 2099 | 42.525.1–64.8 | 54.931.1–96.5 |
| 2100 | 4022.2–64.5 | 58.229.4–85.2 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- Days in a year whose highest temperature passes 35 °C, averaged over the country.
- Source: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, CMIP6 multi-model median.
- The dashed line is the CMIP6 model median (SSP2-4.5, middle of the road), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its models’ 10th–90th percentile.
- Climate model values are the median of the CMIP6 models, run on past emissions to 2014 and on SSP2-4.5, a middle-of-the-road path, after: they are not measurements.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
South Africa vs Zimbabwe
Health
- Life expectancySouth Africa: 66.1 years in 2023Zimbabwe: 62.8 years in 2023
- Child mortalitySouth Africa: 3.5 per 100 live births in 2024Zimbabwe: 6.5 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalitySouth Africa: 27.9 per 1,000 live births in 2023Zimbabwe: 33.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionSouth Africa: 3.75% in 2017Zimbabwe: 3.19% in 2017
- Suicide rateSouth Africa: 11.2 per 100,000 people in 2017Zimbabwe: 26.4 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationSouth Africa: 63.2 million people in 2023Zimbabwe: 16.3 million people in 2023
- Population growthSouth Africa: 1.32% a year in 2023Zimbabwe: 1.68% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateSouth Africa: 2.22 births per woman in 2023Zimbabwe: 3.72 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationSouth Africa: 63.8% in 2025Zimbabwe: 40.5% in 2025
- Median ageSouth Africa: 28.2 years in 2023Zimbabwe: 17.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overSouth Africa: 6.5% in 2023Zimbabwe: 3.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateSouth Africa: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Zimbabwe: -6 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingSouth Africa: 0.74% of GDP in 2025Zimbabwe: 0.56% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsSouth Africa: $3B in 2025Zimbabwe: $134M in 2025
- Military spending per personSouth Africa: $49 in 2025Zimbabwe: $10 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingSouth Africa: 2.2% of government spending in 2025Zimbabwe: 5.3% of government spending in 2005
- Armed forces personnelSouth Africa: 89,000 people in 2020Zimbabwe: 51,000 people in 2020
- National powerSouth Africa: 0.55% of world capability in 2022Zimbabwe: 0.08% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersSouth Africa: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020Zimbabwe: 0.88% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsSouth Africa: 30 million TIV in 2025Zimbabwe: 20 million TIV in 2023
- Arms exportsSouth Africa: 115 million TIV in 2025Zimbabwe: 4 million TIV in 2001