Climate change in Africa - statistics & facts

Africa is paying the price for a crisis it did little to create. The continent has contributed roughly four percent to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide – far less than countries like China and the United States. Yet, African nations rank among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Africa’s already unstable weather is likely to become even more erratic due to human-induced global warming. Floods, storms, and droughts have been more frequent in the region, jumping from 85 recorded events in the 1970s to over 540 between 2010 and 2019. From 1970 onwards, climate hazards in Africa caused the death of over 730,000 people and had an economic cost of 38.5 billion U.S. dollars.

Agricultural output and food security under threat

A changing climate threatens Africa’s economic and social development. Rising temperatures and climate-related hazards pose risks to agriculture, the main economic activity and largest source of employment in most African countries. More than an income generator, agriculture also provides food for most of the population living below the Sahara. If the sector collapses, not only economies are at risk but also food insecurity, a persistent challenge on the continent, is set to rise. In 2020, the combination of climate variations, conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic pushed 20 million Africans into extreme poverty. Over 280 million people ran out of food and had gone at least a day without eating that same year.

People set to lose their homes; economies estimated to decay

Climate change also triggers displacement. By 2050, nearly 85 million people in North and Sub-Saharan Africa might be forced to flee their homes, considering a pessimistic scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions and unequal development. The continent is projected to have the largest share of internal climate migrants worldwide if action is not taken. Additionally, economies are not unaffected by anthropogenic climate change. According to estimates, Sudan would face a GDP loss of 32 percent by 2050 and a shrinkage of over 80 percent by 2100, under current climate policies. The Sudanese economy would be the most affected in Africa, but even nations with current strong economies, such as Kenya and Tanzania, would register GDP losses due to climate change.

Climate resilience has a cost Africa cannot bear alone

Considering Africa’s vulnerability to global warming, enhancing climate resilience and promoting a low carbon development path is crucial. However, the fight against climate change comes at a cost. Between 2010 and 2019, Africa received around 120 billion U.S. dollars in climate finance provided by developed nations. The amount mobilized is far behind the continent's finance needs: Africa will require 72 billion U.S. dollars per year through 2030 for mitigation actions, while adaptation needs are estimated at an annual cost of 26-41 billion U.S. dollars. Although the value sounds enormous, it is likely smaller than the cost of inaction, as investments in adaptation are more effective than recurrently financing disaster relief and recovery measures. On top of that, investing in climate action can unlock growth opportunities on the continent. A transition to clean energy sources, for instance, is estimated to generate five million jobs in Africa by 2030.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Doris Dokua Sasu, Jan 10, 2024

Key insights

Temperature departure in Africa
1.3°C
Cumulative CO2 emissions in Africa
49.1bn mt
Largest African CO2 emitter
South Africa
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Largest natural disasters in Africa between 1970 and 2019, by number of deaths

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Climate Change Performance Index in Africa 2022, by country

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