Australia vs South Africa: Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered
Australia
25.01 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
South Africa
16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
Australia rank
35th
South Africa rank
38th
Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered over time
- Australia
- South Africa
How they compare
Australia currently reports 25.01 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents against 16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in South Africa, a difference of 8.18 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents.
That makes Australia's figure about 1.5 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was South Africa ahead.
Australia ranks 35th and South Africa ranks 38th of 200 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2000s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2010s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 1.06 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 1.06 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | South Africa |
| 2020s | 8.29 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 12.29 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 4.01 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered, Australia or South Africa?
- Australia, at 25.01 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents against 16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered between Australia and South Africa?
- 8.18 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents, with Australia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and South Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Australia and South Africa rank globally for carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered?
- Australia ranks 35th and South Africa ranks 38th of 200 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.