China vs South Africa: Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered
China
10.11 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
South Africa
16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
China rank
39th
South Africa rank
38th
Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered over time
- China
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents against 10.11 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in China, a difference of 6.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.7 times China's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was South Africa ahead.
China ranks 39th and South Africa ranks 38th of 200 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, China averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | 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 | 3.14 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 1.06 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 2.08 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | China |
| 2020s | 8.54 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 12.29 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 3.75 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, China or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents against 10.11 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered between China and South Africa?
- 6.72 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and South Africa?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do China and South Africa rank globally for carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered?
- China ranks 39th 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.