South Africa vs United States: Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered
South Africa
16.83 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
United States
24.57 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
South Africa rank
38th
United States rank
36th
Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered over time
- South Africa
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 24.57 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 7.74 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents.
That makes United States's figure about 1.5 times South Africa's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 38th and United States ranks 36th of 200 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United States | 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 | 0.4267 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0.4267 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | United States |
| 2010s | 1.06 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 9.92 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 8.86 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | United States |
| 2020s | 12.29 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 22.41 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 10.12 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered, South Africa or United States?
- United States, at 24.57 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 South Africa and United States?
- 7.74 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and United States rank globally for carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered?
- South Africa ranks 38th and United States ranks 36th 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.