Malaysia vs South Africa: emissions of air pollutants

Malaysia
4.68 million tonnes
in 2022
South Africa
4.37 million tonnes
in 2022
Malaysia rank
13th
South Africa rank
15th

emissions of air pollutants over time

  • Malaysia
  • South Africa
02.0M4.0M6.0M175018862022

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 4.68 million tonnes against 4.37 million tonnes in South Africa, a difference of 305,970 tonnes.

That makes Malaysia's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 273 shared years of data; in 1750 it was South Africa ahead.

Malaysia ranks 13th and South Africa ranks 15th of 220 countries.

Across the 28 decades both report, Malaysia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 27.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia South Africa Difference Ahead
1750s 8,757 tonnes 174,460 tonnes 165,702 tonnes South Africa
1760s 8,889 tonnes 179,778 tonnes 170,889 tonnes South Africa
1770s 9,020 tonnes 185,530 tonnes 176,510 tonnes South Africa
1780s 9,149 tonnes 191,775 tonnes 182,626 tonnes South Africa
1790s 9,277 tonnes 198,581 tonnes 189,304 tonnes South Africa
1800s 9,402 tonnes 206,023 tonnes 196,622 tonnes South Africa
1810s 9,523 tonnes 218,304 tonnes 208,781 tonnes South Africa
1820s 10,343 tonnes 237,052 tonnes 226,709 tonnes South Africa
1830s 12,487 tonnes 258,293 tonnes 245,805 tonnes South Africa
1840s 15,495 tonnes 282,402 tonnes 266,907 tonnes South Africa
1850s 19,061 tonnes 325,430 tonnes 306,369 tonnes South Africa
1860s 23,434 tonnes 394,421 tonnes 370,987 tonnes South Africa
1870s 31,316 tonnes 479,431 tonnes 448,115 tonnes South Africa
1880s 44,113 tonnes 586,523 tonnes 542,410 tonnes South Africa
1890s 61,359 tonnes 726,120 tonnes 664,762 tonnes South Africa
1900s 87,066 tonnes 971,467 tonnes 884,401 tonnes South Africa
1910s 123,887 tonnes 1.21 million tonnes 1.09 million tonnes South Africa
1920s 189,865 tonnes 1.42 million tonnes 1.23 million tonnes South Africa
1930s 226,131 tonnes 1.69 million tonnes 1.46 million tonnes South Africa
1940s 259,422 tonnes 2.03 million tonnes 1.77 million tonnes South Africa
1950s 367,707 tonnes 2.21 million tonnes 1.84 million tonnes South Africa
1960s 560,882 tonnes 2.07 million tonnes 1.51 million tonnes South Africa
1970s 748,410 tonnes 2.69 million tonnes 1.94 million tonnes South Africa
1980s 1.10 million tonnes 3.33 million tonnes 2.22 million tonnes South Africa
1990s 1.99 million tonnes 4.27 million tonnes 2.28 million tonnes South Africa
2000s 3.20 million tonnes 5.02 million tonnes 1.82 million tonnes South Africa
2010s 4.39 million tonnes 5.06 million tonnes 672,540 tonnes South Africa
2020s 4.78 million tonnes 4.40 million tonnes 379,537 tonnes Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher emissions of air pollutants, Malaysia or South Africa?
Malaysia, at 4.68 million tonnes against 4.37 million tonnes in South Africa as of 2022.
What is the difference in emissions of air pollutants between Malaysia and South Africa?
305,970 tonnes, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
273 years are reported by both, from 1750 to 2022.
How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for emissions of air pollutants?
Malaysia ranks 13th and South Africa ranks 15th of 220 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malaysia vs South Africa: emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid, drawing on Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/change-air-pollutant-emissions/malaysia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
emissions of air pollutants
Unit
tonnes
Source
Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a pollutant produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels such as oil, gas, wood, and coal. CO is a harmful gas that contributes to both outdoor and indoor air pollution.