Malaysia vs South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre

Malaysia
20,552 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
South Africa
18,455 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
Malaysia rank
70th
South Africa rank
73rd

Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre over time

  • Malaysia
  • South Africa
05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k196119922023

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 20,552 tonnes per square kilometre against 18,455 tonnes per square kilometre in South Africa, a difference of 2,097 tonnes per square kilometre.

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

The two have swapped places 1 time across 63 shared years of data; in 1961 it was South Africa ahead.

Malaysia ranks 70th and South Africa ranks 73rd of 204 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, Malaysia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 6.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia South Africa Difference Ahead
1960s 481.05 tonnes per square kilometre 2,393 tonnes per square kilometre 1,912 tonnes per square kilometre South Africa
1970s 899.8 tonnes per square kilometre 3,617 tonnes per square kilometre 2,717 tonnes per square kilometre South Africa
1980s 1,780 tonnes per square kilometre 5,639 tonnes per square kilometre 3,860 tonnes per square kilometre South Africa
1990s 3,717 tonnes per square kilometre 8,357 tonnes per square kilometre 4,640 tonnes per square kilometre South Africa
2000s 7,632 tonnes per square kilometre 11,535 tonnes per square kilometre 3,903 tonnes per square kilometre South Africa
2010s 13,799 tonnes per square kilometre 15,316 tonnes per square kilometre 1,518 tonnes per square kilometre South Africa
2020s 19,284 tonnes per square kilometre 17,917 tonnes per square kilometre 1,366 tonnes per square kilometre Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre, Malaysia or South Africa?
Malaysia, at 20,552 tonnes per square kilometre against 18,455 tonnes per square kilometre in South Africa as of 2023.
What is the difference in cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre between Malaysia and South Africa?
2,097 tonnes per square kilometre, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and South Africa?
63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
How do Malaysia and South Africa rank globally for cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre?
Malaysia ranks 70th and South Africa ranks 73rd of 204 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Malaysia vs South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/cumulative-co2-emissions-per-square-kilometre/malaysia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre
Unit
tonnes per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
204 places, 11,422 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

Cumulative CO₂ emissions divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.