South Africa vs Spain: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector
South Africa
7.42 million tonnes
in 2023
Spain
7.21 million tonnes
in 2023
South Africa rank
19th
Spain rank
20th
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector over time
- South Africa
- Spain
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 7.42 million tonnes against 7.21 million tonnes in Spain, a difference of 210,000 tonnes.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 34 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Spain ahead.
South Africa ranks 19th and Spain ranks 20th of 179 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and Spain in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Spain | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.45 million tonnes | 5.11 million tonnes | 657,000 tonnes | Spain |
| 2000s | 4.14 million tonnes | 7.83 million tonnes | 3.69 million tonnes | Spain |
| 2010s | 7.50 million tonnes | 7.48 million tonnes | 19,000 tonnes | South Africa |
| 2020s | 7.17 million tonnes | 7.82 million tonnes | 657,500 tonnes | Spain |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher greenhouse gas emissions by sector, South Africa or Spain?
- South Africa, at 7.42 million tonnes against 7.21 million tonnes in Spain as of 2023.
- What is the difference in greenhouse gas emissions by sector between South Africa and Spain?
- 210,000 tonnes, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Spain?
- 34 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2023.
- How do South Africa and Spain rank globally for greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- South Africa ranks 19th and Spain ranks 20th of 179 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Climate Watch (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Greenhouse gas emissions by sector. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents.