Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 3.23 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in South Africa, 1885–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.23 million tonnes for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in 2024.
That represents a change of down 58.8% on the previous year and down 87.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in South Africa peaked at 47.90 million tonnes in 2003 and was at its lowest, -35.43 million tonnes, in 2020.
That places South Africa 22nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 21,984 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 51,296 tonnes | 5 |
| 1890s | 538,608 tonnes | -531,280 tonnes | 1.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 945,679 tonnes | -3.19 million tonnes | 1.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 816,339 tonnes | -1.12 million tonnes | 3.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 763,065 tonnes | -3.63 million tonnes | 4.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 938,847 tonnes | -3.15 million tonnes | 3.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.04 million tonnes | -209,144 tonnes | 5.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.39 million tonnes | -1.78 million tonnes | 9.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.87 million tonnes | 94,888 tonnes | 9.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.55 million tonnes | 1.80 million tonnes | 18.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.20 million tonnes | -1.95 million tonnes | 28.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.42 million tonnes | -27.78 million tonnes | 23.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.96 million tonnes | -33.12 million tonnes | 47.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -378,487 tonnes | -24.16 million tonnes | 25.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -6.18 million tonnes | -35.43 million tonnes | 7.82 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.9% (2100)
- Population growth 1.1% (2025)
- Population, total 64.75 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.3% (2025)
- Urban population 41.32 million (2025)
- Urban population 63.8% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 6.87 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 22.83 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 6.87 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 6.87 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in South Africa?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in South Africa was 3.23 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.90 million tonnes in 2003.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -35.43 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 87.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 140 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual growth in total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.