Absolute change co2 in South Africa

South Africa: Absolute change co2 was 3.23 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
3.23 million
Change on year
down 58.8%
World rank
22nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
47.90 million
in 2003
All-time low
-35.43 million
in 2020
Years of data
140
1885–2024

Absolute change co2 in South Africa, 1885–2024

-40.0M-20.0M020.0M40.0M188519542024

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 3.23 million for absolute change co2 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, absolute change co2 in South Africa peaked at 47.90 million in 2003 and was at its lowest, -35.43 million, 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.

Absolute change co2 in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Absolute change co2 in South Africa, 1885 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1885 14,656 —
1886 10,992 -25.0%
1887 0 -100.0%
1888 32,976 —
1889 51,296 +55.6%
1890 164,880 +221.4%
1891 0 -100.0%
1892 183,200 —
1893 1.32 million +620.0%
1894 633,872 -51.9%
1895 905,008 +42.8%
1896 919,664 +1.6%
1897 520,288 -43.4%
1898 1.27 million +144.4%
1899 -531,280 -141.8%
1900 -3.19 million +500.0%
1901 1.58 million -149.5%
1902 1.92 million +21.3%
1903 1.96 million +2.1%
1904 985,616 -49.6%
1905 1.26 million +27.9%
1906 1.44 million +14.0%
1907 1.19 million -17.3%
1908 355,408 -70.1%
1909 1.97 million +453.6%
1910 2.00 million +1.9%
1911 -637,536 -131.8%
1912 1.01 million -258.0%
1913 1.63 million +62.2%
1914 -582,576 -135.7%
1915 109,920 -118.9%
1916 3.30 million +2903.3%
1917 1.53 million -53.7%
1918 -1.12 million -173.1%
1919 916,000 -182.0%
1920 2.53 million +176.0%
1921 -252,816 -110.0%
1922 -3.63 million +1334.8%
1923 4.66 million -228.4%
1924 1.33 million -71.4%
1925 1.18 million -11.8%
1926 1.48 million +25.5%
1927 -868,368 -158.8%
1928 62,288 -107.2%
1929 1.15 million +1738.8%
1930 -2.05 million -278.7%
1931 -3.15 million +54.1%
1932 -2.11 million -33.1%
1933 1.88 million -188.8%
1934 3.54 million +88.7%
1935 3.29 million -7.1%
1936 3.10 million -5.8%
1937 1.56 million -49.5%
1938 1.88 million +20.4%
1939 1.46 million -22.6%
1940 1.36 million -6.7%
1941 2.81 million +106.7%
1942 4.10 million +45.8%
1943 340,868 -91.7%
1944 5.80 million +1602.4%
1945 1.30 million -77.6%
1946 175,364 -86.5%
1947 -209,144 -219.3%
1948 1.26 million -704.3%
1949 3.49 million +176.0%
1950 327,796 -90.6%
1951 4.15 million +1167.4%
1952 5.76 million +38.7%
1953 142,472 -97.5%
1954 2.91 million +1939.3%
1955 9.05 million +211.5%
1956 4.32 million -52.2%
1957 2.39 million -44.7%
1958 6.61 million +176.3%
1959 -1.78 million -126.9%
1960 3.37 million -289.5%
1961 4.27 million +26.6%
1962 3.55 million -16.9%
1963 4.06 million +14.2%
1964 9.82 million +142.2%
1965 8.59 million -12.5%
1966 94,888 -98.9%
1967 5.53 million +5722.8%
1968 4.19 million -24.1%
1969 5.19 million +23.7%
1970 6.48 million +24.9%
1971 18.79 million +189.9%
1972 3.15 million -83.2%
1973 1.80 million -43.0%
1974 3.20 million +78.0%
1975 8.46 million +164.6%
1976 7.90 million -6.5%
1977 6.83 million -13.6%
1978 2.14 million -68.6%
1979 16.79 million +684.2%
1980 9.53 million -43.2%
1981 28.88 million +203.0%
1982 23.36 million -19.1%
1983 11.47 million -50.9%
1984 23.69 million +106.6%
1985 8.27 million -65.1%
1986 6.64 million -19.7%
1987 -1.83 million -127.6%
1988 13.99 million -865.0%
1989 -1.95 million -113.9%
1990 -27.78 million +1326.6%
1991 13.10 million -147.1%
1992 -24.70 million -288.6%
1993 19.02 million -177.0%
1994 18.35 million -3.5%
1995 23.01 million +25.4%
1996 2.02 million -91.2%
1997 21.48 million +963.3%
1998 -7.94 million -137.0%
1999 -2.40 million -69.7%
2000 3.46 million -244.0%
2001 -6.73 million -294.3%
2002 -15.10 million +124.4%
2003 47.90 million -417.2%
2004 44.92 million -6.2%
2005 -33.12 million -173.7%
2006 30.54 million -192.2%
2007 18.29 million -40.1%
2008 29.64 million +62.1%
2009 -20.16 million -168.0%
2010 -7.16 million -64.5%
2011 6.92 million -196.7%
2012 -12.83 million -285.5%
2013 -5.25 million -59.1%
2014 25.45 million -584.7%
2015 -24.16 million -194.9%
2016 -423,488 -98.2%
2017 -17.04 million +3923.6%
2018 13.76 million -180.7%
2019 16.96 million +23.3%
2020 -35.43 million -308.9%
2021 4.17 million -111.8%
2022 -10.68 million -356.4%
2023 7.82 million -173.2%
2024 3.23 million -58.8%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 3.23 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 98,432, 32.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 3.23 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,780, 69.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Absolute change co2 in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1967 +5722.8% 94,888 5.53 million
2017 -3923.6% -423,488 -17.04 million
1916 +2903.3% 109,920 3.30 million
1954 +1939.3% 142,472 2.91 million
1929 +1738.8% 62,288 1.15 million
1944 +1602.4% 340,868 5.80 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1880s 21,984 0 51,296 5
1890s 538,608 -531,280 1.32 million 10
1900s 945,679 -3.19 million 1.97 million 10
1910s 816,339 -1.12 million 3.30 million 10
1920s 763,065 -3.63 million 4.66 million 10
1930s 938,847 -3.15 million 3.54 million 10
1940s 2.04 million -209,144 5.80 million 10
1950s 3.39 million -1.78 million 9.05 million 10
1960s 4.87 million 94,888 9.82 million 10
1970s 7.55 million 1.80 million 18.79 million 10
1980s 12.20 million -1.95 million 28.88 million 10
1990s 3.42 million -27.78 million 23.01 million 10
2000s 9.96 million -33.12 million 47.90 million 10
2010s -378,487 -24.16 million 25.45 million 10
2020s -6.18 million -35.43 million 7.82 million 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 19 Peru 4.18 million compare
  2. 20 Bolivia 4.09 million compare
  3. 21 Bangladesh 3.79 million compare
  4. 23 Ukraine 3.17 million compare
  5. 24 Thailand 3.03 million compare
  6. 25 Iran 2.96 million compare

See the full ranking of 215 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is absolute change co2 in South Africa?
Absolute change co2 in South Africa was 3.23 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest absolute change co2 recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 47.90 million in 2003.
What is the lowest absolute change co2 recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -35.43 million in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for absolute change co2?
South Africa ranks 22nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
Is absolute change co2 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Absolute change co2. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Absolute change co2 in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/absolute-change-co2/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Absolute change co2
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
215 places, 23,088 data points, 1751–2024
Last refreshed