Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in South Africa
South Africa: Annual CO₂ emissions from coal was 371.36 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in South Africa, 1884–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Africa stood at 371.36 million tonnes.
That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Africa peaked at 418.27 million tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 21,984 tonnes, in 1884.
That places South Africa 7th out of 179 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 | 61,067 tonnes | 21,984 tonnes | 131,904 tonnes | 6 |
| 1890s | 2.92 million tonnes | 296,784 tonnes | 6.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 9.07 million tonnes | 2.33 million tonnes | 14.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 19.71 million tonnes | 16.34 million tonnes | 23.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 27.62 million tonnes | 21.79 million tonnes | 30.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 31.26 million tonnes | 23.31 million tonnes | 39.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 51.77 million tonnes | 41.11 million tonnes | 59.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 70.95 million tonnes | 55.05 million tonnes | 85.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 104.26 million tonnes | 87.44 million tonnes | 120.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 146.91 million tonnes | 123.90 million tonnes | 179.98 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 256.30 million tonnes | 194.06 million tonnes | 293.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 303.09 million tonnes | 259.67 million tonnes | 336.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 370.24 million tonnes | 325.51 million tonnes | 418.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 394.23 million tonnes | 369.90 million tonnes | 413.20 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 366.50 million tonnes | 357.02 million tonnes | 374.00 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 annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Africa?
- Annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Africa was 371.36 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 418.27 million tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,984 tonnes in 1884.
- How does South Africa rank for annual co₂ emissions from coal?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. 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 Annual CO₂ emissions from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 141 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal, measured in tonnes.