Carbon stock change in forests — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa
South Africa: Carbon stock change in forests — Net emissions/removals (CO2) was -74,851 kt in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Carbon stock change in forests — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa, 1990–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kt.
Analysis
In 2025, carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa stood at -74,851 kt. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of down 439.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa peaked at 46,486 kt in 2016 and was at its lowest, -74,851 kt, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 217th of 223 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon stock change in forests — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -14,047 kt | — |
| 1991 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1993 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -14,047 kt | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -14,139 kt | +0.7% |
| 2002 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -14,139 kt | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -13,875 kt | -1.9% |
| 2012 | -13,875 kt | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -13,875 kt | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -13,875 kt | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -13,875 kt | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 46,486 kt | -435.0% |
| 2017 | 46,486 kt | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 46,486 kt | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 46,486 kt | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 46,486 kt | +0.0% |
| 2021 | -74,851 kt | -261.0% |
| 2022 | -74,851 kt | -0.0% |
| 2023 | -74,851 kt | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -74,851 kt | -0.0% |
| 2025 | -74,851 kt | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -14,047 kt | -14,047 kt | -14,047 kt | 10 |
| 2000s | -14,130 kt | -14,139 kt | -14,047 kt | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,243 kt | -14,139 kt | 46,486 kt | 10 |
| 2020s | -54,628 kt | -74,851 kt | 46,486 kt | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 717.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa?
- Carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa was -74,851 kt in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 46,486 kt in 2016.
- What is the lowest carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -74,851 kt in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2)?
- South Africa ranks 217th out of 223 countries with data for 2025.
- Is carbon stock change in forests — net emissions/removals (co2) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 439.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Carbon stock change in forests — Net emissions/removals (CO2) (Forest land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions from Forests consists of CO2 emissions and removals corresponding to forest carbon stock changes (aboveground and belowground living biomass). Estimates are computed following the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006).