emissions of air pollutants in South Africa
South Africa: emissions of air pollutants was 4.37 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
4.37 million tonnes
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
15th
of 220 countries
All-time high
5.43 million tonnes
in 2008
All-time low
172,142 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in South Africa, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4.37 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in South Africa peaked at 5.43 million tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 172,142 tonnes, in 1750.
That places South Africa 15th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
emissions of air pollutants in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 172,142 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 172,660 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 173,176 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 173,692 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 174,206 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 174,720 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 175,233 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 175,745 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 176,256 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 176,766 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 177,275 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 177,834 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 178,392 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 178,949 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 179,505 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 180,059 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 180,613 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 181,165 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 181,717 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 182,267 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 182,816 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 183,423 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 184,028 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 184,632 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 185,234 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 185,835 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 186,435 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 187,034 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 187,631 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 188,227 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 188,822 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 189,482 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1782 | 190,141 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1783 | 190,798 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1784 | 191,454 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 192,108 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 192,761 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1787 | 193,412 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1788 | 194,061 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1789 | 194,709 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 195,355 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1791 | 196,077 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 196,797 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 197,515 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 198,232 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 198,946 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 199,658 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 200,369 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 201,077 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 201,784 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 202,488 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1801 | 203,280 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 204,070 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 204,857 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 205,642 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 206,424 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 207,204 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 207,982 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 208,757 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 209,530 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 210,301 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 212,093 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1812 | 213,881 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 215,663 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 217,440 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 219,211 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 220,977 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 222,738 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 224,494 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 226,244 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 227,989 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 230,021 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 232,047 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1823 | 234,065 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1824 | 236,077 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1825 | 238,082 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 240,080 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 242,072 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 244,057 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 246,035 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 248,007 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 250,315 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1832 | 252,615 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1833 | 254,907 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1834 | 257,190 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1835 | 259,464 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1836 | 261,730 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1837 | 263,987 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1838 | 266,236 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1839 | 268,476 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 270,708 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1841 | 273,336 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1842 | 275,953 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1843 | 278,559 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1844 | 281,154 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1845 | 283,738 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1846 | 286,311 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1847 | 288,873 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1848 | 291,425 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1849 | 293,965 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1850 | 298,022 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1851 | 303,809 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1852 | 309,704 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1853 | 315,710 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1854 | 321,830 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1855 | 328,065 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1856 | 334,433 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 340,921 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1858 | 347,532 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1859 | 354,269 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1860 | 361,133 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1861 | 368,156 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1862 | 375,313 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1863 | 382,605 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1864 | 390,035 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1865 | 397,607 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1866 | 405,352 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1867 | 413,244 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1868 | 421,285 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1869 | 429,480 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1870 | 437,298 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1871 | 446,173 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1872 | 455,217 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1873 | 464,435 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1874 | 473,829 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1875 | 483,403 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1876 | 493,248 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1877 | 503,281 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1878 | 513,505 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1879 | 523,925 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1880 | 534,545 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1881 | 545,470 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1882 | 556,602 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1883 | 567,948 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1884 | 579,567 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1885 | 591,389 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1886 | 603,558 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1887 | 615,928 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1888 | 628,621 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1889 | 641,602 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 655,126 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1891 | 668,628 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1892 | 682,866 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1893 | 700,344 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1894 | 716,291 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1895 | 733,222 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1896 | 750,629 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1897 | 767,273 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1898 | 786,176 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1899 | 800,649 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 808,460 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1901 | 837,520 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1902 | 875,849 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1903 | 922,528 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1904 | 966,221 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1905 | 1.02 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1906 | 1.04 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1907 | 1.06 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1908 | 1.08 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1909 | 1.10 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1910 | 1.13 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 1.14 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1912 | 1.16 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1913 | 1.18 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1914 | 1.20 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1915 | 1.21 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 1.25 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1917 | 1.27 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1918 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1919 | 1.27 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1920 | 1.30 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1921 | 1.32 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1922 | 1.31 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1923 | 1.37 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1924 | 1.40 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1925 | 1.43 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 1.47 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 1.50 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1928 | 1.53 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 1.57 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1930 | 1.59 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1931 | 1.58 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1932 | 1.58 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1933 | 1.61 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 1.65 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1935 | 1.70 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1936 | 1.74 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1937 | 1.77 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1938 | 1.81 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 1.84 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1940 | 1.87 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1941 | 1.91 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1942 | 1.96 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1943 | 1.98 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1944 | 2.04 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 2.06 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1946 | 2.08 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1947 | 2.10 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1948 | 2.13 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 2.18 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1950 | 2.23 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 2.25 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 2.26 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 2.22 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1954 | 2.21 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 2.24 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 2.22 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1957 | 2.17 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1958 | 2.17 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 2.09 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1960 | 2.06 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1961 | 2.04 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 2.02 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 2.00 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1964 | 2.05 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 2.06 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 2.08 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 2.13 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 2.12 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 2.17 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 2.24 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 2.37 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 2.47 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 2.62 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 2.67 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 2.87 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1976 | 2.93 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 2.89 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 2.97 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 2.90 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 2.96 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 3.09 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 3.08 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 3.03 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 3.26 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 3.32 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 3.30 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 3.55 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 3.74 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 3.95 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 4.07 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 4.10 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 4.14 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 4.20 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 4.24 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 4.39 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 4.38 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 4.47 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 4.46 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 4.31 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 3.91 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2001 | 4.96 million tonnes | +26.9% |
| 2002 | 5.00 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 4.92 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 5.17 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 5.10 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 5.16 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 5.39 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 5.43 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 5.18 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 5.06 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 4.93 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 5.29 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 5.32 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.24 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 5.03 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 4.90 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 5.36 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 4.96 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 4.55 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2020 | 4.41 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 4.42 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 4.37 million tonnes | -1.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 4.37 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 286,757 tonnes, 15.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 4.37 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 552,241 tonnes, 7.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +26.9% | 3.91 million tonnes | 4.96 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 174,460 tonnes | 172,142 tonnes | 176,766 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 179,778 tonnes | 177,275 tonnes | 182,267 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 185,530 tonnes | 182,816 tonnes | 188,227 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 191,775 tonnes | 188,822 tonnes | 194,709 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 198,581 tonnes | 195,355 tonnes | 201,784 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 206,023 tonnes | 202,488 tonnes | 209,530 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 218,304 tonnes | 210,301 tonnes | 226,244 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 237,052 tonnes | 227,989 tonnes | 246,035 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 258,293 tonnes | 248,007 tonnes | 268,476 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 282,402 tonnes | 270,708 tonnes | 293,965 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 325,430 tonnes | 298,022 tonnes | 354,269 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 394,421 tonnes | 361,133 tonnes | 429,480 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 479,431 tonnes | 437,298 tonnes | 523,925 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 586,523 tonnes | 534,545 tonnes | 641,602 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 726,120 tonnes | 655,126 tonnes | 800,649 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 971,467 tonnes | 808,460 tonnes | 1.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.21 million tonnes | 1.13 million tonnes | 1.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.42 million tonnes | 1.30 million tonnes | 1.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.69 million tonnes | 1.58 million tonnes | 1.84 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.03 million tonnes | 1.87 million tonnes | 2.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.21 million tonnes | 2.09 million tonnes | 2.26 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.07 million tonnes | 2.00 million tonnes | 2.17 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.69 million tonnes | 2.24 million tonnes | 2.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.33 million tonnes | 2.96 million tonnes | 3.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.27 million tonnes | 4.07 million tonnes | 4.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.02 million tonnes | 3.91 million tonnes | 5.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.06 million tonnes | 4.55 million tonnes | 5.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.40 million tonnes | 4.37 million tonnes | 4.42 million tonnes | 3 |
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 emissions of air pollutants in South Africa?
- Emissions of air pollutants in South Africa was 4.37 million tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.43 million tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 172,142 tonnes in 1750.
- How does South Africa rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a pollutant produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels such as oil, gas, wood, and coal. CO is a harmful gas that contributes to both outdoor and indoor air pollution.