Change air pollutant emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Change air pollutant emissions was 4.37 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
4.37 million
Change on year
down 1.1%
Rank
15th
of 220 groups
All-time high
5.43 million
in 2008
All-time low
172,142
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Change air pollutant emissions in South Africa, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 4.37 million for change air pollutant emissions 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, change air pollutant emissions in South Africa peaked at 5.43 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 172,142, in 1750.
That places South Africa 15th out of 220 groups 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 174,460 | 172,142 | 176,766 | 10 |
| 1760s | 179,778 | 177,275 | 182,267 | 10 |
| 1770s | 185,530 | 182,816 | 188,227 | 10 |
| 1780s | 191,775 | 188,822 | 194,709 | 10 |
| 1790s | 198,581 | 195,355 | 201,784 | 10 |
| 1800s | 206,023 | 202,488 | 209,530 | 10 |
| 1810s | 218,304 | 210,301 | 226,244 | 10 |
| 1820s | 237,052 | 227,989 | 246,035 | 10 |
| 1830s | 258,293 | 248,007 | 268,476 | 10 |
| 1840s | 282,402 | 270,708 | 293,965 | 10 |
| 1850s | 325,430 | 298,022 | 354,269 | 10 |
| 1860s | 394,421 | 361,133 | 429,480 | 10 |
| 1870s | 479,431 | 437,298 | 523,925 | 10 |
| 1880s | 586,523 | 534,545 | 641,602 | 10 |
| 1890s | 726,120 | 655,126 | 800,649 | 10 |
| 1900s | 971,467 | 808,460 | 1.10 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.21 million | 1.13 million | 1.28 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.42 million | 1.30 million | 1.57 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.69 million | 1.58 million | 1.84 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.03 million | 1.87 million | 2.18 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.21 million | 2.09 million | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.07 million | 2.00 million | 2.17 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.69 million | 2.24 million | 2.97 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.33 million | 2.96 million | 3.95 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.27 million | 4.07 million | 4.47 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.02 million | 3.91 million | 5.43 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.06 million | 4.55 million | 5.36 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.40 million | 4.37 million | 4.42 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Share co2 vs population 0.9265 (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 vs gdp 6.87 (2024)
- Cumulative co emissions 22.83 billion (2024)
- Co emissions per capita 6.87 (2024)
- Co2 per capita vs renewable electricity 6.87 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is change air pollutant emissions in South Africa?
- Change air pollutant emissions in South Africa was 4.37 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest change air pollutant emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.43 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest change air pollutant emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 172,142 in 1750.
- How does South Africa rank for change air pollutant emissions?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 220 groups with data for 2022.
- Is change air pollutant emissions 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Change air pollutant emissions. 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).