Co2 emissions transport in South Africa

South Africa: Co2 emissions transport was 47.84 million in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
47.84 million
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
26th
of 191 countries
All-time high
55.41 million
in 2017
All-time low
29.55 million
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Co2 emissions transport in South Africa, 1990–2023

020.0M40.0M60.0M1990200620231990: 29.6M1991: 29.6M1992: 30.1M1993: 30.2M1994: 31.3M1995: 35.2M1996: 34.3M1997: 35.2M1998: 34.9M1999: 35.4M2000: 35.2M2001: 36.0M2002: 36.8M2003: 39.0M2004: 41.2M2005: 43.2M2006: 44.4M2007: 48.8M2008: 47.0M2009: 45.1M2010: 46.5M2011: 48.8M2012: 48.8M2013: 53.6M2014: 51.2M2015: 53.5M2016: 51.4M2017: 55.4M2018: 54.1M2019: 51.1M2020: 43.6M2021: 48.5M2022: 48.0M2023: 47.8M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2023, co2 emissions transport in South Africa stood at 47.84 million.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 10.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, co2 emissions transport in South Africa peaked at 55.41 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 29.55 million, in 1990.

That places South Africa 26th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Co2 emissions transport in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Co2 emissions transport in South Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1990 29.55 million —
1991 29.57 million +0.1%
1992 30.06 million +1.7%
1993 30.23 million +0.6%
1994 31.33 million +3.6%
1995 35.17 million +12.3%
1996 34.32 million -2.4%
1997 35.23 million +2.7%
1998 34.89 million -1.0%
1999 35.36 million +1.3%
2000 35.18 million -0.5%
2001 36.01 million +2.4%
2002 36.79 million +2.2%
2003 38.98 million +6.0%
2004 41.25 million +5.8%
2005 43.20 million +4.7%
2006 44.35 million +2.7%
2007 48.75 million +9.9%
2008 47.05 million -3.5%
2009 45.07 million -4.2%
2010 46.50 million +3.2%
2011 48.78 million +4.9%
2012 48.84 million +0.1%
2013 53.65 million +9.8%
2014 51.21 million -4.5%
2015 53.55 million +4.6%
2016 51.36 million -4.1%
2017 55.41 million +7.9%
2018 54.15 million -2.3%
2019 51.06 million -5.7%
2020 43.65 million -14.5%
2021 48.55 million +11.2%
2022 47.97 million -1.2%
2023 47.84 million -0.3%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 47.84 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.45 million, 10.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 47.84 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.82 million, 26.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 32.57 million 29.55 million 35.36 million 10
2000s 41.66 million 35.18 million 48.75 million 10
2010s 51.45 million 46.50 million 55.41 million 10
2020s 47.00 million 43.65 million 48.55 million 4

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 23 Malaysia 63.56 million compare
  2. 24 Nigeria 55.59 million compare
  3. 25 Argentina 49.14 million compare
  4. 27 Algeria 46.84 million compare
  5. 28 Vietnam 45.36 million compare
  6. 29 Pakistan 43.61 million compare

See the full ranking of 191 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is co2 emissions transport in South Africa?
Co2 emissions transport in South Africa was 47.84 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest co2 emissions transport recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 55.41 million in 2017.
What is the lowest co2 emissions transport recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 29.55 million in 1990.
How does South Africa rank for co2 emissions transport?
South Africa ranks 26th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
Is co2 emissions transport rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Co2 emissions transport. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Co2 emissions transport in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 November 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/co2-emissions-transport/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Co2 emissions transport
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
191 places, 6,476 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed