Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa
South Africa: Carbon dioxide emissions by income level was 439.83 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa, 1884–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa is 439.83 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa peaked at 494.67 million tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 21,984 tonnes, in 1884.
South Africa ranks 15th of 215 countries on this measure, 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 | 27.64 million tonnes | 21.79 million tonnes | 30.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 31.50 million tonnes | 23.46 million tonnes | 40.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 52.30 million tonnes | 41.52 million tonnes | 60.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 79.22 million tonnes | 60.91 million tonnes | 96.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 120.61 million tonnes | 97.85 million tonnes | 143.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 183.77 million tonnes | 149.62 million tonnes | 218.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 303.96 million tonnes | 228.20 million tonnes | 342.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 346.21 million tonnes | 301.33 million tonnes | 385.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 425.73 million tonnes | 356.50 million tonnes | 494.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 461.99 million tonnes | 440.01 million tonnes | 481.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 436.00 million tonnes | 428.78 million tonnes | 439.83 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 carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa?
- Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa was 439.83 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon dioxide emissions by income level recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 494.67 million tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest carbon dioxide emissions by income level recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21,984 tonnes in 1884.
- How does South Africa rank for carbon dioxide emissions by income level?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon dioxide emissions by income level rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. 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 Carbon dioxide emissions by income level. 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 total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.