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
Latest (2024)
439.83 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
15th
of 215 countries
All-time high
494.67 million tonnes
in 2008
All-time low
21,984 tonnes
in 1884
Years of data
141
1884–2024
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.
Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 21,984 tonnes | — |
| 1885 | 36,640 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1886 | 47,632 tonnes | +30.0% |
| 1887 | 47,632 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 80,608 tonnes | +69.2% |
| 1889 | 131,904 tonnes | +63.6% |
| 1890 | 296,784 tonnes | +125.0% |
| 1891 | 296,784 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 479,984 tonnes | +61.7% |
| 1893 | 1.80 million tonnes | +274.8% |
| 1894 | 2.43 million tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1895 | 3.34 million tonnes | +37.2% |
| 1896 | 4.26 million tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1897 | 4.78 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1898 | 6.05 million tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1899 | 5.52 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1900 | 2.33 million tonnes | -57.8% |
| 1901 | 3.91 million tonnes | +67.8% |
| 1902 | 5.83 million tonnes | +49.0% |
| 1903 | 7.78 million tonnes | +33.6% |
| 1904 | 8.77 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1905 | 10.03 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1906 | 11.46 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1907 | 12.65 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1908 | 13.01 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1909 | 14.97 million tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1910 | 16.98 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1911 | 16.34 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1912 | 17.35 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1913 | 18.98 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1914 | 18.40 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1915 | 18.51 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1916 | 21.81 million tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1917 | 23.34 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1918 | 22.22 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1919 | 23.14 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1920 | 25.67 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1921 | 25.41 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 21.79 million tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1923 | 26.44 million tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1924 | 27.78 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1925 | 28.95 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1926 | 30.43 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1927 | 29.56 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1928 | 29.62 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 30.77 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1930 | 28.72 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1931 | 25.57 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1932 | 23.46 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1933 | 25.33 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1934 | 28.87 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1935 | 32.16 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1936 | 35.25 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1937 | 36.82 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1938 | 38.70 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1939 | 40.16 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1940 | 41.52 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1941 | 44.33 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1942 | 48.42 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1943 | 48.76 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1944 | 54.57 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1945 | 55.87 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1946 | 56.04 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1947 | 55.83 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1948 | 57.10 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1949 | 60.59 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1950 | 60.91 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1951 | 65.07 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1952 | 70.83 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1953 | 70.97 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1954 | 73.88 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 82.93 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1956 | 87.25 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 89.64 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 96.25 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1959 | 94.47 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1960 | 97.85 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1961 | 102.12 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1962 | 105.67 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1963 | 109.72 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 119.55 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1965 | 128.14 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1966 | 128.24 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 133.76 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 137.95 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 143.14 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 149.62 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 168.41 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1972 | 171.56 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 173.35 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 176.55 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 185.00 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 192.91 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 199.74 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 201.88 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 218.67 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 228.20 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 257.08 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1982 | 280.44 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 291.91 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 315.60 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1985 | 323.87 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 330.50 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 328.67 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 342.66 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 340.71 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 312.93 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 326.03 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 301.33 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1993 | 320.35 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 338.70 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 361.71 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 363.73 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 385.21 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 377.27 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 374.87 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 378.33 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 371.60 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 356.50 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 404.41 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2004 | 449.32 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 416.20 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 446.74 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 465.03 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 494.67 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2009 | 474.51 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 467.35 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 474.27 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 461.44 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 456.19 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 481.64 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 457.47 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 457.05 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 440.01 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 453.77 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 470.73 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 435.30 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 439.46 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 428.78 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 436.60 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 439.83 million tonnes | +0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 439.83 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.35 million tonnes, 21.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 439.83 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.96 million tonnes, 88.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon dioxide emissions by income level 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | +274.8% | 479,984 tonnes | 1.80 million tonnes |
| 1890 | +125.0% | 131,904 tonnes | 296,784 tonnes |
| 1888 | +69.2% | 47,632 tonnes | 80,608 tonnes |
| 1901 | +67.8% | 2.33 million tonnes | 3.91 million tonnes |
| 1885 | +66.7% | 21,984 tonnes | 36,640 tonnes |
| 1900 | -57.8% | 5.52 million tonnes | 2.33 million tonnes |
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
- 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 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.