Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa
South Africa: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 3.81 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.81 million tonnes
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
78th
of 197 countries
All-time high
108.71 million tonnes
in 1960
All-time low
-1.07 million tonnes
in 2017
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa stood at 3.81 million tonnes.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa peaked at 108.71 million tonnes in 1960 and was at its lowest, -1.07 million tonnes, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 78th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2.50 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 2.73 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1852 | 2.90 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1853 | 2.99 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1854 | 3.09 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1855 | 3.18 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1856 | 3.27 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1857 | 3.34 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1858 | 3.39 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 3.44 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1860 | 4.32 million tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1861 | 4.75 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1862 | 5.07 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1863 | 5.31 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1864 | 5.48 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1865 | 5.61 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1866 | 5.77 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1867 | 5.83 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1868 | 5.91 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1869 | 5.98 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 12.33 million tonnes | +106.3% |
| 1871 | 15.67 million tonnes | +27.1% |
| 1872 | 17.82 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1873 | 19.33 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1874 | 20.55 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1875 | 21.52 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1876 | 22.23 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1877 | 22.93 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1878 | 23.52 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 23.90 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1880 | 20.14 million tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1881 | 18.19 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1882 | 17.04 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1883 | 16.29 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1884 | 15.85 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1885 | 15.37 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1886 | 15.04 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1887 | 14.81 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1888 | 14.58 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1889 | 14.42 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1890 | 18.82 million tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1891 | 20.95 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1892 | 22.37 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1893 | 23.38 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1894 | 24.06 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1895 | 24.68 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1896 | 25.16 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1897 | 25.50 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1898 | 25.84 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 26.19 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 28.27 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1901 | 29.47 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1902 | 30.32 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1903 | 30.87 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 31.42 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1905 | 31.87 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1906 | 32.17 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1907 | 32.48 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1908 | 32.80 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 33.05 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1910 | 32.56 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1911 | 32.46 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1912 | 32.43 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1913 | 32.54 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1914 | 32.46 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1915 | 32.48 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1916 | 32.48 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1917 | 32.63 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1918 | 32.71 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1919 | 32.63 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1920 | 35.23 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1921 | 36.68 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1922 | 37.83 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1923 | 38.38 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 39.01 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1925 | 39.43 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1926 | 39.85 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1927 | 40.12 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1928 | 40.29 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1929 | 40.68 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 41.79 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1931 | 42.56 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1932 | 42.99 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1933 | 43.40 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1934 | 44.05 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1935 | 44.07 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 44.20 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1937 | 44.52 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1938 | 44.72 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1939 | 44.80 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1940 | 56.25 million tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1941 | 62.46 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1942 | 66.48 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1943 | 69.38 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1944 | 71.35 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1945 | 73.24 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1946 | 74.58 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1947 | 75.71 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1948 | 76.77 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1949 | 77.74 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1950 | 77.31 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1951 | 83.14 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1952 | 85.45 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 88.45 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1954 | 89.41 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1955 | 90.64 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 91.99 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 92.60 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1958 | 93.85 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 94.71 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 108.71 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1961 | 82.56 million tonnes | -24.0% |
| 1962 | 71.61 million tonnes | -13.3% |
| 1963 | 65.90 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1964 | 62.37 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1965 | 60.45 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 70.35 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1967 | 75.12 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 77.35 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 78.43 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 78.93 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 78.38 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 77.40 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 75.55 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 74.15 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 71.98 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1976 | 69.40 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1977 | 67.31 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 63.71 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 61.29 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1980 | 61.66 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 62.46 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 61.79 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 62.74 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 60.59 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 78.77 million tonnes | +30.0% |
| 1986 | 69.19 million tonnes | -12.2% |
| 1987 | 73.02 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1988 | 78.40 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1989 | 81.35 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 81.20 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 91.03 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1992 | 95.50 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 82.71 million tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1994 | 79.17 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 84.63 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1996 | 79.98 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 75.04 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 73.05 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 72.27 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 61.99 million tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2001 | 58.26 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 49.96 million tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2003 | 44.19 million tonnes | -11.6% |
| 2004 | 42.14 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 34.14 million tonnes | -19.0% |
| 2006 | 38.15 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 46.57 million tonnes | +22.1% |
| 2008 | 36.30 million tonnes | -22.1% |
| 2009 | 26.62 million tonnes | -26.7% |
| 2010 | 14.05 million tonnes | -47.2% |
| 2011 | 10.13 million tonnes | -27.9% |
| 2012 | 11.50 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 8.14 million tonnes | -29.3% |
| 2014 | 4.50 million tonnes | -44.7% |
| 2015 | 4.10 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 2.08 million tonnes | -49.3% |
| 2017 | -1.07 million tonnes | -151.6% |
| 2018 | 319,428 tonnes | -129.8% |
| 2019 | 2.38 million tonnes | +645.4% |
| 2020 | 2.78 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2021 | 3.24 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2022 | 3.71 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 2023 | 3.83 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 3.81 million tonnes | -0.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.81 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,429 tonnes, 2668.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.81 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.78 million tonnes, 49% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +645.4% | 319,428 tonnes | 2.38 million tonnes |
| 2017 | -151.6% | 2.08 million tonnes | -1.07 million tonnes |
| 2018 | +129.8% | -1.07 million tonnes | 319,428 tonnes |
| 1870 | +106.3% | 5.98 million tonnes | 12.33 million tonnes |
| 2016 | -49.3% | 4.10 million tonnes | 2.08 million tonnes |
| 2010 | -47.2% | 26.62 million tonnes | 14.05 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 3.08 million tonnes | 2.50 million tonnes | 3.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 5.40 million tonnes | 4.32 million tonnes | 5.98 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 19.98 million tonnes | 12.33 million tonnes | 23.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 16.17 million tonnes | 14.42 million tonnes | 20.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 23.69 million tonnes | 18.82 million tonnes | 26.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 31.27 million tonnes | 28.27 million tonnes | 33.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 32.54 million tonnes | 32.43 million tonnes | 32.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 38.75 million tonnes | 35.23 million tonnes | 40.68 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 43.71 million tonnes | 41.79 million tonnes | 44.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 70.40 million tonnes | 56.25 million tonnes | 77.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 88.76 million tonnes | 77.31 million tonnes | 94.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 75.28 million tonnes | 60.45 million tonnes | 108.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 71.81 million tonnes | 61.29 million tonnes | 78.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.00 million tonnes | 60.59 million tonnes | 81.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.46 million tonnes | 72.27 million tonnes | 95.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.83 million tonnes | 26.62 million tonnes | 61.99 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.61 million tonnes | -1.07 million tonnes | 14.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.48 million tonnes | 2.78 million tonnes | 3.83 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 annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa was 3.81 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 108.71 million tonnes in 1960.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.07 million tonnes in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- South Africa ranks 78th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. 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 Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.