Carbon intensity of energy in South Africa
South Africa: Carbon intensity of energy was 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
14th
of 204 countries
All-time high
371.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 1971
All-time low
293.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 1992
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Carbon intensity of energy in South Africa, 1965–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity of energy in South Africa is 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity of energy in South Africa peaked at 371.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1971 and was at its lowest, 293.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 1992.
That places South Africa 14th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Carbon intensity of energy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 361.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | — |
| 1966 | 359.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 1967 | 360.44 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 352.23 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 354.95 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 355.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 371.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 367.05 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 344.86 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.0% |
| 1974 | 341.56 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 335.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 336.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 339.72 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 346.71 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 362.72 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 354.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 343.37 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 347.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 356.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 352.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 354.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 355.29 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 347.99 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 330.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 343.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 304.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -11.4% |
| 1991 | 319.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 293.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -8.2% |
| 1993 | 312.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 316.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 323.34 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 319.22 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 330.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 329.64 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 316.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 319.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 312.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 307.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 336.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 350.95 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 313.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -10.5% |
| 2006 | 320.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 323.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 337.01 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 341.65 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 325.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 340.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 318.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 315.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 341.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 324.26 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 320.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 322.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 321.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 317.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 326.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 327.13 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 331.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 323.99 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 219.89 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 1.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 227.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 357.86 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 352.23 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 361.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
| 1970s | 350.05 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 335.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 371.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 348.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 330.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 356.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 316.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 293.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 330.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 326.18 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 307.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 350.95 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 324.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 315.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 341.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 324.68 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 331.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 11 Kazakhstan 334.54 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 12 North Korea 323.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 13 Gabon 314.4 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 15 Suriname 303.34 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 16 Botswana 301.67 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 17 Maldives 297.4 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
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 intensity of energy in South Africa?
- Carbon intensity of energy in South Africa was 313.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity of energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 371.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1971.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 293.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for carbon intensity of energy?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity of energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of total energy supply, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.