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.

Carbon intensity of energy in South Africa

Name: Carbon intensity of energy in South Africa
Creator: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

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

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.

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

See the full ranking of 204 places →

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)

All data for South Africa →

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

Indicator: Carbon intensity of energy
Unit: grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 204 places, 9,804 data points, 1965–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of total energy supply, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.