Consumption-based carbon intensity in South Africa
South Africa: Consumption-based carbon intensity was 0.4399 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ▼ Falling
Consumption-based carbon intensity in South Africa, 1990–2022
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per international-$.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.4399 kilograms per international-$ for consumption-based carbon intensity in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
The figure is down 4.9% on the previous year and down 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based carbon intensity in South Africa peaked at 1.37 kilograms per international-$ in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.4399 kilograms per international-$, in 2022.
That places South Africa 15th out of 119 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.26 kilograms per international-$ | 1.12 kilograms per international-$ | 1.37 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6703 kilograms per international-$ | 0.596 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8057 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.521 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4903 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5759 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4662 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4399 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4962 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 12 Oman 0.4578 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 13 Trinidad and Tobago 0.4487 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 14 Namibia 0.4466 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 16 Singapore 0.4235 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 17 Belgium 0.4229 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 18 Jamaica 0.4216 kilograms per international-$ compare
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 consumption-based carbon intensity in South Africa?
- Consumption-based carbon intensity in South Africa was 0.4399 kilograms per international-$ in 2022, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based carbon intensity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.37 kilograms per international-$ in 1991.
- What is the lowest consumption-based carbon intensity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4399 kilograms per international-$ in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for consumption-based carbon intensity?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 119 countries with data for 2022.
- Is consumption-based carbon intensity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.0%. 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); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based carbon intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual consumption-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), measured in kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).