Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in South Africa
South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement was 272.09 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
272.09 million tonnes
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
28th
of 211 countries
All-time high
272.09 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1884
Years of data
141
1884–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in South Africa is 272.09 million tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 141 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in South Africa peaked at 272.09 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1884.
South Africa ranks 28th of 211 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1885 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1886 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1887 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1888 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1889 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1890 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1891 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1892 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1893 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1894 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1895 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1896 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1897 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1898 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1899 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1900 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1901 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1902 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1903 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1904 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1905 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1906 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1907 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1908 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1910 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1911 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1912 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1913 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1914 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1915 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1916 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1917 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1918 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1919 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1920 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1921 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1922 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1923 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1924 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1925 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1926 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1927 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1928 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1929 | 178,080 tonnes | — |
| 1930 | 178,080 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 178,080 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 319,817 tonnes | +79.6% |
| 1933 | 472,457 tonnes | +47.7% |
| 1934 | 686,907 tonnes | +45.4% |
| 1935 | 948,575 tonnes | +38.1% |
| 1936 | 1.32 million tonnes | +39.5% |
| 1937 | 1.74 million tonnes | +31.3% |
| 1938 | 2.17 million tonnes | +24.9% |
| 1939 | 2.64 million tonnes | +21.6% |
| 1940 | 3.05 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1941 | 3.48 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1942 | 3.95 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1943 | 4.40 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1944 | 4.96 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1945 | 5.48 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1946 | 6.06 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1947 | 6.68 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1948 | 7.32 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1949 | 8.00 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1950 | 8.91 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1951 | 9.87 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1952 | 10.87 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1953 | 11.92 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1954 | 12.99 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1955 | 14.15 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1956 | 15.37 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1957 | 16.62 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1958 | 17.97 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1959 | 19.28 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1960 | 20.61 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1961 | 21.90 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1962 | 23.21 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 24.64 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1964 | 26.34 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1965 | 28.26 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1966 | 30.23 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 32.21 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1968 | 34.40 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1969 | 36.92 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1970 | 39.76 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1971 | 42.65 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1972 | 45.66 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1973 | 49.04 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 52.63 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1975 | 56.16 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1976 | 59.62 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1977 | 62.85 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 66.19 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 69.56 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 73.08 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 77.03 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 80.94 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 84.78 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1984 | 88.76 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 92.18 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 95.44 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 98.70 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 102.81 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 106.69 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 110.47 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 114.05 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 117.44 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 120.98 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 124.78 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 129.14 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 133.46 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 137.78 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 141.73 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 145.51 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 149.18 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 152.81 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 157.02 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 161.48 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 165.81 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 170.88 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 176.22 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 181.71 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 187.05 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 192.62 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 197.66 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 202.30 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 206.94 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 211.83 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 216.74 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 222.16 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 227.85 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 233.33 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 238.80 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 244.25 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 249.32 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 255.19 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 260.82 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 266.46 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 272.09 million tonnes | +2.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 272.09 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 35.51 million tonnes, 7.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 272.09 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.58 million tonnes, 105.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | +79.6% | 178,080 tonnes | 319,817 tonnes |
| 1933 | +47.7% | 319,817 tonnes | 472,457 tonnes |
| 1934 | +45.4% | 472,457 tonnes | 686,907 tonnes |
| 1936 | +39.5% | 948,575 tonnes | 1.32 million tonnes |
| 1935 | +38.1% | 686,907 tonnes | 948,575 tonnes |
| 1937 | +31.3% | 1.32 million tonnes | 1.74 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 6 |
| 1890s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 17,808 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 178,080 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.07 million tonnes | 178,080 tonnes | 2.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.34 million tonnes | 3.05 million tonnes | 8.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 13.80 million tonnes | 8.91 million tonnes | 19.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 27.87 million tonnes | 20.61 million tonnes | 36.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 54.41 million tonnes | 39.76 million tonnes | 69.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 90.04 million tonnes | 73.08 million tonnes | 106.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 127.53 million tonnes | 110.47 million tonnes | 145.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 169.48 million tonnes | 149.18 million tonnes | 192.62 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 220.19 million tonnes | 197.66 million tonnes | 244.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 260.78 million tonnes | 249.32 million tonnes | 272.09 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in South Africa?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in South Africa was 272.09 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from cement recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 272.09 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from cement recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1884.
- How does South Africa rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from cement?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from cement rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. 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 Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement. 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
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from cement since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.