Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in South Africa
South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement was 272.09 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- 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 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.