Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa
South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of GDP was 0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 4.9%
World rank
85th
of 193 countries
All-time high
0.4396 tonnes per US$ of GDP
in 1960
All-time low
0.0157 tonnes per US$ of GDP
in 2011
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per US$ of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa stood at 0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP.
That represents a change of down 4.9% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.4396 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.0157 tonnes per US$ of GDP, in 2011.
South Africa ranks 85th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes per US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.4396 tonnes per US$ of GDP | — |
| 1961 | 0.4258 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -3.1% |
| 1962 | 0.4076 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -4.3% |
| 1963 | 0.3746 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -8.1% |
| 1964 | 0.3453 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -7.8% |
| 1965 | 0.3205 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -7.2% |
| 1966 | 0.2997 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 1967 | 0.274 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -8.6% |
| 1968 | 0.2576 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 1969 | 0.2332 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -9.5% |
| 1970 | 0.2154 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -7.6% |
| 1971 | 0.1985 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -7.8% |
| 1972 | 0.1927 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 0.1443 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -25.1% |
| 1974 | 0.1178 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -18.4% |
| 1975 | 0.1153 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 0.1219 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 0.1121 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -8.0% |
| 1978 | 0.0997 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -11.1% |
| 1979 | 0.0826 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -17.2% |
| 1980 | 0.0589 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -28.7% |
| 1981 | 0.0573 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 0.0628 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 0.0567 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -9.7% |
| 1984 | 0.065 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +14.6% |
| 1985 | 0.0868 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +33.5% |
| 1986 | 0.0772 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 1987 | 0.0594 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -23.0% |
| 1988 | 0.0559 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 1989 | 0.0546 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -2.4% |
| 1990 | 0.0474 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -13.1% |
| 1991 | 0.0449 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 0.042 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 0.0425 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 0.0412 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 0.0373 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 0.0398 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +6.5% |
| 1997 | 0.0389 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 0.0434 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +11.7% |
| 1999 | 0.0443 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 0.0446 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 0.0505 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +13.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0533 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0352 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -34.1% |
| 2004 | 0.0272 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -22.5% |
| 2005 | 0.0242 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -11.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0232 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0213 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 0.0225 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 0.0217 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.0172 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -20.8% |
| 2011 | 0.0157 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 0.0165 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 0.0179 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +8.5% |
| 2014 | 0.0189 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 0.0208 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 0.0223 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 0.0189 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -15.2% |
| 2018 | 0.0178 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 0.0185 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 0.0213 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +15.2% |
| 2021 | 0.0172 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -19.5% |
| 2022 | 0.0177 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 0.0189 tonnes per US$ of GDP | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP | -4.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0137 tonnes per US$ of GDP, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0655 tonnes per US$ of GDP, 28% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.3378 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.2332 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.4396 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.14 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0826 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.2154 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0635 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0546 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0868 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0422 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0373 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0474 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0324 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0213 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0533 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0184 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0157 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0223 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0186 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0172 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 0.0213 tonnes per US$ of GDP | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 82 Peru 0.0201 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
- 83 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.02 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
- 84 El Salvador 0.0189 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
- 86 Canada 0.0178 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
- 87 Jamaica 0.0165 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
- 88 Lithuania 0.0162 tonnes per US$ of GDP 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.018 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4396 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 1960.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0157 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change ÷ GDP (current US$)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- GDP Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change divided by GDP (current US$), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.