Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled was 29.70 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
29.70 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
15th
of 194 countries
All-time high
29.70 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
15.88 million tonnes
in 1884
Years of data
141
1884–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa, 1884–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa stood at 29.70 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 141 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 29.70 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.88 million tonnes, in 1884.
That places South Africa 15th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 15.88 million tonnes | — |
| 1885 | 31.28 million tonnes | +97.1% |
| 1886 | 46.37 million tonnes | +48.2% |
| 1887 | 61.23 million tonnes | +32.0% |
| 1888 | 75.89 million tonnes | +23.9% |
| 1889 | 90.44 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1890 | 109.55 million tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1891 | 130.80 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1892 | 153.65 million tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1893 | 178.83 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1894 | 205.32 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1895 | 233.34 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1896 | 262.76 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1897 | 293.04 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1898 | 324.93 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1899 | 356.63 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1900 | 387.24 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1901 | 420.62 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1902 | 456.77 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1903 | 495.43 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1904 | 535.61 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1905 | 577.51 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1906 | 621.15 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1907 | 666.28 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1908 | 712.09 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1909 | 760.12 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1910 | 809.65 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1911 | 858.46 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1912 | 908.24 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1913 | 959.77 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1914 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1915 | 1.06 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1916 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1917 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1918 | 1.23 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1919 | 1.28 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1920 | 1.34 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1921 | 1.41 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1922 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1924 | 1.60 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1925 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1926 | 1.74 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1927 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1928 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1929 | 1.95 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1930 | 2.02 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1931 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1932 | 2.15 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1933 | 2.22 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1934 | 2.29 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1935 | 2.37 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1936 | 2.45 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1937 | 2.53 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1938 | 2.61 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1939 | 2.70 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1940 | 2.80 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1941 | 2.90 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1942 | 3.02 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1943 | 3.14 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1944 | 3.26 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1945 | 3.39 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1946 | 3.52 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1947 | 3.65 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1948 | 3.79 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1949 | 3.93 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1950 | 4.06 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1951 | 4.21 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 4.37 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1953 | 4.53 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1954 | 4.69 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 4.86 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1956 | 5.04 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 5.23 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1958 | 5.42 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 5.61 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1960 | 5.81 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 6.00 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1962 | 6.17 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 6.35 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 6.53 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1965 | 6.72 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 6.92 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 7.13 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 7.34 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 7.56 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 7.79 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 8.04 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 8.29 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 8.54 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 8.79 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 9.05 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 9.31 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 9.57 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 9.84 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 10.12 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 10.41 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 10.73 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 11.07 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 11.43 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 11.80 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 12.21 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 12.61 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 13.01 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 13.43 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 13.85 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 14.24 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 14.66 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 15.06 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 15.46 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 15.88 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 16.33 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 16.77 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 17.23 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 17.68 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 18.13 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 18.57 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 19.00 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 19.40 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 19.85 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 20.34 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 20.79 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 21.28 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 21.79 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 22.32 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 22.82 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 23.30 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 23.79 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 24.26 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 24.73 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 25.21 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 25.67 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 26.13 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 26.57 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 27.03 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 27.50 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 27.94 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 28.38 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 28.81 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 29.25 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 29.70 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 29.70 billion tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.16 billion tonnes, 13.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 29.70 billion tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.26 billion tonnes, 23.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | +97.1% | 15.88 million tonnes | 31.28 million tonnes |
| 1886 | +48.2% | 31.28 million tonnes | 46.37 million tonnes |
| 1887 | +32.0% | 46.37 million tonnes | 61.23 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 53.51 million tonnes | 15.88 million tonnes | 90.44 million tonnes | 6 |
| 1890s | 224.89 million tonnes | 109.55 million tonnes | 356.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 563.28 million tonnes | 387.24 million tonnes | 760.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.04 billion tonnes | 809.65 million tonnes | 1.28 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.64 billion tonnes | 1.34 billion tonnes | 1.95 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.34 billion tonnes | 2.02 billion tonnes | 2.70 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.34 billion tonnes | 2.80 billion tonnes | 3.93 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.80 billion tonnes | 4.06 billion tonnes | 5.61 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.65 billion tonnes | 5.81 billion tonnes | 7.56 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.93 billion tonnes | 7.79 billion tonnes | 10.12 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.05 billion tonnes | 10.41 billion tonnes | 13.85 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.14 billion tonnes | 14.24 billion tonnes | 18.13 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.62 billion tonnes | 18.57 billion tonnes | 22.82 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.42 billion tonnes | 23.30 billion tonnes | 27.50 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.81 billion tonnes | 27.94 billion tonnes | 29.70 billion 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 including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled in South Africa was 29.70 billion tonnes in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.70 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.88 million tonnes in 1884.
- How does South Africa rank for cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, gaps filled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. 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 including land-use change, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 141 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change with 79 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
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 including land-use change with 79 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.