How does South Africa rank for cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp?

South Africa ranks 36th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.

Is cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is up 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa

Name: Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa
Creator: Statizoid (derived)
License: Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page

South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of GDP was 0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)

0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP

Change on year

down 3.5%

World rank

36th

of 191 countries

All-time high

0.6643 tonnes per US$ of GDP

in 1960

All-time low

0.0519 tonnes per US$ of GDP

in 2011

Years of data

1960–2024

Cumulative CO₂ emissions including 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 including land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa stood at 0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP.

That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and up 11.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa peaked at 0.6643 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.0519 tonnes per US$ of GDP, in 2011.

South Africa ranks 36th of 191 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 including land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa, 1960 to 2024.
Year	tonnes per US$ of GDP	Change
1960	0.6643 tonnes per US$ of GDP	—
1961	0.65 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-2.2%
1962	0.6291 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-3.2%
1963	0.585 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-7.0%
1964	0.5463 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-6.6%
1965	0.5142 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-5.9%
1966	0.4868 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-5.3%
1967	0.4505 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-7.5%
1968	0.4288 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-4.8%
1969	0.3928 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-8.4%
1970	0.3673 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-6.5%
1971	0.3434 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-6.5%
1972	0.3381 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-1.5%
1973	0.2567 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-24.1%
1974	0.2123 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-17.3%
1975	0.2108 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-0.7%
1976	0.2262 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+7.3%
1977	0.2112 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-6.6%
1978	0.1907 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-9.7%
1979	0.1605 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-15.8%
1980	0.1164 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-27.5%
1981	0.1152 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-1.1%
1982	0.1289 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+11.9%
1983	0.1188 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-7.8%
1984	0.1391 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+17.1%
1985	0.1893 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+36.2%
1986	0.1718 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-9.2%
1987	0.1347 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-21.6%
1988	0.1291 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-4.2%
1989	0.1282 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-0.8%
1990	0.113 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-11.8%
1991	0.1084 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-4.0%
1992	0.1025 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-5.5%
1993	0.105 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+2.5%
1994	0.1034 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-1.5%
1995	0.0951 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-8.1%
1996	0.1027 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+8.1%
1997	0.102 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-0.7%
1998	0.1156 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+13.3%
1999	0.1196 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+3.5%
2000	0.1223 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+2.3%
2001	0.1403 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+14.6%
2002	0.1503 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+7.2%
2003	0.1008 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-33.0%
2004	0.0795 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-21.1%
2005	0.072 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-9.5%
2006	0.07 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-2.7%
2007	0.0654 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-6.6%
2008	0.0706 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+7.9%
2009	0.0692 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-2.0%
2010	0.0558 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-19.3%
2011	0.0519 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-7.0%
2012	0.0558 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+7.6%
2013	0.0617 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+10.4%
2014	0.0661 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+7.2%
2015	0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+12.0%
2016	0.0808 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+9.1%
2017	0.0697 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-13.7%
2018	0.0667 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-4.3%
2019	0.0706 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+5.9%
2020	0.0827 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+17.0%
2021	0.0676 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-18.3%
2022	0.0707 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+4.6%
2023	0.0767 tonnes per US$ of GDP	+8.5%
2024	0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP	-3.5%

South Africa compared with similar countries

South Africa's 0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0287 tonnes per US$ of GDP, 2.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
South Africa's 0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0607 tonnes per US$ of GDP, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	0.5348 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.3928 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.6643 tonnes per US$ of GDP	10
1970s	0.2517 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.1605 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.3673 tonnes per US$ of GDP	10
1980s	0.1372 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.1152 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.1893 tonnes per US$ of GDP	10
1990s	0.1067 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.0951 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.1196 tonnes per US$ of GDP	10
2000s	0.094 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.0654 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.1503 tonnes per US$ of GDP	10
2010s	0.0653 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.0519 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.0808 tonnes per US$ of GDP	10
2020s	0.0743 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.0676 tonnes per US$ of GDP	0.0827 tonnes per US$ of GDP	5

Countries ranked near South Africa

33 Benin 0.0812 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
34 Moldova 0.0788 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
35 Cambodia 0.0758 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
37 Zimbabwe 0.0707 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
38 Vanuatu 0.0696 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare
39 Kyrgyzstan 0.0686 tonnes per US$ of GDP compare

See the full ranking of 191 places →

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)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa?: Cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp in South Africa was 0.074 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 0.6643 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 1960.
What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 0.0519 tonnes per US$ of GDP in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp?: South Africa ranks 36th out of 191 countries with data for 2024.
Is cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of gdp rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is up 11.9%. 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, per unit of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of GDP in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/cumulative-co2-emissions-including-land-use-change-per-unit-of-gdp/south-africa/

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How this figure is calculated

Cumulative CO₂ emissions including 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 including land-use change ÷ GDP (current US$)

Computed from

Cumulative CO₂ emissions including 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

Indicator: Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per unit of GDP
Unit: tonnes per US$ of GDP
Source: Statizoid (derived)
Licence: Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage: 191 places, 10,578 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed: 16 September 2026

Cumulative CO₂ emissions including 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.