Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa
South Africa: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 7.22 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.22 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
25th
of 197 countries
All-time high
7.22 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
2.50 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa, 1850–2024
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 land-use change in South Africa is 7.22 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa peaked at 7.22 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.50 million tonnes, in 1850.
South Africa ranks 25th of 197 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 land-use change in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2.50 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 5.23 million tonnes | +109.0% |
| 1852 | 8.12 million tonnes | +55.4% |
| 1853 | 11.12 million tonnes | +36.9% |
| 1854 | 14.20 million tonnes | +27.8% |
| 1855 | 17.39 million tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1856 | 20.65 million tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1857 | 23.99 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1858 | 27.39 million tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1859 | 30.83 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1860 | 35.15 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1861 | 39.90 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1862 | 44.98 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1863 | 50.29 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1864 | 55.77 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1865 | 61.38 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1866 | 67.16 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1867 | 72.98 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1868 | 78.89 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1869 | 84.87 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1870 | 97.20 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1871 | 112.86 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1872 | 130.68 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1873 | 150.01 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1874 | 170.56 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1875 | 192.09 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1876 | 214.31 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1877 | 237.24 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1878 | 260.76 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1879 | 284.66 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1880 | 304.80 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1881 | 322.99 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1882 | 340.03 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1883 | 356.32 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1884 | 372.17 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1885 | 387.54 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1886 | 402.58 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1887 | 417.39 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1888 | 431.98 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1889 | 446.39 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1890 | 465.21 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1891 | 486.16 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1892 | 508.53 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1893 | 531.91 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1894 | 555.97 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1895 | 580.65 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1896 | 605.81 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1897 | 631.31 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1898 | 657.15 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1899 | 683.34 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1900 | 711.61 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1901 | 741.09 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1902 | 771.41 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1903 | 802.28 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1904 | 833.71 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1905 | 865.58 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1906 | 897.75 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1907 | 930.23 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1908 | 963.03 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1909 | 996.08 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1910 | 1.03 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1911 | 1.06 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1912 | 1.09 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1913 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1914 | 1.16 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1915 | 1.19 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1916 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1917 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1918 | 1.29 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1919 | 1.32 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1920 | 1.36 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1921 | 1.39 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1922 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1923 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1924 | 1.51 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1925 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 1.63 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1929 | 1.71 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1930 | 1.75 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1931 | 1.79 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1932 | 1.84 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1933 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 1.92 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1935 | 1.97 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1937 | 2.06 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 2.10 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1939 | 2.15 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 2.20 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1941 | 2.26 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1942 | 2.33 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1943 | 2.40 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1944 | 2.47 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 2.55 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1946 | 2.62 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1947 | 2.70 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1948 | 2.77 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1949 | 2.85 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1950 | 2.93 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1951 | 3.01 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1952 | 3.10 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 3.18 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1954 | 3.27 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 3.36 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 3.46 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 3.55 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 3.64 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1959 | 3.74 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.85 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 3.93 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 4.00 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 4.07 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 4.13 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 4.19 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 4.26 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 4.33 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 4.41 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 4.49 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 4.57 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 4.65 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 4.73 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 4.80 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 4.87 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 4.95 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 5.02 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 5.08 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 5.15 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 5.21 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 5.27 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 5.33 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 5.39 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 5.46 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 5.52 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 5.60 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 5.67 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 5.74 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 5.82 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 5.90 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 5.98 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 6.07 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 6.17 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 6.25 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 6.33 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 6.41 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 6.49 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 6.57 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 6.64 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 6.71 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 6.78 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 6.83 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 6.88 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 6.93 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 6.97 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 7.00 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 7.04 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 7.09 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 7.12 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 7.15 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 7.17 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 7.18 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 7.19 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 7.20 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 7.20 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 7.20 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.20 billion tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7.22 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 7.22 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 7.22 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.22 billion tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 629.27 million tonnes, 11.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.22 billion tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.56 billion tonnes, 4.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | +109.0% | 2.50 million tonnes | 5.23 million tonnes |
| 1852 | +55.4% | 5.23 million tonnes | 8.12 million tonnes |
| 1853 | +36.9% | 8.12 million tonnes | 11.12 million tonnes |
| 1854 | +27.8% | 11.12 million tonnes | 14.20 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 16.14 million tonnes | 2.50 million tonnes | 30.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 59.14 million tonnes | 35.15 million tonnes | 84.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 185.04 million tonnes | 97.20 million tonnes | 284.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 378.22 million tonnes | 304.80 million tonnes | 446.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 570.60 million tonnes | 465.21 million tonnes | 683.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 851.28 million tonnes | 711.61 million tonnes | 996.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.17 billion tonnes | 1.03 billion tonnes | 1.32 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.53 billion tonnes | 1.36 billion tonnes | 1.71 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.95 billion tonnes | 1.75 billion tonnes | 2.15 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.52 billion tonnes | 2.20 billion tonnes | 2.85 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.32 billion tonnes | 2.93 billion tonnes | 3.74 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.17 billion tonnes | 3.85 billion tonnes | 4.49 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.90 billion tonnes | 4.57 billion tonnes | 5.21 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.57 billion tonnes | 5.27 billion tonnes | 5.90 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.36 billion tonnes | 5.98 billion tonnes | 6.71 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.98 billion tonnes | 6.78 billion tonnes | 7.15 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.20 billion tonnes | 7.17 billion tonnes | 7.21 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.22 billion tonnes | 7.21 billion tonnes | 7.22 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 from land-use change in South Africa?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in South Africa was 7.22 billion 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 land-use change recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 7.22 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.50 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- South Africa ranks 25th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. 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 land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.