Cumulative co2 land use in South Africa

South Africa: Cumulative co2 land use was 7.22 billion in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
7.22 billion
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
25th
of 197 countries
All-time high
7.22 billion
in 2024
All-time low
2.50 million
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024

Cumulative co2 land use in South Africa, 1850–2024

02.0B4.0B6.0B8.0B185019372024

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for cumulative co2 land use in South Africa is 7.22 billion, 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 land use in South Africa peaked at 7.22 billion in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.50 million, 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 land use in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Cumulative co2 land use in South Africa, 1850 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1850 2.50 million —
1851 5.23 million +109.0%
1852 8.12 million +55.4%
1853 11.12 million +36.9%
1854 14.20 million +27.8%
1855 17.39 million +22.4%
1856 20.65 million +18.8%
1857 23.99 million +16.2%
1858 27.39 million +14.1%
1859 30.83 million +12.6%
1860 35.15 million +14.0%
1861 39.90 million +13.5%
1862 44.98 million +12.7%
1863 50.29 million +11.8%
1864 55.77 million +10.9%
1865 61.38 million +10.1%
1866 67.16 million +9.4%
1867 72.98 million +8.7%
1868 78.89 million +8.1%
1869 84.87 million +7.6%
1870 97.20 million +14.5%
1871 112.86 million +16.1%
1872 130.68 million +15.8%
1873 150.01 million +14.8%
1874 170.56 million +13.7%
1875 192.09 million +12.6%
1876 214.31 million +11.6%
1877 237.24 million +10.7%
1878 260.76 million +9.9%
1879 284.66 million +9.2%
1880 304.80 million +7.1%
1881 322.99 million +6.0%
1882 340.03 million +5.3%
1883 356.32 million +4.8%
1884 372.17 million +4.4%
1885 387.54 million +4.1%
1886 402.58 million +3.9%
1887 417.39 million +3.7%
1888 431.98 million +3.5%
1889 446.39 million +3.3%
1890 465.21 million +4.2%
1891 486.16 million +4.5%
1892 508.53 million +4.6%
1893 531.91 million +4.6%
1894 555.97 million +4.5%
1895 580.65 million +4.4%
1896 605.81 million +4.3%
1897 631.31 million +4.2%
1898 657.15 million +4.1%
1899 683.34 million +4.0%
1900 711.61 million +4.1%
1901 741.09 million +4.1%
1902 771.41 million +4.1%
1903 802.28 million +4.0%
1904 833.71 million +3.9%
1905 865.58 million +3.8%
1906 897.75 million +3.7%
1907 930.23 million +3.6%
1908 963.03 million +3.5%
1909 996.08 million +3.4%
1910 1.03 billion +3.3%
1911 1.06 billion +3.2%
1912 1.09 billion +3.1%
1913 1.13 billion +3.0%
1914 1.16 billion +2.9%
1915 1.19 billion +2.8%
1916 1.22 billion +2.7%
1917 1.26 billion +2.7%
1918 1.29 billion +2.6%
1919 1.32 billion +2.5%
1920 1.36 billion +2.7%
1921 1.39 billion +2.7%
1922 1.43 billion +2.7%
1923 1.47 billion +2.7%
1924 1.51 billion +2.7%
1925 1.55 billion +2.6%
1926 1.59 billion +2.6%
1927 1.63 billion +2.5%
1928 1.67 billion +2.5%
1929 1.71 billion +2.4%
1930 1.75 billion +2.4%
1931 1.79 billion +2.4%
1932 1.84 billion +2.4%
1933 1.88 billion +2.4%
1934 1.92 billion +2.3%
1935 1.97 billion +2.3%
1936 2.01 billion +2.2%
1937 2.06 billion +2.2%
1938 2.10 billion +2.2%
1939 2.15 billion +2.1%
1940 2.20 billion +2.6%
1941 2.26 billion +2.8%
1942 2.33 billion +2.9%
1943 2.40 billion +3.0%
1944 2.47 billion +3.0%
1945 2.55 billion +3.0%
1946 2.62 billion +2.9%
1947 2.70 billion +2.9%
1948 2.77 billion +2.8%
1949 2.85 billion +2.8%
1950 2.93 billion +2.7%
1951 3.01 billion +2.8%
1952 3.10 billion +2.8%
1953 3.18 billion +2.9%
1954 3.27 billion +2.8%
1955 3.36 billion +2.8%
1956 3.46 billion +2.7%
1957 3.55 billion +2.7%
1958 3.64 billion +2.6%
1959 3.74 billion +2.6%
1960 3.85 billion +2.9%
1961 3.93 billion +2.1%
1962 4.00 billion +1.8%
1963 4.07 billion +1.6%
1964 4.13 billion +1.5%
1965 4.19 billion +1.5%
1966 4.26 billion +1.7%
1967 4.33 billion +1.8%
1968 4.41 billion +1.8%
1969 4.49 billion +1.8%
1970 4.57 billion +1.8%
1971 4.65 billion +1.7%
1972 4.73 billion +1.7%
1973 4.80 billion +1.6%
1974 4.87 billion +1.5%
1975 4.95 billion +1.5%
1976 5.02 billion +1.4%
1977 5.08 billion +1.3%
1978 5.15 billion +1.3%
1979 5.21 billion +1.2%
1980 5.27 billion +1.2%
1981 5.33 billion +1.2%
1982 5.39 billion +1.2%
1983 5.46 billion +1.2%
1984 5.52 billion +1.1%
1985 5.60 billion +1.4%
1986 5.67 billion +1.2%
1987 5.74 billion +1.3%
1988 5.82 billion +1.4%
1989 5.90 billion +1.4%
1990 5.98 billion +1.4%
1991 6.07 billion +1.5%
1992 6.17 billion +1.6%
1993 6.25 billion +1.3%
1994 6.33 billion +1.3%
1995 6.41 billion +1.3%
1996 6.49 billion +1.2%
1997 6.57 billion +1.2%
1998 6.64 billion +1.1%
1999 6.71 billion +1.1%
2000 6.78 billion +0.9%
2001 6.83 billion +0.9%
2002 6.88 billion +0.7%
2003 6.93 billion +0.6%
2004 6.97 billion +0.6%
2005 7.00 billion +0.5%
2006 7.04 billion +0.5%
2007 7.09 billion +0.7%
2008 7.12 billion +0.5%
2009 7.15 billion +0.4%
2010 7.17 billion +0.2%
2011 7.18 billion +0.1%
2012 7.19 billion +0.2%
2013 7.20 billion +0.1%
2014 7.20 billion +0.1%
2015 7.20 billion +0.1%
2016 7.21 billion +0.0%
2017 7.20 billion -0.0%
2018 7.21 billion +0.0%
2019 7.21 billion +0.0%
2020 7.21 billion +0.0%
2021 7.21 billion +0.0%
2022 7.22 billion +0.1%
2023 7.22 billion +0.1%
2024 7.22 billion +0.1%

South Africa compared with similar countries

  • South Africa's 7.22 billion is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 629.27 million, 11.5× the median. (58 countries reporting)
  • South Africa's 7.22 billion is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.56 billion, 4.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Cumulative co2 land use 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.

YearChange FromTo
1851 +109.0% 2.50 million 5.23 million
1852 +55.4% 5.23 million 8.12 million
1853 +36.9% 8.12 million 11.12 million
1854 +27.8% 11.12 million 14.20 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1850s 16.14 million 2.50 million 30.83 million 10
1860s 59.14 million 35.15 million 84.87 million 10
1870s 185.04 million 97.20 million 284.66 million 10
1880s 378.22 million 304.80 million 446.39 million 10
1890s 570.60 million 465.21 million 683.34 million 10
1900s 851.28 million 711.61 million 996.08 million 10
1910s 1.17 billion 1.03 billion 1.32 billion 10
1920s 1.53 billion 1.36 billion 1.71 billion 10
1930s 1.95 billion 1.75 billion 2.15 billion 10
1940s 2.52 billion 2.20 billion 2.85 billion 10
1950s 3.32 billion 2.93 billion 3.74 billion 10
1960s 4.17 billion 3.85 billion 4.49 billion 10
1970s 4.90 billion 4.57 billion 5.21 billion 10
1980s 5.57 billion 5.27 billion 5.90 billion 10
1990s 6.36 billion 5.98 billion 6.71 billion 10
2000s 6.98 billion 6.78 billion 7.15 billion 10
2010s 7.20 billion 7.17 billion 7.21 billion 10
2020s 7.22 billion 7.21 billion 7.22 billion 5

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 22 Bolivia 8.38 billion compare
  2. 23 Tanzania 8.18 billion compare
  3. 24 Angola 7.42 billion compare
  4. 26 Turkey 6.86 billion compare
  5. 27 Madagascar 6.79 billion compare
  6. 28 Venezuela 6.47 billion compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is cumulative co2 land use in South Africa?
Cumulative co2 land use in South Africa was 7.22 billion in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest cumulative co2 land use recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 7.22 billion in 2024.
What is the lowest cumulative co2 land use recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 2.50 million in 1850.
How does South Africa rank for cumulative co2 land use?
South Africa ranks 25th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
Is cumulative co2 land use 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Cumulative co2 land use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Cumulative co2 land use in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 November 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/cumulative-co2-land-use/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Cumulative co2 land use
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
197 places, 34,475 data points, 1850–2024
Last refreshed