Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa

South Africa: Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) was -74,851 kt in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
-74,851 kt
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
216th
of 223 countries
All-time high
46,486 kt
in 2016
All-time low
-74,851 kt
in 2021
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa, 1990–2025

-75.0k-50.0k-25.0k025.0k50.0k1990200720251990: -14.0k kt1991: -14.0k kt1992: -14.0k kt1993: -14.0k kt1994: -14.0k kt1995: -14.0k kt1996: -14.0k kt1997: -14.0k kt1998: -14.0k kt1999: -14.0k kt2000: -14.0k kt2001: -14.1k kt2002: -14.1k kt2003: -14.1k kt2004: -14.1k kt2005: -14.1k kt2006: -14.1k kt2007: -14.1k kt2008: -14.1k kt2009: -14.1k kt2010: -14.1k kt2011: -13.9k kt2012: -13.9k kt2013: -13.9k kt2014: -13.9k kt2015: -13.9k kt2016: 46.5k kt2017: 46.5k kt2018: 46.5k kt2019: 46.5k kt2020: 46.5k kt2021: -74.9k kt2022: -74.9k kt2023: -74.9k kt2024: -74.9k kt2025: -74.9k kt

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kt.

Analysis

The most recent figure for forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa is -74,851 kt, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 439.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa peaked at 46,486 kt in 2016 and was at its lowest, -74,851 kt, in 2021.

South Africa ranks 216th of 223 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) (Forest land) in South Africa, 1990 to 2025.
Year kt Change
1990 -14,047 kt
1991 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1992 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1993 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1994 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1995 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1996 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1997 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1998 -14,047 kt -0.0%
1999 -14,047 kt -0.0%
2000 -14,047 kt -0.0%
2001 -14,139 kt +0.7%
2002 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2003 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2004 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2005 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2006 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2007 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2008 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2009 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2010 -14,139 kt -0.0%
2011 -13,875 kt -1.9%
2012 -13,875 kt -0.0%
2013 -13,875 kt -0.0%
2014 -13,875 kt -0.0%
2015 -13,875 kt -0.0%
2016 46,486 kt -435.0%
2017 46,486 kt +0.0%
2018 46,486 kt +0.0%
2019 46,486 kt +0.0%
2020 46,486 kt +0.0%
2021 -74,851 kt -261.0%
2022 -74,851 kt -0.0%
2023 -74,851 kt -0.0%
2024 -74,851 kt -0.0%
2025 -74,851 kt -0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s -14,047 kt -14,047 kt -14,047 kt 10
2000s -14,130 kt -14,139 kt -14,047 kt 10
2010s 10,243 kt -14,139 kt 46,486 kt 10
2020s -54,628 kt -74,851 kt 46,486 kt 6

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 213 Honduras -34,796 kt compare
  2. 214 Republic of Korea -47,069 kt compare
  3. 215 Ghana -55,227 kt compare
  4. 217 Belarus -146,469 kt compare
  5. 218 India -154,418 kt compare
  6. 219 Brazil -336,460 kt compare

See the full ranking of 275 places →

More climate change data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa?
Forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) in South Africa was -74,851 kt in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 46,486 kt in 2016.
What is the lowest forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was -74,851 kt in 2021.
How does South Africa rank for forestland — net emissions/removals (co2)?
South Africa ranks 216th out of 223 countries with data for 2025.
Is forestland — net emissions/removals (co2) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 439.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) (Forest land). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forestland-net-emissions-removals-co2-forest-land-fao-tier-1/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Forestland — Net emissions/removals (CO2) (Forest land)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
275 places, 9,600 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions from Forests consists of CO2 emissions and removals corresponding to forest carbon stock changes (aboveground and belowground living biomass). Estimates are computed following the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006).