Kaya identity: drivers of CO₂ emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Kaya identity: drivers of CO₂ emissions was 439.83 million tonnes in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
439.83 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
15th
of 215 countries
All-time high
494.67 million tonnes
in 2008
All-time low
128.14 million tonnes
in 1965
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Kaya identity: drivers of CO₂ emissions in South Africa, 1965–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions in South Africa is 439.83 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions in South Africa peaked at 494.67 million tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 128.14 million tonnes, in 1965.
That places South Africa 15th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 60 years of available data.
Kaya identity: drivers of CO₂ emissions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 128.14 million tonnes | — |
| 1966 | 128.24 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 133.76 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 137.95 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 143.14 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 149.62 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 168.41 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1972 | 171.56 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 173.35 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 176.55 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 185.00 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 192.91 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 199.74 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 201.88 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 218.67 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 228.20 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 257.08 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1982 | 280.44 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 291.91 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 315.60 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1985 | 323.87 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 330.50 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 328.67 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 342.66 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 340.71 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 312.93 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 326.03 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 301.33 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1993 | 320.35 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 338.70 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1995 | 361.71 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 363.73 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 385.21 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 377.27 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 374.87 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 378.33 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 371.60 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 356.50 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 404.41 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2004 | 449.32 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 416.20 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 446.74 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 465.03 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 494.67 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2009 | 474.51 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 467.35 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 474.27 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 461.44 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 456.19 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 481.64 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 457.47 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2016 | 457.05 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 440.01 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 453.77 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 470.73 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 435.30 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 439.46 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 428.78 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 436.60 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 439.83 million tonnes | +0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 439.83 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.35 million tonnes, 21.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 439.83 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.96 million tonnes, 88.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 134.25 million tonnes | 128.14 million tonnes | 143.14 million tonnes | 5 |
| 1970s | 183.77 million tonnes | 149.62 million tonnes | 218.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 303.96 million tonnes | 228.20 million tonnes | 342.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 346.21 million tonnes | 301.33 million tonnes | 385.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 425.73 million tonnes | 356.50 million tonnes | 494.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 461.99 million tonnes | 440.01 million tonnes | 481.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 436.00 million tonnes | 428.78 million tonnes | 439.83 million 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 kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions in South Africa?
- Kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions in South Africa was 439.83 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 494.67 million tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 128.14 million tonnes in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is kaya identity: drivers of co₂ emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Kaya identity: drivers of CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.