Methane emissions by sector in South Africa
South Africa: Methane emissions by sector was 50,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Methane emissions by sector in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions by sector in South Africa is 50,000 tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 25.0% on the previous year and down 44.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions by sector in South Africa peaked at 2.01 million tonnes in 1998 and was at its lowest, 40,000 tonnes, in 2022.
That places South Africa 45th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions by sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 310,000 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 310,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 310,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 310,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 310,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 310,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.18 million tonnes | +280.6% |
| 1997 | 1.18 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2.01 million tonnes | +70.3% |
| 1999 | 1.34 million tonnes | -33.3% |
| 2000 | 430,000 tonnes | -67.9% |
| 2001 | 70,000 tonnes | -83.7% |
| 2002 | 60,000 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 150,000 tonnes | +150.0% |
| 2004 | 50,000 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 2005 | 220,000 tonnes | +340.0% |
| 2006 | 70,000 tonnes | -68.2% |
| 2007 | 240,000 tonnes | +242.9% |
| 2008 | 140,000 tonnes | -41.7% |
| 2009 | 80,000 tonnes | -42.9% |
| 2010 | 110,000 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 2011 | 90,000 tonnes | -18.2% |
| 2012 | 100,000 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2013 | 90,000 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 129,999 tonnes | +44.4% |
| 2015 | 60,000 tonnes | -53.8% |
| 2016 | 80,000 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 2017 | 110,000 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 2018 | 270,000 tonnes | +145.5% |
| 2019 | 120,000 tonnes | -55.6% |
| 2020 | 110,000 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 70,000 tonnes | -36.4% |
| 2022 | 40,000 tonnes | -42.9% |
| 2023 | 50,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 50,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10,000 tonnes, 5.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions by sector 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +340.0% | 50,000 tonnes | 220,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 757,000 tonnes | 310,000 tonnes | 2.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 151,000 tonnes | 50,000 tonnes | 430,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 116,000 tonnes | 60,000 tonnes | 270,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 67,500 tonnes | 40,000 tonnes | 110,000 tonnes | 4 |
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 methane emissions by sector in South Africa?
- Methane emissions by sector in South Africa was 50,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions by sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.01 million tonnes in 1998.
- What is the lowest methane emissions by sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 40,000 tonnes in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for methane emissions by sector?
- South Africa ranks 45th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is methane emissions by sector rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Methane emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents.