Methane emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Methane emissions was 79.29 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
79.29 million
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
22nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
88.51 million
in 2014
All-time low
518,186
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in South Africa, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in South Africa is 79.29 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in South Africa peaked at 88.51 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 518,186, in 1850.
South Africa ranks 22nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 518,186 | — |
| 1851 | 565,279 | +9.1% |
| 1852 | 612,481 | +8.4% |
| 1853 | 659,796 | +7.7% |
| 1854 | 707,225 | +7.2% |
| 1855 | 754,771 | +6.7% |
| 1856 | 802,439 | +6.3% |
| 1857 | 850,229 | +6.0% |
| 1858 | 898,142 | +5.6% |
| 1859 | 946,182 | +5.3% |
| 1860 | 994,350 | +5.1% |
| 1861 | 1.04 million | +4.7% |
| 1862 | 1.09 million | +4.5% |
| 1863 | 1.14 million | +4.4% |
| 1864 | 1.18 million | +4.2% |
| 1865 | 1.23 million | +4.0% |
| 1866 | 1.28 million | +3.9% |
| 1867 | 1.33 million | +3.8% |
| 1868 | 1.38 million | +3.6% |
| 1869 | 1.42 million | +3.5% |
| 1870 | 1.47 million | +3.4% |
| 1871 | 1.58 million | +7.5% |
| 1872 | 1.69 million | +7.0% |
| 1873 | 1.80 million | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 1.91 million | +6.2% |
| 1875 | 2.03 million | +5.8% |
| 1876 | 2.14 million | +5.5% |
| 1877 | 2.25 million | +5.2% |
| 1878 | 2.36 million | +5.0% |
| 1879 | 2.47 million | +4.7% |
| 1880 | 2.58 million | +4.5% |
| 1881 | 2.64 million | +2.2% |
| 1882 | 2.70 million | +2.2% |
| 1883 | 2.76 million | +2.1% |
| 1884 | 2.82 million | +2.2% |
| 1885 | 2.88 million | +2.1% |
| 1886 | 2.94 million | +2.1% |
| 1887 | 2.99 million | +2.0% |
| 1888 | 3.06 million | +2.1% |
| 1889 | 3.12 million | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 3.19 million | +2.4% |
| 1891 | 3.31 million | +3.5% |
| 1892 | 3.44 million | +3.9% |
| 1893 | 3.67 million | +6.7% |
| 1894 | 3.83 million | +4.6% |
| 1895 | 4.03 million | +5.0% |
| 1896 | 4.22 million | +4.8% |
| 1897 | 4.38 million | +3.8% |
| 1898 | 4.61 million | +5.2% |
| 1899 | 4.68 million | +1.5% |
| 1900 | 4.51 million | -3.5% |
| 1901 | 4.79 million | +6.1% |
| 1902 | 5.09 million | +6.4% |
| 1903 | 5.40 million | +6.1% |
| 1904 | 5.62 million | +4.1% |
| 1905 | 5.87 million | +4.4% |
| 1906 | 6.14 million | +4.5% |
| 1907 | 6.38 million | +4.0% |
| 1908 | 6.55 million | +2.7% |
| 1909 | 6.86 million | +4.8% |
| 1910 | 7.18 million | +4.6% |
| 1911 | 7.25 million | +1.0% |
| 1912 | 7.47 million | +3.0% |
| 1913 | 7.73 million | +3.5% |
| 1914 | 7.82 million | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 7.96 million | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 8.38 million | +5.3% |
| 1917 | 8.64 million | +3.1% |
| 1918 | 8.67 million | +0.4% |
| 1919 | 8.86 million | +2.2% |
| 1920 | 9.21 million | +4.0% |
| 1921 | 9.35 million | +1.5% |
| 1922 | 9.19 million | -1.7% |
| 1923 | 9.77 million | +6.3% |
| 1924 | 10.05 million | +2.9% |
| 1925 | 10.32 million | +2.7% |
| 1926 | 10.61 million | +2.8% |
| 1927 | 10.70 million | +0.8% |
| 1928 | 10.87 million | +1.6% |
| 1929 | 11.11 million | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 11.11 million | -0.0% |
| 1931 | 11.01 million | -0.9% |
| 1932 | 10.99 million | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 11.33 million | +3.1% |
| 1934 | 11.81 million | +4.2% |
| 1935 | 12.27 million | +3.9% |
| 1936 | 12.86 million | +4.8% |
| 1937 | 13.34 million | +3.7% |
| 1938 | 13.85 million | +3.8% |
| 1939 | 14.32 million | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 14.80 million | +3.4% |
| 1941 | 15.60 million | +5.3% |
| 1942 | 16.51 million | +5.9% |
| 1943 | 17.12 million | +3.7% |
| 1944 | 18.20 million | +6.3% |
| 1945 | 19.00 million | +4.4% |
| 1946 | 19.71 million | +3.7% |
| 1947 | 20.40 million | +3.5% |
| 1948 | 21.24 million | +4.1% |
| 1949 | 22.31 million | +5.0% |
| 1950 | 22.63 million | +1.4% |
| 1951 | 23.68 million | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 24.95 million | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 25.74 million | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 26.76 million | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 28.39 million | +6.1% |
| 1956 | 29.58 million | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 30.74 million | +3.9% |
| 1958 | 32.19 million | +4.7% |
| 1959 | 33.01 million | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 34.28 million | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 34.61 million | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 35.21 million | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 35.78 million | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 36.47 million | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 37.61 million | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 36.36 million | -3.3% |
| 1967 | 37.00 million | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 38.12 million | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 38.92 million | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 39.60 million | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 38.94 million | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 38.96 million | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 40.35 million | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 41.49 million | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 42.84 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 44.26 million | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 46.53 million | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 48.39 million | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 52.26 million | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 53.63 million | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 55.48 million | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 58.29 million | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 59.58 million | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 62.34 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 63.66 million | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 64.25 million | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 65.33 million | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 66.48 million | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 67.97 million | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 69.56 million | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 70.07 million | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 68.92 million | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 71.06 million | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 71.23 million | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 73.28 million | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 74.26 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 78.18 million | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 79.42 million | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 79.06 million | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 77.98 million | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 77.52 million | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 77.39 million | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 79.97 million | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 80.59 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 81.86 million | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 81.39 million | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 82.96 million | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 85.09 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 84.24 million | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 84.61 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 84.48 million | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 87.86 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 87.75 million | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 88.51 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 87.34 million | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 85.80 million | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 87.12 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 86.08 million | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 85.42 million | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 83.51 million | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 81.62 million | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 81.24 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 81.08 million | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 79.29 million | -2.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 79.29 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.73 million, 6.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 79.29 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million, 6.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 731,473 | 518,186 | 946,182 | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.21 million | 994,350 | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.97 million | 1.47 million | 2.47 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.85 million | 2.58 million | 3.12 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.94 million | 3.19 million | 4.68 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.72 million | 4.51 million | 6.86 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.00 million | 7.18 million | 8.86 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 10.12 million | 9.19 million | 11.11 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 12.29 million | 10.99 million | 14.32 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 18.49 million | 14.80 million | 22.31 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 27.77 million | 22.63 million | 33.01 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 36.44 million | 34.28 million | 38.92 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 43.36 million | 38.94 million | 52.26 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.70 million | 53.63 million | 67.97 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.50 million | 68.92 million | 79.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.90 million | 77.39 million | 85.09 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.50 million | 84.48 million | 88.51 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.35 million | 79.29 million | 83.51 million | 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 methane emissions in South Africa?
- Methane emissions in South Africa was 79.29 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 88.51 million in 2014.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 518,186 in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for methane emissions?
- South Africa ranks 22nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.4%. 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 Methane emissions. 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).