Methane emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Methane emissions was 79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
22nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
88.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2014
All-time low
518,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in South Africa, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in South Africa is 79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 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 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2014 and was at its lowest, 518,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 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 | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 518,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 565,279 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1852 | 612,481 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1853 | 659,796 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1854 | 707,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1855 | 754,771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1856 | 802,439 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1857 | 850,229 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1858 | 898,142 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1859 | 946,182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1860 | 994,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1861 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1862 | 1.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1863 | 1.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1864 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1865 | 1.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1866 | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1867 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1868 | 1.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1869 | 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1870 | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1871 | 1.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1872 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1873 | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1875 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1876 | 2.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1877 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1878 | 2.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1879 | 2.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1880 | 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1881 | 2.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1882 | 2.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1883 | 2.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1884 | 2.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1885 | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1886 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1887 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1888 | 3.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1889 | 3.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 3.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1891 | 3.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1892 | 3.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1893 | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1894 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1895 | 4.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1896 | 4.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1897 | 4.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1898 | 4.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1899 | 4.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1900 | 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1901 | 4.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1902 | 5.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1903 | 5.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1904 | 5.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1905 | 5.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1906 | 6.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1907 | 6.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1908 | 6.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1909 | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1910 | 7.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1911 | 7.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1912 | 7.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1913 | 7.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1914 | 7.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 7.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 8.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1917 | 8.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1918 | 8.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1919 | 8.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1920 | 9.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1921 | 9.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1922 | 9.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1923 | 9.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1924 | 10.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1925 | 10.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1926 | 10.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1927 | 10.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1928 | 10.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1929 | 11.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 11.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1931 | 11.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1932 | 10.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 11.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1934 | 11.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1935 | 12.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1936 | 12.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1937 | 13.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1938 | 13.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1939 | 14.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 14.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1941 | 15.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1942 | 16.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1943 | 17.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1944 | 18.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1945 | 19.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1946 | 19.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1947 | 20.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1948 | 21.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1949 | 22.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1950 | 22.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1951 | 23.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 24.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 25.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 26.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 28.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1956 | 29.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 30.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1958 | 32.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1959 | 33.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 34.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 34.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 35.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 35.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 36.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 37.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 36.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1967 | 37.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 38.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 38.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 39.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1971 | 38.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1972 | 38.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 40.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 41.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 42.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 44.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 46.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 48.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 52.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 53.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 55.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 58.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 59.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 62.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 63.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 64.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 65.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 66.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 67.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 69.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 70.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 68.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 71.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 71.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 73.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 74.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 78.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 79.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 79.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 77.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 77.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 77.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 79.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 80.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 81.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 81.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 82.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 85.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 84.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 84.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 84.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 87.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 87.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 88.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 87.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 85.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 87.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 86.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 85.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 83.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 81.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 81.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 81.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 6.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 6.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 731,473 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 518,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 946,182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 994,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 10.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 12.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 18.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 27.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 36.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 34.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 43.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 52.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 53.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 68.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 77.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 84.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 88.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 19 Bangladesh 95.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 20 Vietnam 94.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 21 Colombia 91.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 23 Philippines 78.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 24 Chad 73.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 25 Sudan 69.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
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 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 88.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2014.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 518,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 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 Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by 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).
About this data
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.