Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita CO₂ emissions by source was 5.8 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in South Africa, 1884–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Africa is 5.8 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Africa peaked at 8.18 tonnes per person in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0051 tonnes per person, in 1884.
South Africa ranks 7th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0.0136 tonnes per person | 0.0051 tonnes per person | 0.0289 tonnes per person | 6 |
| 1890s | 0.5903 tonnes per person | 0.0635 tonnes per person | 1.2 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.6 tonnes per person | 0.4513 tonnes per person | 2.5 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.99 tonnes per person | 2.64 tonnes per person | 3.42 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.51 tonnes per person | 2.92 tonnes per person | 3.76 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.22 tonnes per person | 2.55 tonnes per person | 3.77 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.4 tonnes per person | 3.83 tonnes per person | 4.69 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.89 tonnes per person | 4.22 tonnes per person | 5.49 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.51 tonnes per person | 5.32 tonnes per person | 5.82 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.78 tonnes per person | 5.56 tonnes per person | 6.29 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.41 tonnes per person | 6.57 tonnes per person | 7.81 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.87 tonnes per person | 6.12 tonnes per person | 7.3 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.5 tonnes per person | 6.78 tonnes per person | 8.18 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.07 tonnes per person | 6.42 tonnes per person | 7.77 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.88 tonnes per person | 5.72 tonnes per person | 6.18 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.9% (2100)
- Population growth 1.1% (2025)
- Population, total 64.75 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.3% (2025)
- Urban population 41.32 million (2025)
- Urban population 63.8% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 6.87 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 22.83 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 6.87 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 6.87 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Africa?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Africa was 5.8 tonnes per person in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions by source recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.18 tonnes per person in 2008.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by source recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0051 tonnes per person in 1884.
- How does South Africa rank for per capita co₂ emissions by source?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita CO₂ emissions by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 141 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal, measured in tonnes per person.