Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use was 6.87 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.87 tonnes per person
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
41st
of 208 countries
All-time high
9.68 tonnes per person
in 2008
All-time low
0.0051 tonnes per person
in 1884
Years of data
141
1884–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 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 vs. per capita energy use in South Africa is 6.87 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use in South Africa peaked at 9.68 tonnes per person in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0051 tonnes per person, in 1884.
South Africa ranks 41st of 208 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 0.0051 tonnes per person | — |
| 1885 | 0.0084 tonnes per person | +64.9% |
| 1886 | 0.0108 tonnes per person | +28.6% |
| 1887 | 0.0106 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1888 | 0.0178 tonnes per person | +67.4% |
| 1889 | 0.0289 tonnes per person | +61.9% |
| 1890 | 0.0642 tonnes per person | +122.6% |
| 1891 | 0.0635 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1892 | 0.1017 tonnes per person | +60.0% |
| 1893 | 0.377 tonnes per person | +270.8% |
| 1894 | 0.5044 tonnes per person | +33.8% |
| 1895 | 0.6846 tonnes per person | +35.7% |
| 1896 | 0.8639 tonnes per person | +26.2% |
| 1897 | 0.9592 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1898 | 1.2 tonnes per person | +25.3% |
| 1899 | 1.08 tonnes per person | -9.9% |
| 1900 | 0.4513 tonnes per person | -58.3% |
| 1901 | 0.7462 tonnes per person | +65.3% |
| 1902 | 1.09 tonnes per person | +46.7% |
| 1903 | 1.44 tonnes per person | +31.3% |
| 1904 | 1.59 tonnes per person | +10.8% |
| 1905 | 1.79 tonnes per person | +12.4% |
| 1906 | 2.01 tonnes per person | +12.4% |
| 1907 | 2.18 tonnes per person | +8.5% |
| 1908 | 2.21 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1909 | 2.5 tonnes per person | +13.2% |
| 1910 | 2.79 tonnes per person | +11.5% |
| 1911 | 2.64 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 1912 | 2.76 tonnes per person | +4.5% |
| 1913 | 2.97 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1914 | 2.83 tonnes per person | -4.6% |
| 1915 | 2.8 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1916 | 3.25 tonnes per person | +16.0% |
| 1917 | 3.42 tonnes per person | +5.3% |
| 1918 | 3.21 tonnes per person | -6.2% |
| 1919 | 3.29 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1920 | 3.58 tonnes per person | +9.0% |
| 1921 | 3.48 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 1922 | 2.92 tonnes per person | -16.0% |
| 1923 | 3.48 tonnes per person | +18.9% |
| 1924 | 3.58 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 1925 | 3.65 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 3.76 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 1927 | 3.58 tonnes per person | -4.9% |
| 1928 | 3.51 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1929 | 3.57 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 3.27 tonnes per person | -8.5% |
| 1931 | 2.85 tonnes per person | -12.8% |
| 1932 | 2.56 tonnes per person | -10.1% |
| 1933 | 2.71 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1934 | 3.03 tonnes per person | +11.7% |
| 1935 | 3.31 tonnes per person | +9.2% |
| 1936 | 3.55 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 1937 | 3.64 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1938 | 3.75 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1939 | 3.81 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1940 | 3.87 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 4.05 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1942 | 4.34 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 1943 | 4.29 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 1944 | 4.71 tonnes per person | +9.8% |
| 1945 | 4.73 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1946 | 4.65 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1947 | 4.55 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1948 | 4.57 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1949 | 4.75 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1950 | 4.67 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1951 | 4.89 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 5.21 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1953 | 5.11 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1954 | 5.2 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 5.71 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1956 | 5.86 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 5.88 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 6.16 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 5.9 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1960 | 5.95 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 6.04 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 6.07 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 6.11 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 6.46 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 6.71 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 6.51 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 6.58 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 6.58 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 6.62 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 6.72 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 7.34 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 1972 | 7.27 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1973 | 7.14 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 7.07 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 7.2 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 7.31 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 7.37 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 7.24 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 7.64 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 7.73 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 8.42 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 8.87 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 8.92 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 9.31 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 9.24 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 9.13 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 8.81 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 8.9 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 8.6 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 7.68 tonnes per person | -10.7% |
| 1991 | 7.82 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 7.1 tonnes per person | -9.2% |
| 1993 | 7.4 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 7.7 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 8.12 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 8.06 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 8.44 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 8.16 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 8.02 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 8.02 tonnes per person | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7.81 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 7.42 tonnes per person | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 8.34 tonnes per person | +12.3% |
| 2004 | 9.17 tonnes per person | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 8.41 tonnes per person | -8.3% |
| 2006 | 8.94 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 9.2 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 9.68 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 9.17 tonnes per person | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 8.93 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 8.95 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 8.58 tonnes per person | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 8.34 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 8.66 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 8.06 tonnes per person | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 7.98 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 7.63 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 7.74 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 7.9 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 7.19 tonnes per person | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 7.15 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 6.87 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 6.91 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 6.87 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
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 | 3.25 tonnes per person | 2.56 tonnes per person | 3.81 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.45 tonnes per person | 3.87 tonnes per person | 4.75 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.46 tonnes per person | 4.67 tonnes per person | 6.16 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.36 tonnes per person | 5.95 tonnes per person | 6.71 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.23 tonnes per person | 6.72 tonnes per person | 7.64 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.79 tonnes per person | 7.73 tonnes per person | 9.31 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.85 tonnes per person | 7.1 tonnes per person | 8.44 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.62 tonnes per person | 7.42 tonnes per person | 9.68 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.28 tonnes per person | 7.63 tonnes per person | 8.95 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 7 tonnes per person | 6.87 tonnes per person | 7.19 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- 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)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use in South Africa?
- Per capita co₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use in South Africa was 6.87 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 vs. per capita energy use recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.68 tonnes per person in 2008.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 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 vs. per capita energy use?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.7%. 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 vs. per capita energy use. 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
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes. This includes emissions from transport, electricity generation, and heating, but not land-use change.