Per capita methane emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita methane emissions was 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
61st
of 199 countries
All-time high
2.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1960
All-time low
0.1735 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita methane emissions in South Africa, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
In 2024, per capita methane emissions in South Africa stood at 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita methane emissions in South Africa peaked at 2.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.1735 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1850.
South Africa ranks 61st of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Per capita methane emissions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 0.1735 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 0.1864 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 1852 | 0.1993 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.9% |
| 1853 | 0.2124 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.6% |
| 1854 | 0.2252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.0% |
| 1855 | 0.2378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1856 | 0.2501 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1857 | 0.2622 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.8% |
| 1858 | 0.274 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.5% |
| 1859 | 0.2856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1860 | 0.2969 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.0% |
| 1861 | 0.3077 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1862 | 0.3182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1863 | 0.3285 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1864 | 0.3386 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1865 | 0.3485 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1866 | 0.3582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1867 | 0.3677 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1868 | 0.3769 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1869 | 0.386 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 0.3948 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1871 | 0.4198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.4% |
| 1872 | 0.4444 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.8% |
| 1873 | 0.4684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1874 | 0.4919 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.0% |
| 1875 | 0.5149 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.7% |
| 1876 | 0.5374 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 1877 | 0.5595 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1878 | 0.581 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1879 | 0.602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1880 | 0.6226 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1881 | 0.6297 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 0.6365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 0.6432 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 0.6502 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1885 | 0.6568 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1886 | 0.6632 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1887 | 0.6693 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 0.6758 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1889 | 0.6825 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1890 | 0.6913 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 0.708 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1892 | 0.7278 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1893 | 0.7681 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.5% |
| 1894 | 0.795 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1895 | 0.8263 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1896 | 0.8571 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1897 | 0.8801 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1898 | 0.9157 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1899 | 0.9182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1900 | 0.8739 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1901 | 0.9138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.6% |
| 1902 | 0.9568 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.7% |
| 1903 | 0.9977 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1904 | 1.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1905 | 1.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1906 | 1.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1907 | 1.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1908 | 1.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1909 | 1.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1910 | 1.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1911 | 1.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1912 | 1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1913 | 1.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1915 | 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1916 | 1.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1917 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1918 | 1.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1919 | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1920 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1921 | 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1922 | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1923 | 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1924 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1925 | 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1926 | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1927 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1928 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1929 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1930 | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1931 | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1932 | 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1933 | 1.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1934 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1935 | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1936 | 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1937 | 1.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1938 | 1.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1939 | 1.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1940 | 1.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 1.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1942 | 1.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1943 | 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1944 | 1.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1945 | 1.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1946 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1947 | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1948 | 1.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1949 | 1.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1950 | 1.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1951 | 1.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1952 | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 1.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1956 | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 2.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1958 | 2.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 2.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1960 | 2.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1961 | 2.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 2.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1963 | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.3% |
| 1967 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 1.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 1.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.5% |
| 1972 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 1.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 1.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 1.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 1.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 1.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 1.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 1.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 1.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 1.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 1.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 1.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 1.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 1.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 1.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 1.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 1.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 1.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 1.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 1.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 1.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 1.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 1.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.8668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.2307 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.1735 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.2856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.3427 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.2969 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.386 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.5014 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.3948 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.653 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6226 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6825 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.8088 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6913 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8739 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 58 Somalia 1.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 59 Bulgaria 1.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 60 Turkey 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 62 Azerbaijan 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 63 Latvia 1.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 64 Belize 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person 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 per capita methane emissions in South Africa?
- Per capita methane emissions in South Africa was 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1960.
- What is the lowest per capita methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1735 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for per capita methane emissions?
- South Africa ranks 61st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita methane emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita 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 per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.