Share of cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in South Africa
South Africa: Share of cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil was 0.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in South Africa, 1884–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.4% for share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in 2024. That is the highest value across all 141 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in South Africa peaked at 0.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1884.
That places South Africa 35th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1884 | 0.0% | — |
| 1885 | 0.0% | — |
| 1886 | 0.0% | — |
| 1887 | 0.0% | — |
| 1888 | 0.0% | — |
| 1889 | 0.0% | — |
| 1890 | 0.0% | — |
| 1891 | 0.0% | — |
| 1892 | 0.0% | — |
| 1893 | 0.0% | — |
| 1894 | 0.0% | — |
| 1895 | 0.0% | — |
| 1896 | 0.0% | — |
| 1897 | 0.0% | — |
| 1898 | 0.0% | — |
| 1899 | 0.0% | — |
| 1900 | 0.0% | — |
| 1901 | 0.0% | — |
| 1902 | 0.0% | — |
| 1903 | 0.0% | — |
| 1904 | 0.0% | — |
| 1905 | 0.0% | — |
| 1906 | 0.0% | — |
| 1907 | 0.0% | — |
| 1908 | 0.0% | — |
| 1909 | 0.0% | — |
| 1910 | 0.0% | — |
| 1911 | 0.0% | — |
| 1912 | 0.0% | — |
| 1913 | 0.0% | — |
| 1914 | 0.0% | — |
| 1915 | 0.0% | — |
| 1916 | 0.0% | — |
| 1917 | 0.0% | — |
| 1918 | 0.0% | — |
| 1919 | 0.0% | — |
| 1920 | 0.0% | — |
| 1921 | 0.0% | — |
| 1922 | 0.0% | — |
| 1923 | 0.0% | — |
| 1924 | 0.0% | — |
| 1925 | 0.0% | — |
| 1926 | 0.0% | — |
| 1927 | 0.0% | — |
| 1928 | 0.0% | — |
| 1929 | 0.0% | — |
| 1930 | 0.0% | — |
| 1931 | 0.0% | — |
| 1932 | 0.0% | — |
| 1933 | 0.0% | — |
| 1934 | 0.0% | — |
| 1935 | 0.0% | — |
| 1936 | 0.0% | — |
| 1937 | 0.0% | — |
| 1938 | 0.0% | — |
| 1939 | 0.0% | — |
| 1940 | 0.0% | — |
| 1941 | 0.0% | — |
| 1942 | 0.0% | — |
| 1943 | 0.0% | — |
| 1944 | 0.0% | — |
| 1945 | 0.0% | — |
| 1946 | 0.0% | — |
| 1947 | 0.0% | — |
| 1948 | 0.0% | — |
| 1949 | 0.0% | — |
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1951 | 0.0% | +101.7% |
| 1952 | 0.1% | +47.4% |
| 1953 | 0.1% | +28.6% |
| 1954 | 0.1% | +22.4% |
| 1955 | 0.1% | +18.3% |
| 1956 | 0.1% | +15.3% |
| 1957 | 0.1% | +10.5% |
| 1958 | 0.1% | +10.2% |
| 1959 | 0.1% | +7.0% |
| 1960 | 0.2% | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 0.2% | +6.1% |
| 1962 | 0.2% | +5.4% |
| 1963 | 0.2% | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 0.2% | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 0.2% | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 0.2% | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 0.2% | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 0.2% | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 0.2% | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 0.3% | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 0.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 0.4% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 0.4% | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.4% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.1%, 5.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0%, 31.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | +101.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1952 | +47.4% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1953 | +28.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6 |
| 1890s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 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 share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in South Africa?
- Share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in South Africa was 0.4% in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1884.
- How does South Africa rank for share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of cumulative co₂ emissions from oil rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil. 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
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from oil since the first year of available data, measured as a percentage of global cumulative emissions of CO₂ from oil.