Share of global methane emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Share of global methane emissions was 0.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global methane emissions in South Africa, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of global methane emissions in South Africa is 0.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global methane emissions in South Africa peaked at 1.0% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1850.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 201 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 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 share of global methane emissions in South Africa?
- Share of global methane emissions in South Africa was 0.8% in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.0% in 1998.
- What is the lowest share of global methane emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for share of global methane emissions?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global methane emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. 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 Share of global 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 as a percentage of the world's methane emissions.