Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa
South Africa: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
15th
of 198 countries
All-time high
567.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2008
All-time low
986,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa stood at 508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa peaked at 567.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2008 and was at its lowest, 986,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
South Africa ranks 15th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 986,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 1.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1852 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1853 | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1854 | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1855 | 1.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1856 | 1.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1858 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1859 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1860 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1861 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1862 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1863 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1864 | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1865 | 1.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1866 | 1.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1867 | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1868 | 1.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1869 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1870 | 1.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1871 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1872 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1873 | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1874 | 1.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1875 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1876 | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1877 | 1.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1878 | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1879 | 1.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1880 | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1881 | 1.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1882 | 1.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1883 | 1.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1884 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1885 | 1.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1886 | 2.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1887 | 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1888 | 2.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1889 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1890 | 2.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1891 | 2.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 2.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1893 | 4.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +54.8% |
| 1894 | 4.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.6% |
| 1895 | 5.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.0% |
| 1896 | 6.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.6% |
| 1897 | 7.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 1898 | 9.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.8% |
| 1899 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 1900 | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -40.3% |
| 1901 | 6.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +34.9% |
| 1902 | 8.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +31.2% |
| 1903 | 11.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.3% |
| 1904 | 12.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1905 | 13.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.6% |
| 1906 | 15.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 1907 | 16.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 1908 | 17.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1909 | 19.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 1910 | 21.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.6% |
| 1911 | 20.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1912 | 22.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1913 | 23.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1914 | 23.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1915 | 23.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1916 | 27.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.5% |
| 1917 | 28.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1918 | 27.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1919 | 28.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1920 | 31.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1921 | 31.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1922 | 27.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.4% |
| 1923 | 32.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.7% |
| 1924 | 34.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1925 | 35.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1926 | 37.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1927 | 36.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1928 | 36.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1929 | 37.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 35.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1931 | 32.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.5% |
| 1932 | 29.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1933 | 31.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1934 | 35.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.4% |
| 1935 | 39.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1936 | 43.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 1937 | 44.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1938 | 47.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1939 | 48.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1940 | 50.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1941 | 53.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1942 | 58.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1943 | 58.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1944 | 65.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.1% |
| 1945 | 67.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1946 | 67.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1947 | 67.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1948 | 69.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1949 | 73.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1950 | 73.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1951 | 78.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 84.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1953 | 85.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1954 | 88.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 98.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 1956 | 103.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1957 | 106.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 114.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1959 | 112.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 116.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 121.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 125.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 130.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 140.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1965 | 150.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1966 | 151.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 157.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 162.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 168.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 175.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 194.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.0% |
| 1972 | 198.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 201.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 205.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 214.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 224.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 232.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 236.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 256.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1980 | 267.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 299.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 325.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 1983 | 337.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 365.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1985 | 375.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 382.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 381.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 396.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 395.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 368.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1991 | 381.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 358.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1993 | 379.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 398.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 424.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 427.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 452.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 445.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 442.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 443.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 437.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 421.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 473.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.2% |
| 2004 | 519.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 486.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 517.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 536.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 567.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 546.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 539.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 546.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 536.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 532.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 558.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 533.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 531.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 516.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 529.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 546.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 508.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 510.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 499.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 507.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 17.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 50.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | +54.8% | 2.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1900 | -40.3% | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1901 | +34.9% | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1902 | +31.2% | 6.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 986,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 12.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 24.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 20.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 33.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 27.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 37.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 38.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 48.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 63.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 50.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 73.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 94.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 73.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 114.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 142.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 116.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 168.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 213.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 175.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 256.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 352.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 267.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 396.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 407.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 358.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 452.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 494.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 421.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 567.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 537.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 516.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 558.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 506.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 499.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 510.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 12 Turkey 609.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 13 Germany 608.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 14 Mexico 551.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 16 Australia 455.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 17 Vietnam 423.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 18 Iraq 389.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 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 total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Africa was 508.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 567.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2008.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 986,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. 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 Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry. 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.