Greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Greenhouse gas emissions was 542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
18th
of 199 countries
All-time high
613.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2008
All-time low
3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions 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
The most recent figure for greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa is 542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa peaked at 613.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places South Africa 18th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1852 | 3.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1853 | 3.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1854 | 3.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1855 | 3.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1856 | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1857 | 4.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1858 | 4.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1859 | 4.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1860 | 4.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.1% |
| 1861 | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1862 | 5.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1863 | 5.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1864 | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1865 | 5.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1866 | 5.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1867 | 5.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1868 | 6.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1869 | 6.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1870 | 9.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +53.2% |
| 1871 | 11.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.5% |
| 1872 | 12.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 1873 | 13.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 14.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1875 | 14.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1876 | 15.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1877 | 15.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1878 | 16.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1879 | 16.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 15.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.6% |
| 1881 | 14.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1882 | 13.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1883 | 13.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1884 | 13.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1885 | 13.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1886 | 13.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1887 | 13.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1888 | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1889 | 13.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 15.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.4% |
| 1891 | 16.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1892 | 17.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1893 | 19.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.0% |
| 1894 | 21.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1895 | 22.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1896 | 23.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1897 | 24.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1898 | 26.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1899 | 26.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1900 | 24.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.3% |
| 1901 | 26.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.3% |
| 1902 | 29.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1903 | 32.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1904 | 33.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1905 | 35.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1906 | 37.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1907 | 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1908 | 40.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 43.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1910 | 45.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1911 | 45.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1912 | 46.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1913 | 49.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1914 | 49.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1915 | 49.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 53.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1917 | 56.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1918 | 55.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1919 | 56.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1920 | 61.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1921 | 63.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1922 | 59.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1923 | 65.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1924 | 68.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1925 | 70.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1926 | 72.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 72.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1928 | 72.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1929 | 74.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1930 | 73.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1931 | 70.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1932 | 69.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1933 | 71.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1934 | 76.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1935 | 79.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1936 | 84.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1937 | 86.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1938 | 89.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1939 | 91.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1940 | 99.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1941 | 106.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1942 | 114.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1943 | 118.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1944 | 127.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1945 | 131.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1946 | 135.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1947 | 138.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1948 | 142.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1949 | 148.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1950 | 149.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1951 | 156.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1952 | 165.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1953 | 167.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 170.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 181.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 186.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 189.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 197.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 197.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1960 | 208.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1961 | 200.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 196.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 197.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 205.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1965 | 212.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 214.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 223.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 227.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 234.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 240.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 258.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1972 | 261.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 263.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 268.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 277.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1976 | 286.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 294.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 296.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 316.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1980 | 327.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 358.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1982 | 383.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 395.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 421.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 440.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 441.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 443.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 461.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 463.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 437.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1991 | 457.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 435.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 451.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 467.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 495.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 499.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 521.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 514.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 510.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 507.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 497.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 477.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 522.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 566.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 529.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 562.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 588.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 613.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 587.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 574.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 580.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 571.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 565.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 590.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 564.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 561.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 547.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 560.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 577.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 541.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 545.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 533.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 541.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 12.7× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 13.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | +53.2% | 6.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 14.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 13.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 21.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 34.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 50.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 45.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 56.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 68.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 59.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 74.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 79.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 69.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 91.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 126.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 99.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 148.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 176.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 149.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 197.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 212.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 196.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 234.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 276.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 240.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 316.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 413.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 327.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 463.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 479.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 435.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 521.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 545.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 477.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 613.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 569.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 547.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 590.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 540.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 533.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 545.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 15 South Korea 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 16 Australia 609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 17 Vietnam 583.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 19 Pakistan 473.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 20 Thailand 456.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 21 Argentina 416.98 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 greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa was 542.73 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 greenhouse gas emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 613.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2008.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does South Africa rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. 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 Greenhouse gas 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.