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