Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) in South Africa
South Africa: Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) was 3.02 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) in South Africa, 1971–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
In 2024, carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) in South Africa stood at 3.02 % change on previous year.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 729.0% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) in South Africa peaked at 8.98 % change on previous year in 1973 and was at its lowest, -8.99 % change on previous year, in 1978.
South Africa ranks 77th of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -0.5944 % change on previous year | — |
| 1972 | 3.6 % change on previous year | -705.2% |
| 1973 | 8.98 % change on previous year | +149.7% |
| 1974 | 3.24 % change on previous year | -64.0% |
| 1975 | 7.41 % change on previous year | +128.7% |
| 1976 | 6.24 % change on previous year | -15.7% |
| 1977 | -0.0986 % change on previous year | -101.6% |
| 1978 | -8.99 % change on previous year | +9016.8% |
| 1979 | 2.47 % change on previous year | -127.5% |
| 1980 | 6.23 % change on previous year | +152.1% |
| 1981 | 5.64 % change on previous year | -9.5% |
| 1982 | 2.53 % change on previous year | -55.1% |
| 1983 | 0.8328 % change on previous year | -67.1% |
| 1984 | 6.61 % change on previous year | +694.2% |
| 1985 | 1.66 % change on previous year | -74.9% |
| 1986 | -0.8079 % change on previous year | -148.6% |
| 1987 | 5.63 % change on previous year | -796.8% |
| 1988 | 1.19 % change on previous year | -78.8% |
| 1989 | -1.08 % change on previous year | -190.2% |
| 1990 | 4.24 % change on previous year | -493.4% |
| 1991 | -2.58 % change on previous year | -160.9% |
| 1992 | -2.12 % change on previous year | -17.9% |
| 1993 | 0.7179 % change on previous year | -133.9% |
| 1994 | 2.24 % change on previous year | +212.5% |
| 1995 | 5.39 % change on previous year | +140.1% |
| 1996 | 3.43 % change on previous year | -36.3% |
| 1997 | 4.42 % change on previous year | +28.7% |
| 1998 | 1.72 % change on previous year | -61.0% |
| 1999 | -4.62 % change on previous year | -367.6% |
| 2000 | 1.91 % change on previous year | -141.4% |
| 2001 | 2.91 % change on previous year | +52.0% |
| 2002 | 3.75 % change on previous year | +28.9% |
| 2003 | 6.15 % change on previous year | +64.1% |
| 2004 | 8.17 % change on previous year | +32.9% |
| 2005 | 2.47 % change on previous year | -69.8% |
| 2006 | 0.9974 % change on previous year | -59.6% |
| 2007 | 4.39 % change on previous year | +340.2% |
| 2008 | 6.08 % change on previous year | +38.5% |
| 2009 | -6.35 % change on previous year | -204.4% |
| 2010 | 1.62 % change on previous year | -125.5% |
| 2011 | -4.39 % change on previous year | -370.8% |
| 2012 | 3.9 % change on previous year | -188.8% |
| 2013 | 2.99 % change on previous year | -23.2% |
| 2014 | 2.42 % change on previous year | -19.1% |
| 2015 | -5 % change on previous year | -306.4% |
| 2016 | -0.4482 % change on previous year | -91.0% |
| 2017 | 2.04 % change on previous year | -555.1% |
| 2018 | 0.8167 % change on previous year | -60.0% |
| 2019 | 0.8717 % change on previous year | +6.7% |
| 2020 | -5.59 % change on previous year | -741.0% |
| 2021 | -0.5097 % change on previous year | -90.9% |
| 2022 | -4.29 % change on previous year | +741.4% |
| 2023 | -0.4801 % change on previous year | -88.8% |
| 2024 | 3.02 % change on previous year | -729.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3.02 % change on previous year is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.46 % change on previous year, 1.2× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3.02 % change on previous year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.92 % change on previous year, 1.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | -9016.8% | -0.0986 % change on previous year | -8.99 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.47 % change on previous year | -8.99 % change on previous year | 8.98 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.84 % change on previous year | -1.08 % change on previous year | 6.61 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.28 % change on previous year | -4.62 % change on previous year | 5.39 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.05 % change on previous year | -6.35 % change on previous year | 8.17 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4826 % change on previous year | -5 % change on previous year | 3.9 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.57 % change on previous year | -5.59 % change on previous year | 3.02 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.4366 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) in South Africa?
- Carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) in South Africa was 3.02 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.98 % change on previous year in 1973.
- What is the lowest carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.99 % change on previous year in 1978.
- How does South Africa rank for carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e)?
- South Africa ranks 77th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon dioxide (co2) emissions (total) excluding lulucf (mt co2e) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.