Greenhouse gas emissions - Regions — GHG emissions from waste in South Africa
South Africa: Greenhouse gas emissions - Regions — GHG emissions from waste was 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Greenhouse gas emissions - Regions — GHG emissions from waste in South Africa, 1970–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Tonnes of CO2-equivalent.
Analysis
The most recent figure for greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste in South Africa is 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste in South Africa peaked at 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.82 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent, in 1970.
South Africa ranks 9th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Greenhouse gas emissions - Regions — GHG emissions from waste in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.82 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | — |
| 1971 | 5.42 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +12.3% |
| 1972 | 5.64 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 5.83 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 6.01 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 6.11 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 6.28 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 6.54 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 6.72 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 6.89 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 7.09 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 7.35 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 7.72 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 7.79 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 7.84 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 8.16 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 8.39 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 8.65 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 8.89 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 10.16 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +14.3% |
| 1990 | 10.53 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 10.78 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 10.93 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 11.21 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 11.04 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 11.93 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 12.30 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 13.06 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 13.32 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 13.48 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 13.85 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 14.09 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 14.61 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 14.83 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 15.01 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 15.43 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 16.06 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 16.45 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 16.95 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 16.71 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 17.21 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 17.61 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 19.21 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 19.94 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 19.94 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 19.96 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 20.03 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 20.37 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 20.53 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 20.78 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 20.87 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 21.18 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 21.47 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.03 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 4.82 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 6.89 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.21 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 7.09 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10.16 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.86 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10.53 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 13.48 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.40 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 13.85 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 16.95 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.56 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 17.21 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 20.78 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.33 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 20.87 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 6 Indonesia 52.09 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent compare
- 7 Colombia 22.91 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent compare
- 8 Canada 22.42 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent compare
- 10 Spain 20.64 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent compare
- 11 France 19.97 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent compare
- 12 Australia 12.70 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent compare
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)
- Sawnwood — Export quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export quantity, per capita 0.0085 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, annual growth rate -0.695 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, per capita 0.0009 1000 USD per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste in South Africa?
- Greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste in South Africa was 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21.81 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent in 2023.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.82 million Tonnes of CO2-equivalent in 1970.
- How does South Africa rank for greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste?
- South Africa ranks 9th out of 47 countries with data for 2023.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions - regions — ghg emissions from waste rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Greenhouse gas emissions - Regions — GHG emissions from waste. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset provides indicators on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in large (TL2) and small (TL3) regions. Data definition and source GHG are estimated by sector of origin at the subnational level using the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) (Joint Research Centre). See the methodology. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Local Data Portal OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.