Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita was 8.9 t CO2e/capita in 2024. ▼ Falling
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita in South Africa, 1970–2024
Source: EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission. Measured in t CO2e/capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita in South Africa is 8.9 t CO2e/capita, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and down 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita in South Africa peaked at 11.83 t CO2e/capita in 2008 and was at its lowest, 8.79 t CO2e/capita, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 39th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | t CO2e/capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.82 t CO2e/capita | — |
| 1971 | 10.49 t CO2e/capita | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 10.5 t CO2e/capita | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 10.99 t CO2e/capita | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 11.05 t CO2e/capita | +0.5% |
| 1975 | 11.46 t CO2e/capita | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 11.76 t CO2e/capita | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 11.53 t CO2e/capita | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 10.48 t CO2e/capita | -9.0% |
| 1979 | 10.55 t CO2e/capita | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 10.76 t CO2e/capita | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 10.94 t CO2e/capita | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 10.86 t CO2e/capita | -0.8% |
| 1983 | 10.59 t CO2e/capita | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 10.85 t CO2e/capita | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 10.65 t CO2e/capita | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 10.26 t CO2e/capita | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 10.41 t CO2e/capita | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 10.24 t CO2e/capita | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 9.91 t CO2e/capita | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 9.99 t CO2e/capita | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 9.58 t CO2e/capita | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 9.27 t CO2e/capita | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 9.19 t CO2e/capita | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 9.19 t CO2e/capita | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 9.5 t CO2e/capita | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 9.69 t CO2e/capita | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 10 t CO2e/capita | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 10.04 t CO2e/capita | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 9.56 t CO2e/capita | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 9.54 t CO2e/capita | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 9.69 t CO2e/capita | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 9.91 t CO2e/capita | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 10.37 t CO2e/capita | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 10.96 t CO2e/capita | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 11.1 t CO2e/capita | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 11.07 t CO2e/capita | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 11.39 t CO2e/capita | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 11.83 t CO2e/capita | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 11.08 t CO2e/capita | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 11.11 t CO2e/capita | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 10.59 t CO2e/capita | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 10.83 t CO2e/capita | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 10.92 t CO2e/capita | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 10.99 t CO2e/capita | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 10.31 t CO2e/capita | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 10.17 t CO2e/capita | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 10.39 t CO2e/capita | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 10.24 t CO2e/capita | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 10.15 t CO2e/capita | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 9.53 t CO2e/capita | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 9.36 t CO2e/capita | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 8.91 t CO2e/capita | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 8.79 t CO2e/capita | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 8.9 t CO2e/capita | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.96 t CO2e/capita | 10.48 t CO2e/capita | 11.76 t CO2e/capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.55 t CO2e/capita | 9.91 t CO2e/capita | 10.94 t CO2e/capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.6 t CO2e/capita | 9.19 t CO2e/capita | 10.04 t CO2e/capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.69 t CO2e/capita | 9.54 t CO2e/capita | 11.83 t CO2e/capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.57 t CO2e/capita | 10.15 t CO2e/capita | 11.11 t CO2e/capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.1 t CO2e/capita | 8.79 t CO2e/capita | 9.53 t CO2e/capita | 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)
- Roundwood — Import value, annual growth rate 5.71 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value, per capita 0.0008 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity, annual growth rate -23.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity, per capita 0.0128 m3 per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita in South Africa?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita in South Africa was 8.9 t CO2e/capita in 2024, according to EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission.
- What is the highest total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.83 t CO2e/capita in 2008.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.79 t CO2e/capita in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission, published as part of Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita (t CO2e/capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total annual emissions of the six greenhouse gases (GHG) covered by the Kyoto Protocol (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphurhexafluoride (SF6)) from the energy, industry, waste, and agriculture sectors, standardized to carbon dioxide equivalent values divided by the economy's population. This measure excludes GHG fluxes caused by Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), as these fluxes have larger uncertainties.