Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF in South Africa
South Africa: Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF was 40.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF in South Africa, 1991–2024
Source: EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission. Measured in % change from 1990.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf in South Africa is 40.0%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.7% on the previous year and down 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf in South Africa peaked at 50.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, -3.3%, in 1992.
That places South Africa 127th out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change from 1990 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -1.9% | — |
| 1992 | -3.3% | +78.9% |
| 1993 | -2.3% | -31.0% |
| 1994 | -0.6% | -72.0% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | -714.9% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | +87.8% |
| 1997 | 12.2% | +63.8% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | +14.7% |
| 1999 | 9.8% | -30.3% |
| 2000 | 10.5% | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 13.3% | +26.8% |
| 2002 | 16.9% | +27.5% |
| 2003 | 23.5% | +39.1% |
| 2004 | 31.9% | +35.7% |
| 2005 | 35.0% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 36.0% | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 41.4% | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 48.6% | +17.4% |
| 2009 | 40.8% | -16.1% |
| 2010 | 42.8% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 37.9% | -11.6% |
| 2012 | 43.1% | +13.9% |
| 2013 | 46.7% | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 50.1% | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 43.7% | -12.7% |
| 2016 | 43.0% | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 47.2% | +9.6% |
| 2018 | 47.5% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 48.5% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 41.7% | -14.0% |
| 2021 | 41.4% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 36.6% | -11.5% |
| 2023 | 36.4% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 40.0% | +9.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | -3.3% | 14.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 29.8% | 10.5% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.1% | 37.9% | 50.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.2% | 36.4% | 41.7% | 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)
- Sawnwood — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Production, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Production, per capita 0.0329 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood — Import quantity, annual growth rate 21.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf in South Africa?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf in South Africa was 40.0% 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 recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.3% in 1992.
- How does South Africa rank for total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf?
- South Africa ranks 127th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions excluding lulucf rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 (% change from 1990). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Change of emissions (as %) of current year with respect to emissions in baseline year 1990 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. This measure excludes GHG fluxes caused by Land Use Change Land Use and Forestry (LULUCF), as these fluxes have larger uncertainties. The measure is standardized to carbon dioxide equivalent values using the Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors of IPCC's 5th Assessment Report (AR5) to combine different GHGs. Negative values indicate that the emission level for that year is lower than the emissions level in 1990.