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Carbon intensity of the economy — all countries

Carbon intensity of the economy — South Africa

Carbon intensity of the economy in South Africa in 2022 — 0.593 kg/$. Ranked 156 in the world out of 164. Since 1950, the indicator has fallen by 46.5%.

2022 0.593 kg/$ −4.35% vs 2021
World rank 156of 164
Period maximum 1.51 kg/$1986
Period minimum 0.593 kg/$2022

Trend over time

1950–2022 · kg CO₂ per PPP $

Carbon intensity of the economy — South Africa, 1950–20220.50.7511.251.51.7519501958196619741982199019982006201420221950: 1.109 kg/$1952: 1.189 kg/$1954: 1.119 kg/$1956: 1.192 kg/$1958: 1.241 kg/$1960: 1.159 kg/$1962: 1.136 kg/$1964: 1.122 kg/$1966: 1.089 kg/$1968: 1.051 kg/$1970: 1.02 kg/$1972: 1.094 kg/$1974: 1.023 kg/$1976: 1.072 kg/$1978: 1.091 kg/$1980: 1.115 kg/$1982: 1.307 kg/$1984: 1.426 kg/$1986: 1.51 kg/$1988: 1.474 kg/$1990: 1.331 kg/$1992: 1.263 kg/$1994: 1.293 kg/$1996: 1.225 kg/$1998: 1.178 kg/$2000: 1.063 kg/$2002: 0.9 kg/$2004: 1.023 kg/$2006: 0.884 kg/$2008: 0.865 kg/$2010: 0.769 kg/$2012: 0.698 kg/$2014: 0.701 kg/$2016: 0.652 kg/$2018: 0.631 kg/$2020: 0.644 kg/$2022: 0.593 kg/$
Change over the period: −0.516 (−46.53%) Average annual rate: -0.87 %

Comparison, 2022

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: South Africa

South Africa 0.593 kg/$
World computed 0.273 kg/$
Sub-Saharan Africa computed 0.202 kg/$
Southern Africa computed 0.554 kg/$
Upper-middle-income countries computed 0.349 kg/$
Carbon intensity of the economy — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year kg/$ Change Change, %
2022 0.593 −0.027 −4.35%
2021 0.62 −0.024 −3.73%
2020 0.644 −0.008 −1.23%
2019 0.652 +0.021 +3.33%
2018 0.631 +0.01 +1.61%
2017 0.621 −0.031 −4.75%
2016 0.652 −0.005 −0.76%
2015 0.657 −0.044 −6.28%
2014 0.701 +0.027 +4.01%
2013 0.674 −0.024 −3.44%
2012 0.698 −0.037 −5.03%
2011 0.735 −0.034 −4.42%
2010 0.769 −0.057 −6.9%
2009 0.826 −0.039 −4.51%
2008 0.865 +0.009 +1.05%
2007 0.856 −0.028 −3.17%
2006 0.884 −0.001 −0.11%
2005 0.885 −0.138 −13.49%
2004 1.023 +0.045 +4.6%
2003 0.978 +0.078 +8.67%
2002 0.9 −0.091 −9.18%
2001 0.991 −0.072 −6.77%
2000 1.063 −0.057 −5.09%
1999 1.12 −0.058 −4.92%
1998 1.178 −0.057 −4.62%
1997 1.235 +0.01 +0.82%
1996 1.225 −0.078 −5.99%
1995 1.303 +0.01 +0.77%
1994 1.293 −0.003 −0.23%
1993 1.296 +0.033 +2.61%
1992 1.263 −0.108 −7.88%
1991 1.371 +0.04 +3.01%
1990 1.331 −0.104 −7.25%
1989 1.435 −0.039 −2.65%
1988 1.474 +0.002 +0.14%
1987 1.472 −0.038 −2.52%
1986 1.51 +0.029 +1.96%
1985 1.481 +0.055 +3.86%
1984 1.426 +0.04 +2.89%
1983 1.386 +0.079 +6.04%
1982 1.307 +0.114 +9.56%
1981 1.193 +0.078 +7%
1980 1.115 −0.022 −1.93%
1979 1.137 +0.046 +4.22%
1978 1.091 −0.021 −1.89%
1977 1.112 +0.04 +3.73%
1976 1.072 +0.019 +1.8%
1975 1.053 +0.03 +2.93%
1974 1.023 −0.038 −3.58%
1973 1.061 −0.033 −3.02%
1972 1.094 −0.001 −0.09%
1971 1.095 +0.075 +7.35%
1970 1.02 −0.007 −0.68%
1969 1.027 −0.024 −2.28%
1968 1.051 −0.012 −1.13%
1967 1.063 −0.026 −2.39%
1966 1.089 −0.046 −4.05%
1965 1.135 +0.013 +1.16%
1964 1.122 +0.023 +2.09%
1963 1.099 −0.037 −3.26%
1962 1.136 −0.023 −1.98%
1961 1.159 +0 +0%
1960 1.159 −0.007 −0.6%
1959 1.166 −0.075 −6.04%
1958 1.241 +0.061 +5.17%
1957 1.18 −0.012 −1.01%
1956 1.192 −0.004 −0.33%
1955 1.196 +0.077 +6.88%
1954 1.119 −0.019 −1.67%
1953 1.138 −0.051 −4.29%
1952 1.189 +0.058 +5.13%
1951 1.131 +0.022 +1.98%
1950 1.109 — —

Southern Africa, 2022

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

SZ Eswatini 0.107 NA Namibia 0.156 BW Botswana 0.188 LS Lesotho 0.536 ZA South Africa 0.593
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product at purchasing power parity. The indicator answers how cleanly a country produces value, and it separates two different paths to lower emissions: producing less, and emitting less per unit produced. Global carbon intensity has been falling almost without interruption since the 1970s, but more slowly than output has grown — which is why absolute emissions kept rising.

Important: The aggregate for groups of countries is weighted by GDP at PPP, which is exactly the sum of emissions divided by the sum of GDP. The conversion is at PPP rather than at market exchange rates — otherwise poor countries would look carbon-intensive simply because their prices are low.

Source: CO₂ and GHG Emissions (Our World in Data), license CC BY 4.0.

Other indicators for South Africa

Emissions CO2 emissions

Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuel and producing cement.

South Africa by year Emissions CO2 emissions from coal

How much carbon dioxide comes from burning coal — the dirtiest of the fuels.

South Africa by year Economy GDP at purchasing power parity

The size of the economy in international dollars — adjusted for price differences between countries.

South Africa by year Emissions CO2 emissions per capita

How many tonnes of carbon dioxide each resident of a country accounts for in a year.

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa