South Africa

Southern Africa, Africa

CO2 emissions per person
6.87
t CO2/person/year · 2024
42nd of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.44
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
144th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
3.56
% of primary energy · 2024
65th of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
24.4
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
64th of 241 countries
19402025

South Africa in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

02461950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2019low 1955

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

439.8 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+30% since 199415th highest of 215 · 2024
0200400190019502000high 2008

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

6.87 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-11% since 199442nd highest of 213 · 2024
0510190019502000high 2008

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

0.44 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+0.8 °C since 1995144th highest of 193 · 2025
-10119401960198020002020Worldhigh 2019low 1955

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

79.3 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+11% since 199422nd highest of 199 · 2024
0501850190019502000high 2014

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

542.7 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+16% since 199418th highest of 199 · 2024
02004006001850190019502000high 2008

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

20.3 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+0.8% since 199428th highest of 201 · 2024
010201850190019502000high 1997

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Consumption-based CO2

325.4 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+1.6% since 199319th highest of 120 · 2023
02004001990200020102020high 1997low 2002

CO2 counted where goods are used rather than where they are made. Compare with production emissions to see who imports their footprint. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

72.2 kg CO2/person/year · 2023
-30% since 201365th highest of 118 · 2023
05010020142016201820202022World

Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Renewable energy share

3.56 % of primary energy · 2024
+3.3 pp since 199465th highest of 79 · 2024
024197019801990200020102020high 2023low 1969

The slice of a country's energy that comes from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Fossil fuel share

95.0 % of primary energy · 2024
-2.2 pp since 199415th highest of 79 · 2024
050100197019801990200020102020high 1969low 2022

The slice of a country's energy still coming from coal, oil and gas. The number the world is trying to shrink. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Energy use per person

21,287 kWh/person/year · 2024
-12% since 199456th highest of 79 · 2024
010k20k30k197019801990200020102020high 2008low 1966

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

8.02 % of electricity · 2025
+8.0 pp since 199539th highest of 90 · 2025
051990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

4.66 % of electricity · 2025
+4.7 pp since 199542nd highest of 88 · 2025
0241990200020102020high 2023

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

81.4 % of electricity · 2025
-12 pp since 19952nd highest of 89 · 2025
0501001990200020102020high 1993

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Electric car sales

0.88 % of new cars · 2025
+0.9 pp since 201359th highest of 59 · 2025
01020201520202025Worldlow 2014

The share of newly sold cars that are electric. Norway crossed 90% in the early 2020s; most of the world is following. International Energy Agency via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.80 % of electricity · 2025
+0.8 pp since 199563rd highest of 90 · 2025
00.511.51990200020102020high 2015low 1989

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2025
+0.0 pp since 199578th highest of 87 · 2025
00.511990200020102020high 2014

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

39,484 ha/year · 2024
-49% since 200159th highest of 197 · 2024
050k100k2005201020152020high 2006low 2023

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

18.9 % of land · 2025
+2.2 pp since 1995134th highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

43.8 deaths/year · 2021
-57% since 200020th highest of 194 · 2021
05010020002005201020152020high 2019low 2007

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.76 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-9.5% since 1994183rd highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

9.50 % of land area · 2024
+2.5 pp since 2013153rd highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

58.3 kg/person/year · 2023
+60% since 199388th highest of 176 · 2023
0204060198020002020Worldhigh 2016low 1989

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

30.5 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+13% since 1993109th highest of 198 · 2023
02040198020002020high 2021

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

15.4 % of territorial waters · 2024
+3.3 pp since 201337th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

63.8 % living in cities · 2025
+11 pp since 1995125th highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

67.6 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
+27 pp since 200026th highest of 179 · 2022
020406020002005201020152020World

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

718.2 m³/person/year · 2022
-32% since 1992145th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

68.0 % of population · 2024
+4.8 pp since 2000101st highest of 159 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2020

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

652.2 mm/year · 2025
+14% since 1995142nd highest of 192 · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1974low 1954

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

17.9 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+14 pp since 199516th highest of 192 · 2025
019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1974low 1954

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Safely managed sanitation

73.8 % of population · 2024
+26 pp since 200063rd highest of 145 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020World

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

24.4 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+18% since 199864th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2022low 1999

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

88.7 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-99% since 199120th highest of 168 · 2021
010k20k1990200020102020high 1989

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

Fossil fuels still supply 95% of the energy used here, so switching your home to a genuinely renewable tariff matters.

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

Compare with neighbours