Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa
South Africa: Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise was 0.0167 °C in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.0167 °C
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
18th
of 215 countries
All-time high
0.0167 °C
in 2024
All-time low
0 °C
in 1851
Years of data
174
1851–2024
Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa, 1851–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in °C.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 0.0167 °C for contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in 2024. That is the highest value across all 174 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa peaked at 0.0167 °C in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 °C, in 1851.
South Africa ranks 18th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa, year by year
| Year | °C | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1851 | 0 °C | — |
| 1852 | 0 °C | +108.8% |
| 1853 | 0 °C | +55.8% |
| 1854 | 0 °C | +38.2% |
| 1855 | 0 °C | +29.3% |
| 1856 | 0 °C | +23.9% |
| 1857 | 0 °C | +20.3% |
| 1858 | 0 °C | +17.7% |
| 1859 | 0 °C | +15.7% |
| 1860 | 0 °C | +15.2% |
| 1861 | 0 °C | +14.1% |
| 1862 | 0 °C | +13.1% |
| 1863 | 0 °C | +12.1% |
| 1864 | 0 °C | +11.2% |
| 1865 | 0 °C | +10.4% |
| 1866 | 0 °C | +9.8% |
| 1867 | 0 °C | +9.2% |
| 1868 | 0 °C | +8.7% |
| 1869 | 0.0001 °C | +8.2% |
| 1870 | 0.0001 °C | +10.4% |
| 1871 | 0.0001 °C | +11.1% |
| 1872 | 0.0001 °C | +10.9% |
| 1873 | 0.0001 °C | +10.5% |
| 1874 | 0.0001 °C | +10.0% |
| 1875 | 0.0001 °C | +9.5% |
| 1876 | 0.0001 °C | +9.1% |
| 1877 | 0.0001 °C | +8.6% |
| 1878 | 0.0001 °C | +8.2% |
| 1879 | 0.0001 °C | +7.8% |
| 1880 | 0.0001 °C | +6.7% |
| 1881 | 0.0002 °C | +6.0% |
| 1882 | 0.0002 °C | +5.5% |
| 1883 | 0.0002 °C | +5.2% |
| 1884 | 0.0002 °C | +4.9% |
| 1885 | 0.0002 °C | +4.6% |
| 1886 | 0.0002 °C | +4.4% |
| 1887 | 0.0002 °C | +4.2% |
| 1888 | 0.0002 °C | +4.0% |
| 1889 | 0.0002 °C | +3.9% |
| 1890 | 0.0002 °C | +4.3% |
| 1891 | 0.0002 °C | +4.3% |
| 1892 | 0.0002 °C | +4.4% |
| 1893 | 0.0003 °C | +4.6% |
| 1894 | 0.0003 °C | +4.6% |
| 1895 | 0.0003 °C | +4.7% |
| 1896 | 0.0003 °C | +4.7% |
| 1897 | 0.0003 °C | +4.7% |
| 1898 | 0.0003 °C | +4.8% |
| 1899 | 0.0003 °C | +4.5% |
| 1900 | 0.0004 °C | +3.9% |
| 1901 | 0.0004 °C | +4.2% |
| 1902 | 0.0004 °C | +4.4% |
| 1903 | 0.0004 °C | +4.6% |
| 1904 | 0.0004 °C | +4.7% |
| 1905 | 0.0004 °C | +4.8% |
| 1906 | 0.0005 °C | +4.8% |
| 1907 | 0.0005 °C | +4.9% |
| 1908 | 0.0005 °C | +4.7% |
| 1909 | 0.0005 °C | +4.9% |
| 1910 | 0.0006 °C | +4.9% |
| 1911 | 0.0006 °C | +4.6% |
| 1912 | 0.0006 °C | +4.5% |
| 1913 | 0.0006 °C | +4.5% |
| 1914 | 0.0007 °C | +4.3% |
| 1915 | 0.0007 °C | +4.1% |
| 1916 | 0.0007 °C | +4.3% |
| 1917 | 0.0008 °C | +4.3% |
| 1918 | 0.0008 °C | +4.0% |
| 1919 | 0.0008 °C | +3.9% |
| 1920 | 0.0008 °C | +4.2% |
| 1921 | 0.0009 °C | +4.0% |
| 1922 | 0.0009 °C | +3.6% |
| 1923 | 0.0009 °C | +3.8% |
| 1924 | 0.001 °C | +3.8% |
| 1925 | 0.001 °C | +3.8% |
| 1926 | 0.0011 °C | +3.7% |
| 1927 | 0.0011 °C | +3.5% |
| 1928 | 0.0011 °C | +3.4% |
| 1929 | 0.0012 °C | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 0.0012 °C | +3.2% |
| 1931 | 0.0012 °C | +2.9% |
| 1932 | 0.0013 °C | +2.8% |
| 1933 | 0.0013 °C | +2.8% |
| 1934 | 0.0013 °C | +2.9% |
| 1935 | 0.0014 °C | +3.0% |
| 1936 | 0.0014 °C | +3.0% |
| 1937 | 0.0015 °C | +3.0% |
| 1938 | 0.0015 °C | +3.1% |
| 1939 | 0.0016 °C | +3.1% |
| 1940 | 0.0016 °C | +3.2% |
| 1941 | 0.0017 °C | +3.4% |
| 1942 | 0.0017 °C | +3.6% |
| 1943 | 0.0018 °C | +3.6% |
| 1944 | 0.0019 °C | +3.7% |
| 1945 | 0.0019 °C | +3.7% |
| 1946 | 0.002 °C | +3.7% |
| 1947 | 0.0021 °C | +3.7% |
| 1948 | 0.0022 °C | +3.7% |
| 1949 | 0.0022 °C | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 0.0023 °C | +3.7% |
| 1951 | 0.0024 °C | +3.8% |
| 1952 | 0.0025 °C | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 0.0026 °C | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 0.0027 °C | +3.7% |
| 1955 | 0.0028 °C | +3.8% |
| 1956 | 0.0029 °C | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 0.003 °C | +3.8% |
| 1958 | 0.0031 °C | +3.8% |
| 1959 | 0.0032 °C | +3.6% |
| 1960 | 0.0034 °C | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 0.0035 °C | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 0.0036 °C | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 0.0037 °C | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 0.0038 °C | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 0.0039 °C | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 0.004 °C | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 0.0042 °C | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 0.0043 °C | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 0.0044 °C | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 0.0045 °C | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 0.0047 °C | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 0.0048 °C | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 0.0049 °C | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 0.0051 °C | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 0.0052 °C | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 0.0054 °C | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 0.0055 °C | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 0.0057 °C | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 0.0058 °C | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 0.006 °C | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 0.0062 °C | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 0.0064 °C | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 0.0066 °C | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 0.0068 °C | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 0.007 °C | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 0.0072 °C | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 0.0075 °C | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 0.0077 °C | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 0.008 °C | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 0.0082 °C | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 0.0084 °C | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 0.0087 °C | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 0.0089 °C | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 0.0092 °C | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 0.0094 °C | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 0.0097 °C | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 0.0099 °C | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 0.0102 °C | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 0.0105 °C | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 0.0107 °C | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 0.0109 °C | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 0.0112 °C | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 0.0114 °C | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 0.0117 °C | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 0.0119 °C | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 0.0122 °C | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 0.0125 °C | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 0.0128 °C | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 0.013 °C | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 0.0133 °C | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 0.0135 °C | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 0.0138 °C | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 0.0141 °C | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 0.0143 °C | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 0.0146 °C | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 0.0148 °C | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 0.0151 °C | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 0.0153 °C | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 0.0156 °C | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 0.0158 °C | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 0.016 °C | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 0.0162 °C | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 0.0164 °C | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 0.0167 °C | +1.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.0167 °C is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0016 °C, 10.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 0.0167 °C is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0014 °C, 11.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1852 | +108.8% | 0 °C | 0 °C |
| 1853 | +55.8% | 0 °C | 0 °C |
| 1854 | +38.2% | 0 °C | 0 °C |
| 1855 | +29.3% | 0 °C | 0 °C |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0 °C | 0 °C | 0 °C | 9 |
| 1860s | 0 °C | 0 °C | 0.0001 °C | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0001 °C | 0.0001 °C | 0.0001 °C | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.0002 °C | 0.0001 °C | 0.0002 °C | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0003 °C | 0.0002 °C | 0.0003 °C | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0004 °C | 0.0004 °C | 0.0005 °C | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0007 °C | 0.0006 °C | 0.0008 °C | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.001 °C | 0.0008 °C | 0.0012 °C | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0014 °C | 0.0012 °C | 0.0016 °C | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0019 °C | 0.0016 °C | 0.0022 °C | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.0028 °C | 0.0023 °C | 0.0032 °C | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.0039 °C | 0.0034 °C | 0.0044 °C | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0052 °C | 0.0045 °C | 0.0058 °C | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0069 °C | 0.006 °C | 0.008 °C | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0093 °C | 0.0082 °C | 0.0105 °C | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0118 °C | 0.0107 °C | 0.013 °C | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0144 °C | 0.0133 °C | 0.0156 °C | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0162 °C | 0.0158 °C | 0.0167 °C | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa?
- Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise in South Africa was 0.0167 °C in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest contribution to global mean surface temperature rise recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0167 °C in 2024.
- What is the lowest contribution to global mean surface temperature rise recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 °C in 1851.
- How does South Africa rank for contribution to global mean surface temperature rise?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is contribution to global mean surface temperature rise rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Contribution to global mean surface temperature rise. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 174 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in °C.