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Carbon dioxide emissions per capita across South Asian countries from 1990 to 2022

UID: EN-20240911-WORLD-01

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Source

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Last Updated

September 11, 2024

Time Range

1990–2022

Periodicity

Annual

Overview

Carbon dioxide emissions per capita refers to the average amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted by an individual in a specific country or region over a given period, typically measured annually. It is calculated by dividing the total CO₂ emissions of a country by its population. The result is expressed in metric tons of CO₂ per person per year. CO₂ Emissions Per Capita= (Total CO₂ Emissions / Population). Total CO₂ Emissions: The total amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by human activities within a country. This includes emissions from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), industrial processes, and deforestation. Population: The total number of people living in the country or region.

Trends & Insights

Maldives consistently stands out as the highest per capita emitter in the region, with its emissions rising from 0.66 metric tons in 1991 to 3.3 metric tons in 2022. This substantial increase likely reflects the country’s heavy reliance on tourism and the associated energy demands, as well as its unique geographical challenges as a small island nation. India, the largest country in the region, has shown a steady upward trend, with emissions rising from 0.69 metric tons per capita in 1991 to 1.9 metric tons in 2022. This growth aligns with India’s rapid economic development and industrialization over the period. However, it’s worth noting that India’s per capita emissions remain relatively low compared to global averages, despite its status as one of the world’s largest total emitters. Pakistan and Bangladesh have also seen increases, though more modest ones. Pakistan’s emissions grew from 0.57 to 0.97 metric tons per capita, while Bangladesh increased from 0.13 to 0.58 metric tons. These trends reflect ongoing development and population growth in these countries. Sri Lanka has experienced significant growth, nearly quadrupling its per capita emissions from 0.24 to 0.92 metric tons. This could be attributed to post-civil war reconstruction and economic development efforts. Bhutan presents an interesting case, with emissions rising from 0.33 to 1.37 metric tons per capita. Despite its reputation for environmental stewardship and its claim of being carbon negative overall, the data suggests increasing emissions on a per capita basis. Nepal has shown the most dramatic proportional increase, rising from 0.05 to 0.52 metric tons per capita – a tenfold increase. However, it still remains one of the lowest emitters in the region in absolute terms. Afghanistan’s emissions have fluctuated over the years, likely reflecting its political instability, but have generally remained low, increasing slightly from 0.18 to 0.31 metric tons per capita. It’s notable that most countries in the region saw a slight dip in emissions in 2020, likely due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic slowdowns. However, by 2021 and 2022, most had rebounded to pre-pandemic levels or higher.

In conclusion, while South Asian countries have generally seen increases in per capita CO2 emissions, reflecting their economic development, most still remain well below global averages. The data highlights the ongoing challenge these nations face in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts.

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Citation

Please cite this article using proper attribution to 360 Analytika when referencing or sharing our content.

United Nations Development Programme. (2024). Carbon dioxide emissions per capita across South Asian countries from 1990 to 2022 (360 Analytika, Ed.) [Dataset]. 360 Analytika. https://360analytika.com/carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-capita-across-south-asian-countries/

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