Switch to desktop mode for a better experience.

Carbon dioxide emissions per capita across Top 10 Economies from 1990 to 2022

UID: EN-20240911-WORLD-02

Download

Meta Data

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

The United States consistently maintained the highest per capita emissions throughout the period, though there’s a notable declining trend. From a peak of 21.28 tons per capita in 2000, US emissions decreased to 14.93 tons by 2022. This reduction can be attributed to factors such as increased energy efficiency, a shift from coal to natural gas, and growth in renewable energy sources. Canada follows as the second-highest emitter per capita, with relatively stable emissions ranging between 16 and 18 tons per person. Despite its reputation for environmental consciousness, Canada’s high emissions likely stem from its energy-intensive industries, cold climate necessitating more heating, and sprawling geography leading to higher transportation emissions. China shows the most dramatic increase over the period. Starting at just 2.23 tons per capita in 1991, Chinese emissions more than tripled to 7.95 tons by 2022. This surge aligns with China’s rapid industrialization and economic growth, though in recent years the rate of increase has slowed, possibly indicating a shift towards more sustainable development practices. European nations like Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom generally show declining trends in per capita emissions. Germany, starting at 12.74 tons in 1991, reduced to 8.14 tons by 2022. France maintained lower emissions throughout, decreasing from 7.38 to 4.75 tons. This reflects the EU’s aggressive climate policies, investments in renewable energy, and improved energy efficiency. Japan’s emissions remained relatively stable, hovering around 9-10 tons per capita, with a slight decrease towards the end of the period. This stability might be due to Japan’s already high energy efficiency at the start of the period, balanced against challenges like the shift away from nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster. India shows the lowest per capita emissions among these economies, but with a steady increase from 0.69 tons in 1991 to 1.9 tons in 2022. This growth reflects India’s economic development and increasing energy access for its population, though emissions remain low compared to other major economies. Brazil’s emissions are also relatively low but have increased from 1.5 tons in 1991 to 2.32 tons in 2022. This modest growth might be attributed to Brazil’s significant use of hydroelectric power and biofuels, offsetting emissions from deforestation and industrial growth.

Interestingly, most countries show a dip in emissions around 2009, likely due to the global financial crisis, and again in 2020, corresponding to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many rebounded in 2021, highlighting the challenge of decoupling economic growth from emissions. Overall, while some developed economies show encouraging downward trends, the rapid growth in emissions from developing countries like China and India presents a significant challenge for global climate efforts. The data underscores the need for continued innovation in clean technologies and strong international cooperation to address climate change while supporting economic development.

T&Cs for reusing this data 

All data, visualizations, and code generated by 360 Analytika are fully open access. You are free to use, distribute, and reproduce these materials in any medium, provided proper credit is given to the source and authors. We kindly request that you include a backlink to our website/article, when using these materials.

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 top 10 economies from 1990 to 2022 (360 Analytika, Ed.) [Dataset]. 360 Analytika. https://360analytika.com/carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-capita-across-top-10-economies/

Other Data Explorers