CO₂ emissions · Asia · 2024 data
China CO₂ Emissions
China emitted 12.3 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, or 8.66 t per person — #1 of 213 countries and 31.84% of global emissions. That is 1.8× the world average of 4.73 t per person. Over the past ten years emissions rose by 23%.
CO₂ emissions of China, 1950–2024
Million tonnes of CO₂ per year (Gt = billion tonnes) · fossil fuels and industry, excluding land use · Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Budget and Jones et al. (CC BY 4.0)
CO₂ emissions by year (table)
| Year | CO₂ (million t) | Per person (t) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,289.0 | 8.66 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 12,172.0 | 8.56 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 11,711.8 | 8.22 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 11,284.4 | 7.91 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 10,896.5 | 7.64 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 10,713.5 | 7.53 | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 10,346.8 | 7.29 | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 10,000.0 | 7.08 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 9,748.2 | 6.94 | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 9,858.0 | 7.06 | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 9,976.0 | 7.19 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 9,942.4 | 7.21 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 9,767.3 | 7.13 | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 9,520.2 | 7.00 | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 8,610.0 | 6.37 | +9.2% |
| 2009 | 7,881.5 | 5.87 | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 7,492.4 | 5.62 | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 6,974.7 | 5.26 | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 6,486.2 | 4.92 | +10.3% |
| 2005 | 5,882.0 | 4.49 | +12.9% |
| 2004 | 5,211.0 | 4.00 | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 4,835.3 | 3.74 | +18.0% |
| 2002 | 4,098.2 | 3.19 | +10.0% |
| 2001 | 3,724.1 | 2.91 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 3,643.8 | 2.87 | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 3,549.9 | 2.82 | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 3,355.3 | 2.68 | -4.5% |
| 1997 | 3,512.4 | 2.83 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 3,499.3 | 2.84 | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 3,351.2 | 2.75 | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 3,093.9 | 2.56 | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 2,914.3 | 2.43 | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 2,731.3 | 2.31 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 2,619.1 | 2.24 | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 2,483.5 | 2.15 | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 2,462.2 | 2.17 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 2,424.4 | 2.17 | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 2,256.6 | 2.06 | +7.3% |
| 1986 | 2,103.4 | 1.95 | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 1,997.2 | 1.88 | +8.3% |
| 1984 | 1,844.2 | 1.77 | +8.9% |
| 1983 | 1,693.7 | 1.65 | +5.4% |
| 1982 | 1,606.2 | 1.59 | +8.8% |
| 1981 | 1,476.3 | 1.48 | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 1,494.3 | 1.52 | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 1,525.4 | 1.57 | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 1,492.5 | 1.56 | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 1,340.7 | 1.42 | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 1,226.3 | 1.32 | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 1,183.2 | 1.29 | +15.1% |
| 1974 | 1,028.1 | 1.14 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 1,008.3 | 1.14 | +4.1% |
| 1972 | 968.6 | 1.12 | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 909.2 | 1.08 | +12.5% |
| 1970 | 808.0 | 0.98 | +33.0% |
| 1969 | 607.7 | 0.76 | +22.6% |
| 1968 | 495.5 | 0.63 | +7.7% |
| 1967 | 460.2 | 0.61 | -16.2% |
| 1966 | 549.5 | 0.74 | +9.8% |
| 1965 | 500.3 | 0.69 | +8.6% |
| 1964 | 460.6 | 0.65 | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 456.8 | 0.67 | -0.6% |
| 1962 | 459.6 | 0.69 | -19.5% |
| 1961 | 570.6 | 0.87 | -28.6% |
| 1960 | 798.8 | 1.22 | +10.9% |
| 1959 | 720.2 | 1.10 | +37.3% |
| 1958 | 524.6 | 0.81 | +105.1% |
| 1957 | 255.8 | 0.41 | +18.5% |
| 1956 | 215.8 | 0.35 | +13.3% |
| 1955 | 190.5 | 0.32 | +18.4% |
| 1954 | 160.9 | 0.27 | +20.3% |
| 1953 | 133.8 | 0.23 | +4.5% |
| 1952 | 128.0 | 0.23 | +25.4% |
| 1951 | 102.1 | 0.18 | +29.5% |
| 1950 | 78.8 | 0.15 | +27.0% |
Where China's CO₂ comes from
Coal is the largest source. A coal-heavy mix means power generation is the main lever for cutting emissions.
Per person: China vs the world
Production vs consumption
Counting the CO₂ embedded in the goods it imports and exports, China's consumption-based footprint was 10.9 billion tonnes (7.63 t per person) in 2023. China is a net exporter of emissions: 11% of what it emits goes into goods consumed abroad.
Primary energy use: 34,514 kWh per person (world 21,654 kWh).
All greenhouse gases (2024)
China and its neighbours — CO₂ per person
Frequently asked questions about CO₂ emissions in China
How much CO₂ does China emit?
What are China's CO₂ emissions per capita?
Are China's emissions going up or down?
What is the main source of CO₂ in China?
How much has China contributed to climate change historically?
Data: Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Budget and Jones et al. (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ figures cover fossil fuels and industry (territorial), excluding land-use change unless stated.