CO₂ emissions · Asia · 2024 data
North Korea CO₂ Emissions
North Korea emitted 62.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, or 2.36 t per person — #52 of 213 countries and 0.16% of global emissions. That is 50% of the world average of 4.73 t per person. Emissions peaked in 1989 at 209 million tonnes and are now 70% lower.
CO₂ emissions of North Korea, 1950–2024
Million tonnes of CO₂ per year · 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 | 62.6 | 2.36 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 62.0 | 2.35 | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 56.3 | 2.14 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 54.0 | 2.06 | -17.7% |
| 2020 | 65.6 | 2.51 | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 69.5 | 2.67 | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 62.6 | 2.41 | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 69.7 | 2.70 | +103.6% |
| 2016 | 34.2 | 1.33 | +9.5% |
| 2015 | 31.3 | 1.22 | -21.5% |
| 2014 | 39.8 | 1.57 | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 36.1 | 1.43 | -22.7% |
| 2012 | 46.8 | 1.85 | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 47.9 | 1.91 | -26.8% |
| 2010 | 65.4 | 2.62 | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 67.7 | 2.72 | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 70.3 | 2.84 | +10.8% |
| 2007 | 63.5 | 2.58 | -16.7% |
| 2006 | 76.2 | 3.11 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 75.0 | 3.08 | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 71.7 | 2.96 | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 70.1 | 2.91 | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 68.6 | 2.87 | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 71.7 | 3.01 | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 69.2 | 2.92 | +7.8% |
| 1999 | 64.1 | 2.73 | +9.2% |
| 1998 | 58.7 | 2.52 | -7.7% |
| 1997 | 63.7 | 2.76 | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 66.3 | 2.90 | -12.9% |
| 1995 | 76.1 | 3.36 | -6.7% |
| 1994 | 81.6 | 3.64 | -8.9% |
| 1993 | 89.6 | 4.06 | -8.6% |
| 1992 | 98.0 | 4.51 | -13.1% |
| 1991 | 112.8 | 5.27 | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 118.4 | 5.61 | -43.4% |
| 1989 | 209.3 | 10.06 | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 199.2 | 9.72 | +13.4% |
| 1987 | 175.6 | 8.69 | +12.0% |
| 1986 | 156.8 | 7.88 | +8.7% |
| 1985 | 144.3 | 7.35 | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 134.7 | 6.96 | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 125.2 | 6.57 | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 116.9 | 6.23 | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 114.4 | 6.18 | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 114.1 | 6.26 | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 110.3 | 6.13 | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 108.2 | 6.10 | -4.8% |
| 1977 | 113.7 | 6.50 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 110.0 | 6.38 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 107.6 | 6.34 | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 101.6 | 6.09 | +4.4% |
| 1973 | 97.3 | 5.95 | +8.7% |
| 1972 | 89.5 | 5.60 | -16.7% |
| 1971 | 107.5 | 6.90 | +46.2% |
| 1970 | 73.5 | 4.84 | +14.7% |
| 1969 | 64.1 | 4.34 | +8.1% |
| 1968 | 59.3 | 4.13 | +13.1% |
| 1967 | 52.4 | 3.75 | +10.1% |
| 1966 | 47.6 | 3.51 | +7.6% |
| 1965 | 44.2 | 3.35 | +24.2% |
| 1964 | 35.6 | 2.76 | +8.5% |
| 1963 | 32.8 | 2.61 | +7.0% |
| 1962 | 30.7 | 2.50 | +16.1% |
| 1961 | 26.4 | 2.20 | +11.1% |
| 1960 | 23.8 | 2.03 | +19.7% |
| 1959 | 19.9 | 1.74 | +27.1% |
| 1958 | 15.6 | 1.40 | +38.5% |
| 1957 | 11.3 | 1.04 | +26.0% |
| 1956 | 9.0 | 0.85 | +22.0% |
| 1955 | 7.3 | 0.71 | +53.4% |
| 1954 | 4.8 | 0.47 | +175.7% |
| 1953 | 1.7 | 0.17 | +95.1% |
| 1952 | 0.9 | 0.09 | -10.6% |
| 1951 | 1.0 | 0.09 | +27.7% |
| 1950 | 0.8 | 0.07 | -56.2% |
Where North Korea'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: North Korea vs the world
Primary energy use: 7,301 kWh per person (world 21,654 kWh).
All greenhouse gases (2024)
North Korea and its neighbours — CO₂ per person
Frequently asked questions about CO₂ emissions in North Korea
How much CO₂ does North Korea emit?
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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.