CO₂ emissions · Asia · 2024 data
South Korea CO₂ Emissions
South Korea emitted 584 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, or 11.3 t per person — #9 of 213 countries and 1.51% of global emissions. That is 2.4× the world average of 4.73 t per person. Emissions peaked in 2018 at 670 million tonnes and are now 13% lower.
CO₂ emissions of South 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 | 583.7 | 11.29 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 589.2 | 11.39 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 606.9 | 11.72 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 616.1 | 11.88 | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 597.6 | 11.52 | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 646.1 | 12.48 | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 670.2 | 12.98 | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 654.5 | 12.71 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 637.9 | 12.44 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 634.2 | 12.44 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 629.4 | 12.45 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 634.6 | 12.67 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 627.9 | 12.66 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 623.4 | 12.69 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 594.3 | 12.19 | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 537.8 | 11.08 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 532.7 | 11.02 | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 521.7 | 10.83 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 503.5 | 10.49 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 498.7 | 10.42 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 491.4 | 10.30 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 485.2 | 10.21 | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 476.1 | 10.07 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 455.6 | 9.69 | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 440.0 | 9.41 | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 410.5 | 8.83 | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 378.0 | 8.18 | -15.0% |
| 1997 | 445.0 | 9.69 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 421.0 | 9.23 | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 383.7 | 8.46 | +7.9% |
| 1994 | 355.7 | 7.88 | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 330.2 | 7.36 | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 299.9 | 6.72 | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 275.7 | 6.20 | +10.1% |
| 1990 | 250.5 | 5.68 | +12.1% |
| 1989 | 223.5 | 5.14 | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 211.0 | 4.92 | +13.8% |
| 1987 | 185.4 | 4.38 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 176.3 | 4.23 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 168.8 | 4.10 | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 160.7 | 3.96 | +7.8% |
| 1983 | 149.1 | 3.73 | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 140.8 | 3.58 | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 139.6 | 3.61 | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 134.5 | 3.53 | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 132.9 | 3.52 | +17.5% |
| 1978 | 113.1 | 3.03 | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 105.5 | 2.86 | +13.3% |
| 1976 | 93.1 | 2.56 | +14.0% |
| 1975 | 81.7 | 2.28 | +8.1% |
| 1974 | 75.6 | 2.14 | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 73.0 | 2.11 | +21.1% |
| 1972 | 60.2 | 1.78 | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 58.5 | 1.76 | +9.0% |
| 1970 | 53.7 | 1.65 | +26.5% |
| 1969 | 42.5 | 1.33 | +14.2% |
| 1968 | 37.2 | 1.19 | +5.9% |
| 1967 | 35.1 | 1.15 | +17.1% |
| 1966 | 30.0 | 1.01 | +20.0% |
| 1965 | 25.0 | 0.85 | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 22.2 | 0.77 | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 21.1 | 0.75 | +22.1% |
| 1962 | 17.3 | 0.63 | +19.5% |
| 1961 | 14.4 | 0.54 | +15.2% |
| 1960 | 12.5 | 0.48 | +11.8% |
| 1959 | 11.2 | 0.44 | +24.6% |
| 1958 | 9.0 | 0.37 | +9.7% |
| 1957 | 8.2 | 0.35 | +8.7% |
| 1956 | 7.6 | 0.33 | +17.2% |
| 1955 | 6.4 | 0.29 | +24.9% |
| 1954 | 5.2 | 0.24 | +9.9% |
| 1953 | 4.7 | 0.23 | +35.6% |
| 1952 | 3.5 | 0.17 | +18.4% |
| 1951 | 2.9 | 0.15 | +33.9% |
| 1950 | 2.2 | 0.11 | +0.4% |
Where South 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: South Korea vs the world
Production vs consumption
Counting the CO₂ embedded in the goods it imports and exports, South Korea's consumption-based footprint was 709 million tonnes (13.7 t per person) in 2023. South Korea is a net importer of emissions: its consumption causes 20% more CO₂ than it emits at home.
Primary energy use: 69,922 kWh per person (world 21,654 kWh).
All greenhouse gases (2024)
Frequently asked questions about CO₂ emissions in South Korea
How much CO₂ does South Korea emit?
What are South Korea's CO₂ emissions per capita?
Are South Korea's emissions going up or down?
What is the main source of CO₂ in South Korea?
How much has South Korea 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.