China vs India: Annual carbon dioxide emissions
China
45.78 million
in 2026
India
46.58 million
in 2026
China rank
22nd
India rank
20th
Annual carbon dioxide emissions over time
- China
- India
How they compare
India currently reports 46.58 million against 45.78 million in China, a difference of 797,900.
The two have swapped places 13 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2003 it was China ahead.
China ranks 22nd and India ranks 20th of 248 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and India in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | India | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 80.17 million | 78.82 million | 1.35 million | China |
| 2010s | 64.51 million | 64.84 million | 332,120 | India |
| 2020s | 58.87 million | 51.45 million | 7.42 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual carbon dioxide emissions, China or India?
- India, at 46.58 million against 45.78 million in China as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual carbon dioxide emissions between China and India?
- 797,900, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do China and India rank globally for annual carbon dioxide emissions?
- China ranks 22nd and India ranks 20th of 248 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Annual carbon dioxide emissions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.