China vs United States: Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered
China
10.11 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
United States
24.57 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents
in 2025
China rank
39th
United States rank
36th
Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 24.57 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents against 10.11 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in China, a difference of 14.46 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents.
That makes United States's figure about 2.4 times China's.
Across all 36 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
China ranks 39th and United States ranks 36th of 200 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 2000s | 0 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0.4267 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 0.4267 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | United States |
| 2010s | 3.14 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 9.92 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 6.78 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | United States |
| 2020s | 8.54 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 22.41 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | 13.87 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered, China or United States?
- United States, at 24.57 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents against 10.11 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered between China and United States?
- 14.46 constant 2021 US$ per tonne of CO₂ equivalents, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do China and United States rank globally for carbon price vs. share of global co₂ emissions covered?
- China ranks 39th and United States ranks 36th of 200 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Carbon price vs. share of global CO₂ emissions covered. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.