What is the difference in co₂ emissions embedded in trade between United Kingdom and United States?

333.98 million tonnes, with United States ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom and United States?

34 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2023.

Where does this data come from?

Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as CO₂ emissions embedded in trade. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

United Kingdom vs United States: CO₂ emissions embedded in trade

United Kingdom

179.27 million tonnes

in 2023

United States

513.25 million tonnes

in 2023

United Kingdom rank

2nd

United States rank

1st

CO₂ emissions embedded in trade over time

United Kingdom
United States

How they compare

United States currently reports 513.25 million tonnes against 179.27 million tonnes in United Kingdom, a difference of 333.98 million tonnes.

That makes United States's figure about 2.9 times United Kingdom's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 34 shared years of data; in 1990 it was United Kingdom ahead.

United Kingdom ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 120 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, United Kingdom averaged higher in 1 and United States in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	United Kingdom	United States	Difference	Ahead
1990s	91.52 million tonnes	-15.55 million tonnes	107.07 million tonnes	United Kingdom
2000s	182.30 million tonnes	369.81 million tonnes	187.50 million tonnes	United States
2010s	165.26 million tonnes	266.48 million tonnes	101.22 million tonnes	United States
2020s	172.45 million tonnes	476.63 million tonnes	304.18 million tonnes	United States

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher co₂ emissions embedded in trade, United Kingdom or United States?: United States, at 513.25 million tonnes against 179.27 million tonnes in United Kingdom as of 2023.
What is the difference in co₂ emissions embedded in trade between United Kingdom and United States?: 333.98 million tonnes, with United States ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom and United States?: 34 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2023.
How do United Kingdom and United States rank globally for co₂ emissions embedded in trade?: United Kingdom ranks 2nd and United States ranks 1st of 120 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as CO₂ emissions embedded in trade. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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United Kingdom vs United States: CO₂ emissions embedded in trade. Statizoid, drawing on Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/co-emissions-embedded-in-global-trade/united-kingdom/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator: CO₂ emissions embedded in trade
Unit: tonnes
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 120 places, 4,063 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Annual net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions embedded in trade, measured in tonnes.