Japan vs South Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre

Japan
188,306 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
South Korea
206,188 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
Japan rank
20th
South Korea rank
19th

Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre over time

  • Japan
  • South Korea
050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k196119922023

How they compare

South Korea currently reports 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre against 188,306 tonnes per square kilometre in Japan, a difference of 17,882 tonnes per square kilometre.

That makes South Korea's figure about 1.1 times Japan's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 63 shared years of data; in 1961 it was Japan ahead.

Japan ranks 20th and South Korea ranks 19th of 204 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, Japan averaged higher in 6 and South Korea in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Japan South Korea Difference Ahead
1960s 20,607 tonnes per square kilometre 2,074 tonnes per square kilometre 18,533 tonnes per square kilometre Japan
1970s 38,892 tonnes per square kilometre 7,553 tonnes per square kilometre 31,339 tonnes per square kilometre Japan
1980s 64,212 tonnes per square kilometre 21,022 tonnes per square kilometre 43,190 tonnes per square kilometre Japan
1990s 93,981 tonnes per square kilometre 48,333 tonnes per square kilometre 45,648 tonnes per square kilometre Japan
2000s 128,210 tonnes per square kilometre 93,460 tonnes per square kilometre 34,750 tonnes per square kilometre Japan
2010s 162,393 tonnes per square kilometre 151,995 tonnes per square kilometre 10,398 tonnes per square kilometre Japan
2020s 184,164 tonnes per square kilometre 196,973 tonnes per square kilometre 12,809 tonnes per square kilometre South Korea

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre, Japan or South Korea?
South Korea, at 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre against 188,306 tonnes per square kilometre in Japan as of 2023.
What is the difference in cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre between Japan and South Korea?
17,882 tonnes per square kilometre, with South Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and South Korea?
63 years are reported by both, from 1961 to 2023.
How do Japan and South Korea rank globally for cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre?
Japan ranks 20th and South Korea ranks 19th of 204 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Statizoid (derived), published as Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Japan vs South Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/cumulative-co2-emissions-by-world-region-per-square-kilometre/japan/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre
Unit
tonnes per square kilometre
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
204 places, 11,422 data points, 1961–2023
Last refreshed

Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.