China vs United States: Methane emissions
China
1.59 billion
in 2024
United States
818.35 million
in 2024
China rank
1st
United States rank
3rd
Methane emissions over time
- China
- United States
How they compare
China currently reports 1.59 billion against 818.35 million in United States, a difference of 772.32 million.
That makes China's figure about 1.9 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 175 shared years of data; in 1850 it was China ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 199 countries.
Across the 18 decades both report, China averaged higher in 10 and United States in 8.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 243.41 million | 81.68 million | 161.73 million | China |
| 1860s | 226.40 million | 102.15 million | 124.24 million | China |
| 1870s | 222.79 million | 124.63 million | 98.16 million | China |
| 1880s | 229.49 million | 152.77 million | 76.73 million | China |
| 1890s | 239.07 million | 184.54 million | 54.52 million | China |
| 1900s | 253.28 million | 244.14 million | 9.14 million | China |
| 1910s | 275.38 million | 313.31 million | 37.93 million | United States |
| 1920s | 298.14 million | 359.09 million | 60.95 million | United States |
| 1930s | 315.06 million | 348.63 million | 33.56 million | United States |
| 1940s | 333.04 million | 454.85 million | 121.81 million | United States |
| 1950s | 392.47 million | 578.33 million | 185.85 million | United States |
| 1960s | 495.69 million | 775.63 million | 279.94 million | United States |
| 1970s | 649.70 million | 905.94 million | 256.24 million | United States |
| 1980s | 767.84 million | 895.50 million | 127.66 million | United States |
| 1990s | 910.92 million | 847.71 million | 63.21 million | China |
| 2000s | 1.08 billion | 779.80 million | 298.70 million | China |
| 2010s | 1.32 billion | 759.57 million | 564.84 million | China |
| 2020s | 1.50 billion | 797.99 million | 701.04 million | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher methane emissions, China or United States?
- China, at 1.59 billion against 818.35 million in United States as of 2024.
- What is the difference in methane emissions between China and United States?
- 772.32 million, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
- 175 years are reported by both, from 1850 to 2024.
- How do China and United States rank globally for methane emissions?
- China ranks 1st and United States ranks 3rd of 199 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Methane emissions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.