Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Australia
Australia: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 2.42 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.42 million tonnes
Change on year
up 916.8%
World rank
30th
of 215 countries
All-time high
21.22 million tonnes
in 1990
All-time low
-16.38 million tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
274
1751–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Australia, 1751–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Australia is 2.42 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 916.8% on the previous year and up 146.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Australia peaked at 21.22 million tonnes in 1990 and was at its lowest, -16.38 million tonnes, in 2020.
Australia ranks 30th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1751 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1752 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1753 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1754 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1755 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1756 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1757 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1758 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1759 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1760 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1761 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1762 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1763 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1764 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1765 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1766 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1767 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1768 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1769 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1770 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1771 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1772 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1773 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1774 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1775 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1776 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1777 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1778 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1779 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1780 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1781 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1782 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1783 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1784 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1785 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1786 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1787 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1788 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1789 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1790 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1791 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1792 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1793 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1794 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1795 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1796 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1797 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1798 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1799 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1800 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1801 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1802 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1803 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1804 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1805 | 236 tonnes | — |
| 1806 | 425 tonnes | +80.1% |
| 1807 | -32 tonnes | -107.5% |
| 1808 | 158 tonnes | -593.8% |
| 1809 | 472 tonnes | +198.7% |
| 1810 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1811 | 944 tonnes | — |
| 1812 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1813 | 629 tonnes | — |
| 1814 | 619 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1815 | -698 tonnes | -212.8% |
| 1816 | -472 tonnes | -32.4% |
| 1817 | -236 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 1818 | -157 tonnes | -33.5% |
| 1819 | 1,652 tonnes | -1152.2% |
| 1820 | 2,620 tonnes | +58.6% |
| 1821 | -3,013 tonnes | -215.0% |
| 1822 | 787 tonnes | -126.1% |
| 1823 | 786 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1824 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1825 | -1,850 tonnes | — |
| 1826 | 3,490 tonnes | -288.6% |
| 1827 | -458 tonnes | -113.1% |
| 1828 | -2,116 tonnes | +362.0% |
| 1829 | 2,245 tonnes | -206.1% |
| 1830 | -283 tonnes | -112.6% |
| 1831 | -4,327 tonnes | +1429.0% |
| 1832 | 9,818 tonnes | -326.9% |
| 1833 | -521 tonnes | -105.3% |
| 1834 | 2,640 tonnes | -606.7% |
| 1835 | 6,140 tonnes | +132.6% |
| 1836 | 399 tonnes | -93.5% |
| 1837 | 5,408 tonnes | +1255.4% |
| 1838 | 1,789 tonnes | -66.9% |
| 1839 | 6,393 tonnes | +257.4% |
| 1840 | 14,118 tonnes | +120.8% |
| 1841 | 7,214 tonnes | -48.9% |
| 1842 | 7,960 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1843 | -22,087 tonnes | -377.5% |
| 1844 | -4,318 tonnes | -80.5% |
| 1845 | -1,249 tonnes | -71.1% |
| 1846 | 26,183 tonnes | -2196.3% |
| 1847 | 2,780 tonnes | -89.4% |
| 1848 | 7,419 tonnes | +166.9% |
| 1849 | 4,829 tonnes | -34.9% |
| 1850 | 35,716 tonnes | +639.6% |
| 1851 | -5,673 tonnes | -115.9% |
| 1852 | -324 tonnes | -94.3% |
| 1853 | 46,266 tonnes | -14379.6% |
| 1854 | 31,205 tonnes | -32.6% |
| 1855 | 32,152 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1856 | 83,208 tonnes | +158.8% |
| 1857 | 32,214 tonnes | -61.3% |
| 1858 | 9,383 tonnes | -70.9% |
| 1859 | 144,465 tonnes | +1439.6% |
| 1860 | 114,821 tonnes | -20.5% |
| 1861 | -39,194 tonnes | -134.1% |
| 1862 | 227,060 tonnes | -679.3% |
| 1863 | -67,185 tonnes | -129.6% |
| 1864 | 182,710 tonnes | -372.0% |
| 1865 | 70,348 tonnes | -61.5% |
| 1866 | 306,552 tonnes | +335.8% |
| 1867 | -40,208 tonnes | -113.1% |
| 1868 | 292,407 tonnes | -827.2% |
| 1869 | -67,575 tonnes | -123.1% |
| 1870 | -62,293 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1871 | 38,519 tonnes | -161.8% |
| 1872 | 195,700 tonnes | +408.1% |
| 1873 | 293,939 tonnes | +50.2% |
| 1874 | 195,080 tonnes | -33.6% |
| 1875 | 17,107 tonnes | -91.2% |
| 1876 | 15,425 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1877 | 213,936 tonnes | +1286.9% |
| 1878 | 189,547 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 1879 | 16,231 tonnes | -91.4% |
| 1880 | -160,392 tonnes | -1088.2% |
| 1881 | 487,630 tonnes | -404.0% |
| 1882 | 544,652 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1883 | 696,986 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1884 | 385,177 tonnes | -44.7% |
| 1885 | 339,394 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1886 | -42,021 tonnes | -112.4% |
| 1887 | 193,517 tonnes | -560.5% |
| 1888 | 586,422 tonnes | +203.0% |
| 1889 | 641,056 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1890 | -799,445 tonnes | -224.7% |
| 1891 | 1.43 million tonnes | -279.4% |
| 1892 | -425,132 tonnes | -129.7% |
| 1893 | -686,443 tonnes | +61.5% |
| 1894 | 748,616 tonnes | -209.1% |
| 1895 | 229,087 tonnes | -69.4% |
| 1896 | 416,404 tonnes | +81.8% |
| 1897 | 739,508 tonnes | +77.6% |
| 1898 | 607,199 tonnes | -17.9% |
| 1899 | 182,687 tonnes | -69.9% |
| 1900 | 1.47 million tonnes | +705.2% |
| 1901 | 1.27 million tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1902 | -43,968 tonnes | -103.5% |
| 1903 | -170,632 tonnes | +288.1% |
| 1904 | 319,582 tonnes | -287.3% |
| 1905 | 508,443 tonnes | +59.1% |
| 1906 | 2.31 million tonnes | +353.5% |
| 1907 | 1.13 million tonnes | -51.0% |
| 1908 | 1.31 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1909 | -2.21 million tonnes | -269.5% |
| 1910 | 3.13 million tonnes | -241.4% |
| 1911 | 1.82 million tonnes | -41.8% |
| 1912 | 1.68 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1913 | 1.59 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1914 | 2.12 million tonnes | +33.4% |
| 1915 | -2.65 million tonnes | -225.1% |
| 1916 | -2.42 million tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1917 | 1.48 million tonnes | -161.3% |
| 1918 | 2.03 million tonnes | +37.1% |
| 1919 | -1.18 million tonnes | -158.1% |
| 1920 | 4.12 million tonnes | -449.4% |
| 1921 | -2.52 million tonnes | -161.2% |
| 1922 | 1.14 million tonnes | -145.1% |
| 1923 | 762,740 tonnes | -32.9% |
| 1924 | 2.51 million tonnes | +228.6% |
| 1925 | 1.44 million tonnes | -42.5% |
| 1926 | -44,710 tonnes | -103.1% |
| 1927 | 1.68 million tonnes | -3861.8% |
| 1928 | -2.25 million tonnes | -233.8% |
| 1929 | -2.11 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1930 | -1.01 million tonnes | -52.4% |
| 1931 | -3.35 million tonnes | +232.6% |
| 1932 | 499,530 tonnes | -114.9% |
| 1933 | 1.73 million tonnes | +246.5% |
| 1934 | 1.43 million tonnes | -17.5% |
| 1935 | 2.75 million tonnes | +92.6% |
| 1936 | 2.56 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1937 | 2.24 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1938 | -59,052 tonnes | -102.6% |
| 1939 | 4.29 million tonnes | -7359.6% |
| 1940 | -2.64 million tonnes | -161.5% |
| 1941 | 3.99 million tonnes | -251.2% |
| 1942 | 2.69 million tonnes | -32.5% |
| 1943 | -833,404 tonnes | -131.0% |
| 1944 | -166,740 tonnes | -80.0% |
| 1945 | -1.87 million tonnes | +1019.9% |
| 1946 | 3.58 million tonnes | -291.7% |
| 1947 | 2.04 million tonnes | -43.1% |
| 1948 | 2.24 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1949 | 1.05 million tonnes | -53.0% |
| 1950 | 7.57 million tonnes | +620.0% |
| 1951 | 5.42 million tonnes | -28.5% |
| 1952 | 1.35 million tonnes | -75.0% |
| 1953 | 596,564 tonnes | -56.0% |
| 1954 | 4.92 million tonnes | +724.3% |
| 1955 | 4.03 million tonnes | -18.1% |
| 1956 | 3.53 million tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1957 | 3,080 tonnes | -99.9% |
| 1958 | 2.45 million tonnes | +79591.2% |
| 1959 | 5.14 million tonnes | +109.4% |
| 1960 | 4.37 million tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1961 | -432,272 tonnes | -109.9% |
| 1962 | 3.90 million tonnes | -1002.3% |
| 1963 | 5.09 million tonnes | +30.4% |
| 1964 | 7.55 million tonnes | +48.5% |
| 1965 | 10.06 million tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1966 | 2.13 million tonnes | -78.8% |
| 1967 | 6.54 million tonnes | +207.3% |
| 1968 | 6.49 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1969 | 7.65 million tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1970 | 11.45 million tonnes | +49.8% |
| 1971 | 3.26 million tonnes | -71.6% |
| 1972 | 2.48 million tonnes | -23.8% |
| 1973 | 16.54 million tonnes | +567.0% |
| 1974 | -3.96 million tonnes | -123.9% |
| 1975 | 6.92 million tonnes | -274.8% |
| 1976 | -3.30 million tonnes | -147.7% |
| 1977 | 12.11 million tonnes | -467.1% |
| 1978 | 9.14 million tonnes | -24.5% |
| 1979 | 1.27 million tonnes | -86.1% |
| 1980 | 12.05 million tonnes | +848.4% |
| 1981 | 9.44 million tonnes | -21.7% |
| 1982 | 4.19 million tonnes | -55.6% |
| 1983 | -10.36 million tonnes | -347.1% |
| 1984 | 9.87 million tonnes | -195.3% |
| 1985 | 7.04 million tonnes | -28.6% |
| 1986 | -517,168 tonnes | -107.3% |
| 1987 | 10.56 million tonnes | -2141.5% |
| 1988 | 6.14 million tonnes | -41.9% |
| 1989 | 16.10 million tonnes | +162.3% |
| 1990 | 21.22 million tonnes | +31.8% |
| 1991 | 1.38 million tonnes | -93.5% |
| 1992 | 5.00 million tonnes | +263.0% |
| 1993 | 4.35 million tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1994 | 4.83 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 11.35 million tonnes | +134.8% |
| 1996 | 6.89 million tonnes | -39.3% |
| 1997 | 8.39 million tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1998 | 13.80 million tonnes | +64.4% |
| 1999 | 9.84 million tonnes | -28.7% |
| 2000 | 6.02 million tonnes | -38.8% |
| 2001 | 7.77 million tonnes | +29.0% |
| 2002 | 4.76 million tonnes | -38.8% |
| 2003 | 8.36 million tonnes | +75.7% |
| 2004 | 11.22 million tonnes | +34.2% |
| 2005 | 3.08 million tonnes | -72.6% |
| 2006 | 6.29 million tonnes | +104.5% |
| 2007 | 7.52 million tonnes | +19.6% |
| 2008 | 5.38 million tonnes | -28.5% |
| 2009 | 2.70 million tonnes | -49.9% |
| 2010 | -1.95 million tonnes | -172.3% |
| 2011 | -1.15 million tonnes | -41.0% |
| 2012 | 1.13 million tonnes | -198.2% |
| 2013 | -7.16 million tonnes | -732.8% |
| 2014 | -5.24 million tonnes | -26.8% |
| 2015 | 7.98 million tonnes | -252.3% |
| 2016 | 9.08 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2017 | 3.74 million tonnes | -58.8% |
| 2018 | 1.37 million tonnes | -63.3% |
| 2019 | 144,736 tonnes | -89.5% |
| 2020 | -16.38 million tonnes | -11416.1% |
| 2021 | -10.07 million tonnes | -38.5% |
| 2022 | -4.39 million tonnes | -56.4% |
| 2023 | 237,632 tonnes | -105.4% |
| 2024 | 2.42 million tonnes | +916.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2.42 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes, 175.9× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2.42 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 35,881 tonnes, 67.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | +79591.2% | 3,080 tonnes | 2.45 million tonnes |
| 1853 | +14379.6% | -324 tonnes | 46,266 tonnes |
| 2020 | -11416.1% | 144,736 tonnes | -16.38 million tonnes |
| 1939 | +7359.6% | -59,052 tonnes | 4.29 million tonnes |
| 1927 | +3861.8% | -44,710 tonnes | 1.68 million tonnes |
| 1846 | +2196.3% | -1,249 tonnes | 26,183 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 9 |
| 1760s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 125.9 tonnes | -32 tonnes | 472 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 228.1 tonnes | -698 tonnes | 1,652 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 249.1 tonnes | -3,013 tonnes | 3,490 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 2,746 tonnes | -4,327 tonnes | 9,818 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 4,285 tonnes | -22,087 tonnes | 26,183 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 40,861 tonnes | -5,673 tonnes | 144,465 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 97,974 tonnes | -67,575 tonnes | 306,552 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 111,319 tonnes | -62,293 tonnes | 293,939 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 367,242 tonnes | -160,392 tonnes | 696,986 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 244,631 tonnes | -799,445 tonnes | 1.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 588,354 tonnes | -2.21 million tonnes | 2.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 760,521 tonnes | -2.65 million tonnes | 3.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 472,073 tonnes | -2.52 million tonnes | 4.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.11 million tonnes | -3.35 million tonnes | 4.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.01 million tonnes | -2.64 million tonnes | 3.99 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.50 million tonnes | 3,080 tonnes | 7.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.33 million tonnes | -432,272 tonnes | 10.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.59 million tonnes | -3.96 million tonnes | 16.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.45 million tonnes | -10.36 million tonnes | 16.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.70 million tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes | 21.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.31 million tonnes | 2.70 million tonnes | 11.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 794,822 tonnes | -7.16 million tonnes | 9.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -5.64 million tonnes | -16.38 million tonnes | 2.42 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Australia?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Australia was 2.42 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.22 million tonnes in 1990.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.38 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Australia ranks 30th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 146.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 274 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual growth in total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.