Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in India
India: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 130.72 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
130.72 million tonnes
Change on year
down 43.6%
World rank
1st
of 215 countries
All-time high
253.05 million tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
-188.44 million tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
154
1859–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in India, 1859–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in India stood at 130.72 million tonnes.
The figure is down 43.6% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in India peaked at 253.05 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, -188.44 million tonnes, in 2020.
India ranks 1st of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in India, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1859 | 241,993 tonnes | — |
| 1860 | 6,630 tonnes | -97.3% |
| 1861 | -145,859 tonnes | -2300.0% |
| 1862 | 53,040 tonnes | -136.4% |
| 1863 | 59,669 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1864 | -33,149 tonnes | -155.6% |
| 1865 | -9,945 tonnes | -70.0% |
| 1866 | 72,929 tonnes | -833.3% |
| 1879 | -82,523 tonnes | -213.2% |
| 1880 | 202,388 tonnes | -345.3% |
| 1881 | -47,439 tonnes | -123.4% |
| 1882 | 356,955 tonnes | -852.5% |
| 1883 | 244,608 tonnes | -31.5% |
| 1884 | 289,104 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1885 | -270,608 tonnes | -193.6% |
| 1886 | 312,657 tonnes | -215.5% |
| 1887 | 293,950 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1888 | 343,532 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1889 | 612,268 tonnes | +78.2% |
| 1890 | 409,835 tonnes | -33.1% |
| 1891 | 340,746 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1892 | 474,865 tonnes | +39.4% |
| 1893 | 295,898 tonnes | -37.7% |
| 1894 | 73,507 tonnes | -75.2% |
| 1895 | 1.42 million tonnes | +1829.0% |
| 1896 | 573,314 tonnes | -59.6% |
| 1897 | 645,340 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1898 | 871,797 tonnes | +35.1% |
| 1899 | 929,279 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1900 | 1.88 million tonnes | +101.8% |
| 1901 | 1.25 million tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1902 | 1.34 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1903 | 286,699 tonnes | -78.5% |
| 1904 | 1.76 million tonnes | +513.5% |
| 1905 | 369,708 tonnes | -79.0% |
| 1906 | 2.62 million tonnes | +608.3% |
| 1907 | 2.22 million tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1908 | 3.14 million tonnes | +41.1% |
| 1909 | -765,564 tonnes | -124.4% |
| 1910 | -655,340 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1911 | 1.30 million tonnes | -297.6% |
| 1912 | 3.74 million tonnes | +188.7% |
| 1913 | 2.95 million tonnes | -21.2% |
| 1914 | 231,374 tonnes | -92.1% |
| 1915 | 1.44 million tonnes | +523.9% |
| 1916 | 375,782 tonnes | -74.0% |
| 1917 | 1.50 million tonnes | +299.8% |
| 1918 | 4.34 million tonnes | +188.9% |
| 1919 | 3.62 million tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1920 | -8.11 million tonnes | -324.2% |
| 1921 | 2.64 million tonnes | -132.5% |
| 1922 | -602,140 tonnes | -122.8% |
| 1923 | 1.07 million tonnes | -277.5% |
| 1924 | 2.66 million tonnes | +148.6% |
| 1925 | -543,020 tonnes | -120.4% |
| 1926 | -142,348 tonnes | -73.8% |
| 1927 | 1.94 million tonnes | -1463.7% |
| 1928 | -1.81 million tonnes | -193.3% |
| 1929 | 1.63 million tonnes | -190.3% |
| 1930 | 691,608 tonnes | -57.7% |
| 1931 | -3.55 million tonnes | -613.1% |
| 1932 | -2.72 million tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1933 | -662,124 tonnes | -75.7% |
| 1934 | 4.14 million tonnes | -725.8% |
| 1935 | 1.78 million tonnes | -57.0% |
| 1936 | -708,708 tonnes | -139.8% |
| 1937 | 4.38 million tonnes | -718.4% |
| 1938 | 5.31 million tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1939 | -1.07 million tonnes | -120.1% |
| 1940 | 3.00 million tonnes | -380.8% |
| 1941 | 1.27 million tonnes | -57.6% |
| 1942 | -51,560 tonnes | -104.1% |
| 1943 | -6.88 million tonnes | +13253.4% |
| 1944 | 1.05 million tonnes | -115.3% |
| 1945 | 5.18 million tonnes | +392.4% |
| 1946 | -649,028 tonnes | -112.5% |
| 1947 | 955,252 tonnes | -247.2% |
| 1948 | 23,804 tonnes | -97.5% |
| 1949 | 2.98 million tonnes | +12434.5% |
| 1950 | 4.76 million tonnes | +59.4% |
| 1951 | 2.86 million tonnes | -39.8% |
| 1952 | 3.44 million tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1953 | 1.36 million tonnes | -60.6% |
| 1954 | 3.70 million tonnes | +172.3% |
| 1955 | 6.39 million tonnes | +72.7% |
| 1956 | 2.92 million tonnes | -54.2% |
| 1957 | 10.00 million tonnes | +241.8% |
| 1958 | 4.18 million tonnes | -58.2% |
| 1959 | 5.63 million tonnes | +34.7% |
| 1960 | 9.88 million tonnes | +75.4% |
| 1961 | 9.08 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1962 | 12.18 million tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1963 | 9.86 million tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1964 | -2.96 million tonnes | -130.0% |
| 1965 | 14.21 million tonnes | -580.9% |
| 1966 | 5.67 million tonnes | -60.1% |
| 1967 | 185,680 tonnes | -96.7% |
| 1968 | 14.51 million tonnes | +7716.4% |
| 1969 | 3.34 million tonnes | -77.0% |
| 1970 | 4.31 million tonnes | +29.1% |
| 1971 | 10.24 million tonnes | +137.5% |
| 1972 | 11.07 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1973 | 6.06 million tonnes | -45.3% |
| 1974 | 6.76 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1975 | 18.36 million tonnes | +171.6% |
| 1976 | 10.54 million tonnes | -42.6% |
| 1977 | 14.21 million tonnes | +34.8% |
| 1978 | 4.19 million tonnes | -70.5% |
| 1979 | 13.14 million tonnes | +213.6% |
| 1980 | 15.43 million tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1981 | 23.25 million tonnes | +50.7% |
| 1982 | 10.41 million tonnes | -55.2% |
| 1983 | 26.82 million tonnes | +157.6% |
| 1984 | 9.36 million tonnes | -65.1% |
| 1985 | 36.03 million tonnes | +284.8% |
| 1986 | 28.72 million tonnes | -20.3% |
| 1987 | 29.04 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 36.35 million tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1989 | 48.96 million tonnes | +34.7% |
| 1990 | 37.32 million tonnes | -23.8% |
| 1991 | 37.40 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 40.04 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 21.84 million tonnes | -45.5% |
| 1994 | 36.78 million tonnes | +68.4% |
| 1995 | 46.44 million tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1996 | 63.12 million tonnes | +35.9% |
| 1997 | 34.37 million tonnes | -45.5% |
| 1998 | 17.81 million tonnes | -48.2% |
| 1999 | 85.41 million tonnes | +379.6% |
| 2000 | 25.87 million tonnes | -69.7% |
| 2001 | 14.13 million tonnes | -45.4% |
| 2002 | 31.55 million tonnes | +123.2% |
| 2003 | 35.65 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 2004 | 66.21 million tonnes | +85.7% |
| 2005 | 60.78 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2006 | 97.93 million tonnes | +61.1% |
| 2007 | 100.16 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 96.88 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 122.96 million tonnes | +26.9% |
| 2010 | 65.20 million tonnes | -47.0% |
| 2011 | 87.17 million tonnes | +33.7% |
| 2012 | 161.29 million tonnes | +85.0% |
| 2013 | 68.35 million tonnes | -57.6% |
| 2014 | 152.72 million tonnes | +123.4% |
| 2015 | 83.77 million tonnes | -45.1% |
| 2016 | 120.72 million tonnes | +44.1% |
| 2017 | 73.18 million tonnes | -39.4% |
| 2018 | 169.50 million tonnes | +131.6% |
| 2019 | 15.95 million tonnes | -90.6% |
| 2020 | -188.44 million tonnes | -1281.6% |
| 2021 | 253.05 million tonnes | -234.3% |
| 2022 | 155.35 million tonnes | -38.6% |
| 2023 | 231.62 million tonnes | +49.1% |
| 2024 | 130.72 million tonnes | -43.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 130.72 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 105,942 tonnes, 1233.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 130.72 million tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 1.04 million tonnes, 125.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | -13253.4% | -51,560 tonnes | -6.88 million tonnes |
| 1949 | +12434.5% | 23,804 tonnes | 2.98 million tonnes |
| 1968 | +7716.4% | 185,680 tonnes | 14.51 million tonnes |
| 1861 | -2300.0% | 6,630 tonnes | -145,859 tonnes |
| 1895 | +1829.0% | 73,507 tonnes | 1.42 million tonnes |
| 1927 | +1463.7% | -142,348 tonnes | 1.94 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 241,993 tonnes | 241,993 tonnes | 241,993 tonnes | 1 |
| 1860s | 473.57 tonnes | -145,859 tonnes | 72,929 tonnes | 7 |
| 1870s | -82,523 tonnes | -82,523 tonnes | -82,523 tonnes | 1 |
| 1880s | 233,742 tonnes | -270,608 tonnes | 612,268 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 603,256 tonnes | 73,507 tonnes | 1.42 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.41 million tonnes | -765,564 tonnes | 3.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.88 million tonnes | -655,340 tonnes | 4.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | -126,690 tonnes | -8.11 million tonnes | 2.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 760,422 tonnes | -3.55 million tonnes | 5.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 687,553 tonnes | -6.88 million tonnes | 5.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.52 million tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.60 million tonnes | -2.96 million tonnes | 14.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.89 million tonnes | 4.19 million tonnes | 18.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.44 million tonnes | 9.36 million tonnes | 48.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.05 million tonnes | 17.81 million tonnes | 85.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.21 million tonnes | 14.13 million tonnes | 122.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 99.78 million tonnes | 15.95 million tonnes | 169.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 116.46 million tonnes | -188.44 million tonnes | 253.05 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More climate change data for India
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 27.69 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 602,760 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105,678 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 497,082 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 398.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 279,594 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 176,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 103,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 664.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in India?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in India was 130.72 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 253.05 million tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was -188.44 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does India rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- India ranks 1st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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 — 154 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.