Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Japan
Japan: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was -25.04 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-25.04 million tonnes
Change on year
up 41.4%
World rank
215th
of 215 countries
All-time high
133.56 million tonnes
in 1990
All-time low
-70.29 million tonnes
in 2008
Years of data
156
1869–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Japan, 1869–2024
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 Japan stood at -25.04 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 41.4% on the previous year and up 51.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Japan peaked at 133.56 million tonnes in 1990 and was at its lowest, -70.29 million tonnes, in 2008.
Japan ranks 215th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1869 | 7,328 tonnes | — |
| 1870 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1871 | 7,328 tonnes | — |
| 1872 | 7,328 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 7,328 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 545,936 tonnes | +7350.0% |
| 1875 | 853,712 tonnes | +56.4% |
| 1876 | -36,640 tonnes | -104.3% |
| 1877 | -113,584 tonnes | +210.0% |
| 1878 | 567,920 tonnes | -600.0% |
| 1879 | 458,000 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1880 | 32,976 tonnes | -92.8% |
| 1881 | 65,952 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 1882 | 98,928 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1883 | 197,856 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 1884 | 245,488 tonnes | +24.1% |
| 1885 | 392,048 tonnes | +59.7% |
| 1886 | 256,480 tonnes | -34.6% |
| 1887 | 868,368 tonnes | +238.6% |
| 1888 | 696,160 tonnes | -19.8% |
| 1889 | 1.08 million tonnes | +55.8% |
| 1890 | 501,968 tonnes | -53.7% |
| 1891 | 1.37 million tonnes | +172.3% |
| 1892 | -47,632 tonnes | -103.5% |
| 1893 | 498,304 tonnes | -1146.1% |
| 1894 | 2.45 million tonnes | +391.9% |
| 1895 | 1.20 million tonnes | -51.0% |
| 1896 | 688,832 tonnes | -42.7% |
| 1897 | 626,544 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1898 | 3.70 million tonnes | +491.2% |
| 1899 | 25,648 tonnes | -99.3% |
| 1900 | 2.14 million tonnes | +8242.9% |
| 1901 | 3.86 million tonnes | +80.5% |
| 1902 | 1.67 million tonnes | -56.7% |
| 1903 | 842,720 tonnes | -49.6% |
| 1904 | 3.26 million tonnes | +287.4% |
| 1905 | 879,360 tonnes | -73.1% |
| 1906 | 2.92 million tonnes | +232.5% |
| 1907 | 2.22 million tonnes | -24.2% |
| 1908 | 2.56 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1909 | 622,880 tonnes | -75.7% |
| 1910 | 1.13 million tonnes | +81.2% |
| 1911 | 4.83 million tonnes | +327.6% |
| 1912 | 5.07 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1913 | 5.03 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1914 | 3.70 million tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1915 | -5.17 million tonnes | -239.8% |
| 1916 | 5.76 million tonnes | -211.3% |
| 1917 | 8.89 million tonnes | +54.4% |
| 1918 | 4.06 million tonnes | -54.3% |
| 1919 | 7.65 million tonnes | +88.4% |
| 1920 | -4.91 million tonnes | -164.2% |
| 1921 | -7.47 million tonnes | +52.1% |
| 1922 | 4.62 million tonnes | -161.8% |
| 1923 | 4.48 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1924 | 3.44 million tonnes | -23.2% |
| 1925 | 2.66 million tonnes | -22.6% |
| 1926 | 593,568 tonnes | -77.7% |
| 1927 | 6.88 million tonnes | +1058.6% |
| 1928 | 2.91 million tonnes | -57.7% |
| 1929 | 2.49 million tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1930 | -8.71 million tonnes | -450.0% |
| 1931 | -8.26 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1932 | 76,488 tonnes | -100.9% |
| 1933 | 13.36 million tonnes | +17369.4% |
| 1934 | 9.86 million tonnes | -26.2% |
| 1935 | 5.18 million tonnes | -47.5% |
| 1936 | 10.47 million tonnes | +102.1% |
| 1937 | 8.58 million tonnes | -18.0% |
| 1938 | 6.30 million tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1939 | -3.99 million tonnes | -163.3% |
| 1940 | 25.50 million tonnes | -739.3% |
| 1941 | 1.36 million tonnes | -94.7% |
| 1942 | -6.81 million tonnes | -600.8% |
| 1943 | 2.85 million tonnes | -141.8% |
| 1944 | -11.90 million tonnes | -518.4% |
| 1945 | -62.10 million tonnes | +421.6% |
| 1946 | -23.93 million tonnes | -61.5% |
| 1947 | 17.33 million tonnes | -172.4% |
| 1948 | 18.05 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1949 | 10.34 million tonnes | -42.7% |
| 1950 | 4.12 million tonnes | -60.1% |
| 1951 | 20.84 million tonnes | +405.7% |
| 1952 | 6.98 million tonnes | -66.5% |
| 1953 | 15.51 million tonnes | +122.1% |
| 1954 | -3.21 million tonnes | -120.7% |
| 1955 | -655,280 tonnes | -79.6% |
| 1956 | 18.79 million tonnes | -2968.1% |
| 1957 | 27.48 million tonnes | +46.2% |
| 1958 | -6.86 million tonnes | -125.0% |
| 1959 | 11.50 million tonnes | -267.7% |
| 1960 | 39.91 million tonnes | +247.0% |
| 1961 | 50.30 million tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1962 | 10.15 million tonnes | -79.8% |
| 1963 | 31.99 million tonnes | +215.3% |
| 1964 | 34.08 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1965 | 27.62 million tonnes | -19.0% |
| 1966 | 32.81 million tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1967 | 70.14 million tonnes | +113.8% |
| 1968 | 72.65 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 91.28 million tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1970 | 115.89 million tonnes | +27.0% |
| 1971 | 29.90 million tonnes | -74.2% |
| 1972 | 61.41 million tonnes | +105.4% |
| 1973 | 53.21 million tonnes | -13.3% |
| 1974 | 40,320 tonnes | -99.9% |
| 1975 | -44.49 million tonnes | -110445.5% |
| 1976 | 39.76 million tonnes | -189.4% |
| 1977 | 25.98 million tonnes | -34.7% |
| 1978 | -30.47 million tonnes | -217.3% |
| 1979 | 52.06 million tonnes | -270.9% |
| 1980 | -8.60 million tonnes | -116.5% |
| 1981 | -18.17 million tonnes | +111.4% |
| 1982 | -29.65 million tonnes | +63.2% |
| 1983 | -16.30 million tonnes | -45.0% |
| 1984 | 56.12 million tonnes | -444.3% |
| 1985 | -25.27 million tonnes | -145.0% |
| 1986 | -1.23 million tonnes | -95.1% |
| 1987 | -11.84 million tonnes | +864.9% |
| 1988 | 82.49 million tonnes | -796.6% |
| 1989 | 36.60 million tonnes | -55.6% |
| 1990 | 133.56 million tonnes | +264.9% |
| 1991 | 11.70 million tonnes | -91.2% |
| 1992 | 8.90 million tonnes | -23.9% |
| 1993 | -6.13 million tonnes | -168.8% |
| 1994 | 53.83 million tonnes | -978.7% |
| 1995 | 12.71 million tonnes | -76.4% |
| 1996 | 12.82 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1997 | -7.71 million tonnes | -160.2% |
| 1998 | -39.65 million tonnes | +414.2% |
| 1999 | 36.79 million tonnes | -192.8% |
| 2000 | 22.08 million tonnes | -40.0% |
| 2001 | -14.27 million tonnes | -164.6% |
| 2002 | 29.49 million tonnes | -306.7% |
| 2003 | 8.42 million tonnes | -71.4% |
| 2004 | -4.72 million tonnes | -156.1% |
| 2005 | 7.29 million tonnes | -254.4% |
| 2006 | -22.97 million tonnes | -415.1% |
| 2007 | 35.53 million tonnes | -254.7% |
| 2008 | -70.29 million tonnes | -297.8% |
| 2009 | -68.43 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 50.84 million tonnes | -174.3% |
| 2011 | 50.09 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 40.93 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 2013 | 9.76 million tonnes | -76.1% |
| 2014 | -51.60 million tonnes | -628.6% |
| 2015 | -40.29 million tonnes | -21.9% |
| 2016 | -20.05 million tonnes | -50.2% |
| 2017 | -15.54 million tonnes | -22.5% |
| 2018 | -45.84 million tonnes | +195.0% |
| 2019 | -36.49 million tonnes | -20.4% |
| 2020 | -64.78 million tonnes | +77.5% |
| 2021 | 21.22 million tonnes | -132.8% |
| 2022 | -28.86 million tonnes | -236.0% |
| 2023 | -42.73 million tonnes | +48.1% |
| 2024 | -25.04 million tonnes | -41.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's -25.04 million tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes. (74 countries reporting)
- Japan's -25.04 million tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 35,881 tonnes. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -110445.5% | 40,320 tonnes | -44.49 million tonnes |
| 1933 | +17369.4% | 76,488 tonnes | 13.36 million tonnes |
| 1900 | +8242.9% | 25,648 tonnes | 2.14 million tonnes |
| 1874 | +7350.0% | 7,328 tonnes | 545,936 tonnes |
| 1956 | +2968.1% | -655,280 tonnes | 18.79 million tonnes |
| 1893 | +1146.1% | -47,632 tonnes | 498,304 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 7,328 tonnes | 7,328 tonnes | 7,328 tonnes | 1 |
| 1870s | 229,733 tonnes | -113,584 tonnes | 853,712 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 393,880 tonnes | 32,976 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.10 million tonnes | -47,632 tonnes | 3.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.10 million tonnes | 622,880 tonnes | 3.86 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.09 million tonnes | -5.17 million tonnes | 8.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.57 million tonnes | -7.47 million tonnes | 6.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.29 million tonnes | -8.71 million tonnes | 13.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | -2.93 million tonnes | -62.10 million tonnes | 25.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.45 million tonnes | -6.86 million tonnes | 27.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 46.09 million tonnes | 10.15 million tonnes | 91.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 30.33 million tonnes | -44.49 million tonnes | 115.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.42 million tonnes | -29.65 million tonnes | 82.49 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.68 million tonnes | -39.65 million tonnes | 133.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | -7.79 million tonnes | -70.29 million tonnes | 35.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -5.82 million tonnes | -51.60 million tonnes | 50.84 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -28.04 million tonnes | -64.78 million tonnes | 21.22 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 212 United States -14.29 million tonnes compare
- 213 Turkmenistan -14.42 million tonnes compare
- 214 Germany -21.45 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for Japan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 337.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Japan?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Japan was -25.04 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 133.56 million tonnes in 1990.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was -70.29 million tonnes in 2008.
- How does Japan rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Japan ranks 215th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 156 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.