Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in North Korea
North Korea: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 525,276 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
525,276 tonnes
Change on year
down 90.8%
World rank
50th
of 215 countries
All-time high
35.47 million tonnes
in 2017
All-time low
-90.87 million tonnes
in 1990
Years of data
113
1910–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in North Korea, 1910–2024
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 North Korea is 525,276 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 90.8% on the previous year and down 85.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in North Korea peaked at 35.47 million tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, -90.87 million tonnes, in 1990.
That places North Korea 50th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 38,183 tonnes | — |
| 1911 | 34,711 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1912 | 55,539 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 1913 | 45,125 tonnes | -18.8% |
| 1914 | 138,846 tonnes | +207.7% |
| 1915 | 114,548 tonnes | -17.5% |
| 1916 | -97,192 tonnes | -184.8% |
| 1919 | 86,779 tonnes | -189.3% |
| 1920 | 166,616 tonnes | +92.0% |
| 1921 | 55,539 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1922 | 17,355 tonnes | -68.8% |
| 1923 | 156,202 tonnes | +800.0% |
| 1924 | 48,597 tonnes | -68.9% |
| 1925 | 597,039 tonnes | +1128.6% |
| 1926 | 118,019 tonnes | -80.2% |
| 1927 | 62,481 tonnes | -47.1% |
| 1928 | 270,750 tonnes | +333.3% |
| 1929 | 305,462 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1930 | -135,375 tonnes | -144.3% |
| 1931 | 131,904 tonnes | -197.4% |
| 1932 | 420,010 tonnes | +218.4% |
| 1933 | 496,376 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1934 | 1.08 million tonnes | +117.3% |
| 1935 | 766,197 tonnes | -29.0% |
| 1936 | 888,221 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1937 | 419,644 tonnes | -52.8% |
| 1938 | 2.17 million tonnes | +417.6% |
| 1939 | 2.62 million tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1940 | 3.21 million tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1941 | 1.66 million tonnes | -48.3% |
| 1942 | 1.67 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1943 | -549,260 tonnes | -132.8% |
| 1944 | 973,444 tonnes | -277.2% |
| 1945 | -18.12 million tonnes | -1961.8% |
| 1946 | 7,269 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1947 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1948 | 1.33 million tonnes | — |
| 1949 | 377,392 tonnes | -71.6% |
| 1950 | -1.00 million tonnes | -365.0% |
| 1951 | 215,552 tonnes | -121.5% |
| 1952 | -106,226 tonnes | -149.3% |
| 1953 | 845,760 tonnes | -896.2% |
| 1954 | 3.05 million tonnes | +260.8% |
| 1955 | 2.56 million tonnes | -16.2% |
| 1956 | 1.62 million tonnes | -36.7% |
| 1957 | 2.33 million tonnes | +43.7% |
| 1958 | 4.34 million tonnes | +86.8% |
| 1959 | 4.23 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.92 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1961 | 2.64 million tonnes | -32.7% |
| 1962 | 4.26 million tonnes | +61.5% |
| 1963 | 2.14 million tonnes | -49.8% |
| 1964 | 2.79 million tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1965 | 8.60 million tonnes | +208.2% |
| 1966 | 3.38 million tonnes | -60.7% |
| 1967 | 4.79 million tonnes | +41.9% |
| 1968 | 6.88 million tonnes | +43.5% |
| 1969 | 4.81 million tonnes | -30.1% |
| 1970 | 9.40 million tonnes | +95.3% |
| 1971 | 33.98 million tonnes | +261.6% |
| 1972 | -17.95 million tonnes | -152.8% |
| 1973 | 7.82 million tonnes | -143.6% |
| 1974 | 4.29 million tonnes | -45.2% |
| 1975 | 6.01 million tonnes | +40.3% |
| 1976 | 2.41 million tonnes | -60.0% |
| 1977 | 3.63 million tonnes | +51.0% |
| 1978 | -5.46 million tonnes | -250.1% |
| 1979 | 2.05 million tonnes | -137.6% |
| 1980 | 3.82 million tonnes | +86.0% |
| 1981 | 316,416 tonnes | -91.7% |
| 1982 | 2.49 million tonnes | +685.7% |
| 1983 | 8.28 million tonnes | +233.0% |
| 1984 | 9.49 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1985 | 9.63 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 12.55 million tonnes | +30.3% |
| 1987 | 18.79 million tonnes | +49.8% |
| 1988 | 23.61 million tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1989 | 10.02 million tonnes | -57.6% |
| 1990 | -90.87 million tonnes | -1007.0% |
| 1991 | -5.56 million tonnes | -93.9% |
| 1992 | -14.83 million tonnes | +166.6% |
| 1993 | -8.40 million tonnes | -43.4% |
| 1994 | -8.00 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1995 | -5.50 million tonnes | -31.3% |
| 1996 | -9.79 million tonnes | +78.1% |
| 1997 | -2.61 million tonnes | -73.3% |
| 1998 | -4.93 million tonnes | +88.7% |
| 1999 | 5.39 million tonnes | -209.4% |
| 2000 | 5.02 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 2.50 million tonnes | -50.2% |
| 2002 | -3.03 million tonnes | -220.9% |
| 2003 | 1.50 million tonnes | -149.6% |
| 2004 | 1.58 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 3.29 million tonnes | +108.2% |
| 2006 | 1.16 million tonnes | -64.7% |
| 2007 | -12.69 million tonnes | -1194.1% |
| 2008 | 6.85 million tonnes | -154.0% |
| 2009 | -2.67 million tonnes | -138.9% |
| 2010 | -2.30 million tonnes | -13.5% |
| 2011 | -17.49 million tonnes | +658.7% |
| 2012 | -1.11 million tonnes | -93.6% |
| 2013 | -10.61 million tonnes | +854.1% |
| 2014 | 3.68 million tonnes | -134.7% |
| 2015 | -8.55 million tonnes | -332.2% |
| 2016 | 2.96 million tonnes | -134.6% |
| 2017 | 35.47 million tonnes | +1098.9% |
| 2018 | -7.10 million tonnes | -120.0% |
| 2019 | 6.90 million tonnes | -197.2% |
| 2020 | -3.94 million tonnes | -157.0% |
| 2021 | -11.61 million tonnes | +194.9% |
| 2022 | 2.32 million tonnes | -120.0% |
| 2023 | 5.74 million tonnes | +147.3% |
| 2024 | 525,276 tonnes | -90.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 525,276 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 29,261 tonnes, 18.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 525,276 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 35,881 tonnes, 14.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | -1961.8% | 973,444 tonnes | -18.12 million tonnes |
| 2007 | -1194.1% | 1.16 million tonnes | -12.69 million tonnes |
| 1925 | +1128.6% | 48,597 tonnes | 597,039 tonnes |
| 2017 | +1098.9% | 2.96 million tonnes | 35.47 million tonnes |
| 1990 | -1007.0% | 10.02 million tonnes | -90.87 million tonnes |
| 1953 | +896.2% | -106,226 tonnes | 845,760 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 52,067 tonnes | -97,192 tonnes | 138,846 tonnes | 8 |
| 1920s | 179,806 tonnes | 17,355 tonnes | 597,039 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 886,075 tonnes | -135,375 tonnes | 2.62 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | -943,696 tonnes | -18.12 million tonnes | 3.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.81 million tonnes | -1.00 million tonnes | 4.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.42 million tonnes | 2.14 million tonnes | 8.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.62 million tonnes | -17.95 million tonnes | 33.98 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.90 million tonnes | 316,416 tonnes | 23.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | -14.51 million tonnes | -90.87 million tonnes | 5.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 351,663 tonnes | -12.69 million tonnes | 6.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 185,204 tonnes | -17.49 million tonnes | 35.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.39 million tonnes | -11.61 million tonnes | 5.74 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More climate change data for North Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.29 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3103 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -2.22 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.2725 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6419 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 27.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9637 °C (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in North Korea?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in North Korea was 525,276 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 35.47 million tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -90.87 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does North Korea rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- North Korea ranks 50th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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 — 113 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.