Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was -5.50 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-5.50 million tonnes
Change on year
up 68.9%
World rank
204th
of 215 countries
All-time high
56.52 million tonnes
in 2010
All-time low
-66.93 million tonnes
in 1998
Years of data
113
1910–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in South Korea, 1910–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
South Korea recorded -5.50 million tonnes for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 68.9% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in South Korea peaked at 56.52 million tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, -66.93 million tonnes, in 1998.
That places South Korea 204th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 2,121 tonnes | — |
| 1911 | 1,929 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1912 | 3,085 tonnes | +59.9% |
| 1913 | 2,507 tonnes | -18.7% |
| 1914 | 7,714 tonnes | +207.7% |
| 1915 | 6,364 tonnes | -17.5% |
| 1916 | -5,400 tonnes | -184.9% |
| 1919 | 4,821 tonnes | -189.3% |
| 1920 | 9,256 tonnes | +92.0% |
| 1921 | 3,085 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1922 | 965 tonnes | -68.7% |
| 1923 | 8,678 tonnes | +799.3% |
| 1924 | 2,699 tonnes | -68.9% |
| 1925 | 33,169 tonnes | +1128.9% |
| 1926 | 6,557 tonnes | -80.2% |
| 1927 | 3,471 tonnes | -47.1% |
| 1928 | 15,042 tonnes | +333.4% |
| 1929 | 16,970 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1930 | -7,521 tonnes | -144.3% |
| 1931 | 7,328 tonnes | -197.4% |
| 1932 | 23,334 tonnes | +218.4% |
| 1933 | 27,576 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1934 | 59,927 tonnes | +117.3% |
| 1935 | 42,567 tonnes | -29.0% |
| 1936 | 49,345 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1937 | 23,314 tonnes | -52.8% |
| 1938 | 120,667 tonnes | +417.6% |
| 1939 | 145,727 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1940 | 178,441 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1941 | 92,285 tonnes | -48.3% |
| 1942 | 92,977 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1943 | -30,515 tonnes | -132.8% |
| 1944 | 54,081 tonnes | -277.2% |
| 1945 | -1.01 million tonnes | -1961.7% |
| 1946 | 483,648 tonnes | -148.0% |
| 1947 | 410,338 tonnes | -15.2% |
| 1948 | 773,105 tonnes | +88.4% |
| 1949 | 505,602 tonnes | -34.6% |
| 1950 | 7,358 tonnes | -98.5% |
| 1951 | 740,157 tonnes | +9959.2% |
| 1952 | 538,489 tonnes | -27.2% |
| 1953 | 1.23 million tonnes | +128.6% |
| 1954 | 465,268 tonnes | -62.2% |
| 1955 | 1.29 million tonnes | +176.4% |
| 1956 | 1.11 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1957 | 659,312 tonnes | -40.6% |
| 1958 | 794,285 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1959 | 2.21 million tonnes | +178.6% |
| 1960 | 1.32 million tonnes | -40.4% |
| 1961 | 1.91 million tonnes | +44.7% |
| 1962 | 2.81 million tonnes | +47.4% |
| 1963 | 3.82 million tonnes | +35.9% |
| 1964 | 1.11 million tonnes | -70.9% |
| 1965 | 2.78 million tonnes | +150.3% |
| 1966 | 5.00 million tonnes | +79.8% |
| 1967 | 5.13 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 2.08 million tonnes | -59.4% |
| 1969 | 5.27 million tonnes | +152.9% |
| 1970 | 11.25 million tonnes | +113.4% |
| 1971 | 4.82 million tonnes | -57.2% |
| 1972 | 1.71 million tonnes | -64.4% |
| 1973 | 12.73 million tonnes | +642.9% |
| 1974 | 2.58 million tonnes | -79.8% |
| 1975 | 6.12 million tonnes | +137.4% |
| 1976 | 11.44 million tonnes | +87.1% |
| 1977 | 12.36 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1978 | 7.66 million tonnes | -38.0% |
| 1979 | 19.75 million tonnes | +157.9% |
| 1980 | 1.65 million tonnes | -91.6% |
| 1981 | 5.07 million tonnes | +207.0% |
| 1982 | 1.19 million tonnes | -76.5% |
| 1983 | 8.35 million tonnes | +600.6% |
| 1984 | 11.57 million tonnes | +38.5% |
| 1985 | 8.06 million tonnes | -30.3% |
| 1986 | 7.54 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 9.06 million tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1988 | 25.60 million tonnes | +182.5% |
| 1989 | 12.56 million tonnes | -50.9% |
| 1990 | 27.00 million tonnes | +115.0% |
| 1991 | 25.18 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1992 | 24.22 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 30.27 million tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1994 | 25.52 million tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1995 | 27.97 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1996 | 37.33 million tonnes | +33.5% |
| 1997 | 23.97 million tonnes | -35.8% |
| 1998 | -66.93 million tonnes | -379.2% |
| 1999 | 32.48 million tonnes | -148.5% |
| 2000 | 29.46 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 15.65 million tonnes | -46.9% |
| 2002 | 20.43 million tonnes | +30.6% |
| 2003 | 9.15 million tonnes | -55.2% |
| 2004 | 6.18 million tonnes | -32.5% |
| 2005 | 7.30 million tonnes | +18.2% |
| 2006 | 4.79 million tonnes | -34.4% |
| 2007 | 18.23 million tonnes | +280.6% |
| 2008 | 10.94 million tonnes | -40.0% |
| 2009 | 5.17 million tonnes | -52.8% |
| 2010 | 56.52 million tonnes | +993.4% |
| 2011 | 29.10 million tonnes | -48.5% |
| 2012 | 4.50 million tonnes | -84.5% |
| 2013 | 6.64 million tonnes | +47.5% |
| 2014 | -5.21 million tonnes | -178.6% |
| 2015 | 4.81 million tonnes | -192.3% |
| 2016 | 3.74 million tonnes | -22.3% |
| 2017 | 16.62 million tonnes | +344.9% |
| 2018 | 15.63 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2019 | -24.07 million tonnes | -254.0% |
| 2020 | -48.47 million tonnes | +101.4% |
| 2021 | 18.44 million tonnes | -138.0% |
| 2022 | -9.20 million tonnes | -149.9% |
| 2023 | -17.70 million tonnes | +92.4% |
| 2024 | -5.50 million tonnes | -68.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -5.50 million tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -5.50 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 South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | +9959.2% | 7,358 tonnes | 740,157 tonnes |
| 1945 | -1961.7% | 54,081 tonnes | -1.01 million tonnes |
| 1925 | +1128.9% | 2,699 tonnes | 33,169 tonnes |
| 2010 | +993.4% | 5.17 million tonnes | 56.52 million tonnes |
| 1923 | +799.3% | 965 tonnes | 8,678 tonnes |
| 1973 | +642.9% | 1.71 million tonnes | 12.73 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2,893 tonnes | -5,400 tonnes | 7,714 tonnes | 8 |
| 1920s | 9,989 tonnes | 965 tonnes | 33,169 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 49,226 tonnes | -7,521 tonnes | 145,727 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 155,312 tonnes | -1.01 million tonnes | 773,105 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 904,505 tonnes | 7,358 tonnes | 2.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.12 million tonnes | 1.11 million tonnes | 5.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.04 million tonnes | 1.71 million tonnes | 19.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.06 million tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 25.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.70 million tonnes | -66.93 million tonnes | 37.33 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.73 million tonnes | 4.79 million tonnes | 29.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.83 million tonnes | -24.07 million tonnes | 56.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -12.48 million tonnes | -48.47 million tonnes | 18.44 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in South Korea?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in South Korea was -5.50 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 56.52 million tonnes in 2010.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -66.93 million tonnes in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- South Korea ranks 204th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.