Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in United States
United States: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was -14.29 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-14.29 million tonnes
Change on year
up 89.6%
World rank
212th
of 215 countries
All-time high
463.02 million tonnes
in 1923
All-time low
-545.96 million tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
224
1801–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in United States, 1801–2024
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 United States is -14.29 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 89.6% on the previous year and down 124.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in United States peaked at 463.02 million tonnes in 1923 and was at its lowest, -545.96 million tonnes, in 2020.
That places United States 212th 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 United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 14,656 tonnes | — |
| 1802 | 21,984 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1803 | 7,328 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1804 | 36,640 tonnes | +400.0% |
| 1805 | 7,328 tonnes | -80.0% |
| 1806 | -7,328 tonnes | -200.0% |
| 1807 | 43,968 tonnes | -700.0% |
| 1808 | 14,656 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1809 | 10,992 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1810 | 14,656 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1811 | 29,312 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 1812 | 36,640 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1813 | 36,640 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 40,304 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1815 | 40,304 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 62,288 tonnes | +54.5% |
| 1817 | 54,960 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1818 | 62,288 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1819 | -18,320 tonnes | -129.4% |
| 1820 | 29,312 tonnes | -260.0% |
| 1821 | 36,640 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1822 | 36,640 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 36,640 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 113,584 tonnes | +210.0% |
| 1825 | 120,912 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1826 | 179,536 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 1827 | 131,904 tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1828 | 146,560 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1829 | 201,520 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 1830 | 293,120 tonnes | +45.5% |
| 1831 | 175,872 tonnes | -40.0% |
| 1832 | 758,448 tonnes | +331.2% |
| 1833 | 505,632 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1834 | -146,560 tonnes | -129.0% |
| 1835 | 934,320 tonnes | -737.5% |
| 1836 | 414,032 tonnes | -55.7% |
| 1837 | 575,248 tonnes | +38.9% |
| 1838 | -274,800 tonnes | -147.8% |
| 1839 | 487,312 tonnes | -277.3% |
| 1840 | 355,408 tonnes | -27.1% |
| 1841 | 340,752 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1842 | 703,488 tonnes | +106.5% |
| 1843 | 846,384 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1844 | 1.54 million tonnes | +82.3% |
| 1845 | 1.90 million tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1846 | 1.51 million tonnes | -20.7% |
| 1847 | 2.36 million tonnes | +56.7% |
| 1848 | 1.71 million tonnes | -27.3% |
| 1849 | 1.44 million tonnes | -16.2% |
| 1850 | 1.57 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1851 | 4.84 million tonnes | +207.9% |
| 1852 | 2.16 million tonnes | -55.4% |
| 1853 | 3.37 million tonnes | +56.2% |
| 1854 | 3.00 million tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1855 | 5.00 million tonnes | +66.9% |
| 1856 | 1.88 million tonnes | -62.5% |
| 1857 | 1.02 million tonnes | -45.7% |
| 1858 | 593,568 tonnes | -41.7% |
| 1859 | 3.67 million tonnes | +518.5% |
| 1860 | 2.12 million tonnes | -42.3% |
| 1861 | -1.76 million tonnes | -183.0% |
| 1862 | 1.77 million tonnes | -200.6% |
| 1863 | 7.36 million tonnes | +315.9% |
| 1864 | 3.85 million tonnes | -47.7% |
| 1865 | 164,880 tonnes | -95.7% |
| 1866 | 410,368 tonnes | +148.9% |
| 1867 | 13.63 million tonnes | +3222.3% |
| 1868 | 9.49 million tonnes | -30.4% |
| 1869 | 11.34 million tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1870 | 4.92 million tonnes | -56.6% |
| 1871 | 4.40 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1872 | 23.28 million tonnes | +429.1% |
| 1873 | 13.20 million tonnes | -43.3% |
| 1874 | -5.21 million tonnes | -139.5% |
| 1875 | 1.45 million tonnes | -127.8% |
| 1876 | -2.93 million tonnes | -301.8% |
| 1877 | 14.36 million tonnes | -590.4% |
| 1878 | -3.27 million tonnes | -122.8% |
| 1879 | 31.57 million tonnes | -1064.7% |
| 1880 | 23.39 million tonnes | -25.9% |
| 1881 | 11.54 million tonnes | -50.6% |
| 1882 | 25.26 million tonnes | +118.8% |
| 1883 | 18.57 million tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1884 | 13.69 million tonnes | -26.3% |
| 1885 | 4.59 million tonnes | -66.5% |
| 1886 | 15.33 million tonnes | +234.3% |
| 1887 | 20.10 million tonnes | +31.1% |
| 1888 | 66.48 million tonnes | +230.7% |
| 1889 | -38.29 million tonnes | -157.6% |
| 1890 | 66.29 million tonnes | -273.1% |
| 1891 | 25.70 million tonnes | -61.2% |
| 1892 | 23.07 million tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1893 | 3.58 million tonnes | -84.5% |
| 1894 | -29.01 million tonnes | -909.8% |
| 1895 | 54.93 million tonnes | -289.3% |
| 1896 | 999,360 tonnes | -98.2% |
| 1897 | 19.53 million tonnes | +1854.0% |
| 1898 | 45.13 million tonnes | +131.1% |
| 1899 | 80.50 million tonnes | +78.4% |
| 1900 | 37.31 million tonnes | -53.7% |
| 1901 | 59.06 million tonnes | +58.3% |
| 1902 | 43.46 million tonnes | -26.4% |
| 1903 | 130.30 million tonnes | +199.8% |
| 1904 | -12.15 million tonnes | -109.3% |
| 1905 | 105.19 million tonnes | -965.8% |
| 1906 | 49.97 million tonnes | -52.5% |
| 1907 | 168.52 million tonnes | +237.2% |
| 1908 | -150.97 million tonnes | -189.6% |
| 1909 | 114.13 million tonnes | -175.6% |
| 1910 | 106.88 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1911 | -12.75 million tonnes | -111.9% |
| 1912 | 85.24 million tonnes | -768.4% |
| 1913 | 99.84 million tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1914 | -124.91 million tonnes | -225.1% |
| 1915 | 49.51 million tonnes | -139.6% |
| 1916 | 151.79 million tonnes | +206.6% |
| 1917 | 152.09 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1918 | 74.79 million tonnes | -50.8% |
| 1919 | -267.68 million tonnes | -457.9% |
| 1920 | 260.73 million tonnes | -197.4% |
| 1921 | -314.69 million tonnes | -220.7% |
| 1922 | 13.53 million tonnes | -104.3% |
| 1923 | 463.02 million tonnes | +3321.1% |
| 1924 | -197.35 million tonnes | -142.6% |
| 1925 | 46.50 million tonnes | -123.6% |
| 1926 | 147.86 million tonnes | +218.0% |
| 1927 | -43.21 million tonnes | -129.2% |
| 1928 | -31.87 million tonnes | -26.2% |
| 1929 | 132.54 million tonnes | -515.8% |
| 1930 | -218.59 million tonnes | -264.9% |
| 1931 | -259.96 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1932 | -227.15 million tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1933 | 91.06 million tonnes | -140.1% |
| 1934 | 87.36 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1935 | 56.08 million tonnes | -35.8% |
| 1936 | 221.09 million tonnes | +294.2% |
| 1937 | 79.20 million tonnes | -64.2% |
| 1938 | -276.86 million tonnes | -449.6% |
| 1939 | 155.17 million tonnes | -156.0% |
| 1940 | 204.06 million tonnes | +31.5% |
| 1941 | 168.60 million tonnes | -17.4% |
| 1942 | 154.68 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1943 | 73.79 million tonnes | -52.3% |
| 1944 | 172.84 million tonnes | +134.2% |
| 1945 | -85.35 million tonnes | -149.4% |
| 1946 | -102.06 million tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1947 | 228.36 million tonnes | -323.8% |
| 1948 | 96.70 million tonnes | -57.7% |
| 1949 | -417.70 million tonnes | -531.9% |
| 1950 | 376.62 million tonnes | -190.2% |
| 1951 | 77.22 million tonnes | -79.5% |
| 1952 | -67.49 million tonnes | -187.4% |
| 1953 | 61.76 million tonnes | -191.5% |
| 1954 | -123.51 million tonnes | -300.0% |
| 1955 | 239.05 million tonnes | -293.5% |
| 1956 | 131.48 million tonnes | -45.0% |
| 1957 | -24.22 million tonnes | -118.4% |
| 1958 | -88.66 million tonnes | +266.2% |
| 1959 | 84.80 million tonnes | -195.6% |
| 1960 | 65.40 million tonnes | -22.9% |
| 1961 | -10.45 million tonnes | -116.0% |
| 1962 | 107.04 million tonnes | -1124.7% |
| 1963 | 132.59 million tonnes | +23.9% |
| 1964 | 137.82 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 135.23 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1966 | 171.88 million tonnes | +27.1% |
| 1967 | 134.04 million tonnes | -22.0% |
| 1968 | 135.46 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 194.23 million tonnes | +43.4% |
| 1970 | 304.55 million tonnes | +56.8% |
| 1971 | 25.78 million tonnes | -91.5% |
| 1972 | 207.55 million tonnes | +705.1% |
| 1973 | 204.69 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1974 | -169.26 million tonnes | -182.7% |
| 1975 | -194.01 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1976 | 207.08 million tonnes | -206.7% |
| 1977 | 127.96 million tonnes | -38.2% |
| 1978 | 147.84 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1979 | 11.43 million tonnes | -92.3% |
| 1980 | -178.55 million tonnes | -1662.5% |
| 1981 | -186.59 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1982 | -231.72 million tonnes | +24.2% |
| 1983 | 34.46 million tonnes | -114.9% |
| 1984 | 133.00 million tonnes | +285.9% |
| 1985 | 16.00 million tonnes | -88.0% |
| 1986 | 2.76 million tonnes | -82.8% |
| 1987 | 193.79 million tonnes | +6928.9% |
| 1988 | 205.85 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 62.46 million tonnes | -69.7% |
| 1990 | 171.52 million tonnes | +174.6% |
| 1991 | -55.35 million tonnes | -132.3% |
| 1992 | 102.36 million tonnes | -284.9% |
| 1993 | 100.75 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 82.34 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1995 | 63.97 million tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1996 | 175.26 million tonnes | +173.9% |
| 1997 | 72.05 million tonnes | -58.9% |
| 1998 | 63.22 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1999 | 63.92 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 222.88 million tonnes | +248.7% |
| 2001 | -119.60 million tonnes | -153.7% |
| 2002 | 44.26 million tonnes | -137.0% |
| 2003 | 58.62 million tonnes | +32.5% |
| 2004 | 105.11 million tonnes | +79.3% |
| 2005 | 15.36 million tonnes | -85.4% |
| 2006 | -81.58 million tonnes | -631.2% |
| 2007 | 76.22 million tonnes | -193.4% |
| 2008 | -202.32 million tonnes | -365.5% |
| 2009 | -433.12 million tonnes | +114.1% |
| 2010 | 183.15 million tonnes | -142.3% |
| 2011 | -130.28 million tonnes | -171.1% |
| 2012 | -207.51 million tonnes | +59.3% |
| 2013 | 141.97 million tonnes | -168.4% |
| 2014 | 57.95 million tonnes | -59.2% |
| 2015 | -162.89 million tonnes | -381.1% |
| 2016 | -123.14 million tonnes | -24.4% |
| 2017 | -49.94 million tonnes | -59.4% |
| 2018 | 165.82 million tonnes | -432.0% |
| 2019 | -125.32 million tonnes | -175.6% |
| 2020 | -545.96 million tonnes | +335.6% |
| 2021 | 330.16 million tonnes | -160.5% |
| 2022 | 35.29 million tonnes | -89.3% |
| 2023 | -137.00 million tonnes | -488.2% |
| 2024 | -14.29 million tonnes | -89.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's -14.29 million tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes. (74 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +6928.9% | 2.76 million tonnes | 193.79 million tonnes |
| 1923 | +3321.1% | 13.53 million tonnes | 463.02 million tonnes |
| 1867 | +3222.3% | 410,368 tonnes | 13.63 million tonnes |
| 1897 | +1854.0% | 999,360 tonnes | 19.53 million tonnes |
| 1980 | -1662.5% | 11.43 million tonnes | -178.55 million tonnes |
| 1962 | +1124.7% | -10.45 million tonnes | 107.04 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 16,692 tonnes | -7,328 tonnes | 43,968 tonnes | 9 |
| 1810s | 35,907 tonnes | -18,320 tonnes | 62,288 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 103,325 tonnes | 29,312 tonnes | 201,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 372,262 tonnes | -274,800 tonnes | 934,320 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.27 million tonnes | 340,752 tonnes | 2.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.71 million tonnes | 593,568 tonnes | 5.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.84 million tonnes | -1.76 million tonnes | 13.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 8.18 million tonnes | -5.21 million tonnes | 31.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 16.07 million tonnes | -38.29 million tonnes | 66.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 29.07 million tonnes | -29.01 million tonnes | 80.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 54.48 million tonnes | -150.97 million tonnes | 168.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 31.48 million tonnes | -267.68 million tonnes | 152.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 47.71 million tonnes | -314.69 million tonnes | 463.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | -29.26 million tonnes | -276.86 million tonnes | 221.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 49.39 million tonnes | -417.70 million tonnes | 228.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 66.70 million tonnes | -123.51 million tonnes | 376.62 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 120.32 million tonnes | -10.45 million tonnes | 194.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 87.36 million tonnes | -194.01 million tonnes | 304.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.15 million tonnes | -231.72 million tonnes | 205.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 84.00 million tonnes | -55.35 million tonnes | 175.26 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | -31.42 million tonnes | -433.12 million tonnes | 222.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -25.02 million tonnes | -207.51 million tonnes | 183.15 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -66.36 million tonnes | -545.96 million tonnes | 330.16 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in United States?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in United States was -14.29 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 463.02 million tonnes in 1923.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -545.96 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does United States rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- United States ranks 212th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 124.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 224 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.