Air transport emissions (experimental) in China
China: Air transport emissions was 660.73 Tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Air transport emissions in China, 2019–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, air transport emissions in China stood at 660.73 Tonnes.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and down 59.9% over ten years.
That places China 9th out of 111 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
Air transport emissions in China, year by year
| Year | Tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,647 Tonnes | — |
| 2020 | 649.08 Tonnes | -60.6% |
| 2021 | 492.81 Tonnes | -24.1% |
| 2022 | 522.36 Tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 639.84 Tonnes | +22.5% |
| 2024 | 660.73 Tonnes | +3.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 660.73 Tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.73 Tonnes, 177.3× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- China's 660.73 Tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.29 Tonnes, 38.2× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1,647 Tonnes | 1,647 Tonnes | 1,647 Tonnes | 1 |
| 2020s | 592.97 Tonnes | 492.81 Tonnes | 660.73 Tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 6 France 1,223 Tonnes compare
- 6 Poland 16.23 Tonnes compare
- 6 Madagascar 0.1499 Tonnes compare
- 7 Mexico 873.34 Tonnes compare
- 7 Micronesia 12.13 Tonnes compare
- 8 Lithuania 0.3686 Tonnes compare
- 8 Spain 721.22 Tonnes compare
- 9 Democratic Republic of the Congo 0.2841 Tonnes compare
- 10 Norway 597.6 Tonnes compare
- 10 Slovenia 0.0326 Tonnes compare
- 11 Brazil 496.44 Tonnes compare
- 12 New Zealand 414.54 Tonnes compare
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air transport emissions in China?
- Air transport emissions in China was 660.73 Tonnes in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest air transport emissions recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,647 Tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest air transport emissions recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 492.81 Tonnes in 2021.
- How does China rank for air transport emissions?
- China ranks 9th out of 111 countries with data for 2024.
- Is air transport emissions rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Air transport emissions (experimental). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Database updates are currently paused due to temporary source data availability issues. For further information please contact SDD.SEEA@oecd.org This database provides annual, quarterly and monthly estimates for emissions from commercial passenger, freight and general aviation flights. The emissions are estimated for 186 countries by the OECD, based on a consistent methodology across countries. From 2019, the estimates are compiled using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) flight data from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The database provides measures of emissions on a territory basis, which is used for reporting in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) inventories; and also on a residence basis, which is used to estimate the emissions of air transport (H51 in the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities, or ISIC) in the Air Emission Accounts (AEAs). Seven components of these emissions measures can be selected from the ‘Emissions ’ filter. In the tables, these are also shown with the letters A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The UNFCCC inventories and AEA air transport (ISIC H51) measures of emissions are calculated as: Inventories: domestic aviation = A + C Inventories: international aviation (memo item) = D + G Air emissions accounts: air transport (ISIC H51) = A + B + D + E + F Three categories of flight are shown on the database: total flights, passenger flights, and freight flights. General aviation (non-freight flights with fewer than 19 passengers such as agricultural planes and private jets) is included with passenger flights. The estimation methodology is described in the OECD Working Paper CO2 Emissions from Air Transport - A Near-Real-Time Global Database for Policy Analysis. and in the note Air transport CO2 emissions methodology update. Data for 2025 are estimated separately as detailed in the note: Air transport CO₂ emissions database: 2025 estimations