Annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States
United States: Annual carbon dioxide emissions was 137.44 million in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
137.44 million
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
9th
of 248 countries
All-time high
238.39 million
in 2004
All-time low
91.64 million
in 2023
Years of data
24
2003–2026
Annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States, 2003–2026
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States is 137.44 million, measured in 2026.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States peaked at 238.39 million in 2004 and was at its lowest, 91.64 million, in 2023.
United States ranks 9th of 248 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 145.50 million | — |
| 2004 | 238.39 million | +63.8% |
| 2005 | 223.03 million | -6.4% |
| 2006 | 156.39 million | -29.9% |
| 2007 | 197.86 million | +26.5% |
| 2008 | 124.41 million | -37.1% |
| 2009 | 188.68 million | +51.7% |
| 2010 | 102.59 million | -45.6% |
| 2011 | 181.02 million | +76.4% |
| 2012 | 186.04 million | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 148.49 million | -20.2% |
| 2014 | 114.69 million | -22.8% |
| 2015 | 203.68 million | +77.6% |
| 2016 | 154.85 million | -24.0% |
| 2017 | 174.50 million | +12.7% |
| 2018 | 153.53 million | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 145.37 million | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 230.28 million | +58.4% |
| 2021 | 214.74 million | -6.7% |
| 2022 | 177.57 million | -17.3% |
| 2023 | 91.64 million | -48.4% |
| 2024 | 159.62 million | +74.2% |
| 2025 | 134.66 million | -15.6% |
| 2026 | 137.44 million | +2.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 137.44 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 44,368, 3097.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 182.04 million | 124.41 million | 238.39 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 156.48 million | 102.59 million | 203.68 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 163.71 million | 91.64 million | 230.28 million | 7 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 6 Canada 204.17 million compare
- 7 Australia 181.03 million compare
- 8 Zambia 177.40 million compare
- 10 South Sudan 133.18 million compare
- 11 Mozambique 127.34 million compare
- 12 Central African Republic 79.94 million compare
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 annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States?
- Annual carbon dioxide emissions in United States was 137.44 million in 2026, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual carbon dioxide emissions recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 238.39 million in 2004.
- What is the lowest annual carbon dioxide emissions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 91.64 million in 2023.
- How does United States rank for annual carbon dioxide emissions?
- United States ranks 9th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual carbon dioxide emissions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual carbon dioxide emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).