Annual CO₂ emissions from cement in China
China: Annual CO₂ emissions from cement was 617.75 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
617.75 million tonnes
Change on year
down 9.4%
World rank
1st
of 211 countries
All-time high
828.71 million tonnes
in 2020
All-time low
9,181 tonnes
in 1938
Years of data
97
1928–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from cement in China, 1928–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from cement in China stood at 617.75 million tonnes.
The figure is down 9.4% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from cement in China peaked at 828.71 million tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9,181 tonnes, in 1938.
That places China 1st out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from cement in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 39,782 tonnes | — |
| 1929 | 76,511 tonnes | +92.3% |
| 1930 | 73,451 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1931 | 97,934 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1932 | 79,572 tonnes | -18.7% |
| 1933 | 113,227 tonnes | +42.3% |
| 1934 | 97,934 tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1935 | 156,093 tonnes | +59.4% |
| 1936 | 428,463 tonnes | +174.5% |
| 1937 | 437,671 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 9,181 tonnes | -97.9% |
| 1939 | 223,413 tonnes | +2333.4% |
| 1940 | 272,368 tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1941 | 495,793 tonnes | +82.0% |
| 1942 | 654,936 tonnes | +32.1% |
| 1943 | 639,634 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1944 | 489,690 tonnes | -23.4% |
| 1945 | 18,361 tonnes | -96.3% |
| 1946 | 85,693 tonnes | +366.7% |
| 1947 | 174,427 tonnes | +103.5% |
| 1948 | 82,645 tonnes | -52.6% |
| 1949 | 274,720 tonnes | +232.4% |
| 1950 | 586,903 tonnes | +113.6% |
| 1951 | 1.04 million tonnes | +76.6% |
| 1952 | 1.20 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1953 | 1.62 million tonnes | +34.3% |
| 1954 | 1.91 million tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1955 | 1.87 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1956 | 2.66 million tonnes | +42.0% |
| 1957 | 2.86 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1958 | 3.87 million tonnes | +35.6% |
| 1959 | 5.11 million tonnes | +31.9% |
| 1960 | 6.51 million tonnes | +27.5% |
| 1961 | 2.58 million tonnes | -60.3% |
| 1962 | 2.50 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 3.35 million tonnes | +34.3% |
| 1964 | 5.03 million tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1965 | 6.80 million tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1966 | 8.39 million tonnes | +23.3% |
| 1967 | 6.09 million tonnes | -27.4% |
| 1968 | 5.25 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1969 | 7.61 million tonnes | +44.9% |
| 1970 | 10.72 million tonnes | +40.8% |
| 1971 | 13.11 million tonnes | +22.3% |
| 1972 | 14.69 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1973 | 15.42 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 15.29 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 19.02 million tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1976 | 19.16 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 22.77 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1978 | 26.63 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1979 | 30.09 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1980 | 32.44 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 33.59 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 38.48 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1983 | 43.64 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1984 | 49.47 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1985 | 58.55 million tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1986 | 66.45 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1987 | 74.34 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1988 | 83.66 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1989 | 83.51 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 83.07 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 99.57 million tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1992 | 120.35 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1993 | 140.33 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1994 | 161.57 million tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1995 | 181.48 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1996 | 189.56 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 199.41 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 207.75 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 224.42 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 240.21 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 266.20 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 277.86 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 347.63 million tonnes | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 362.10 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 411.64 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 2006 | 462.05 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 2007 | 506.18 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 516.93 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 573.58 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2010 | 628.66 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2011 | 696.45 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2012 | 702.56 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 735.53 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 757.12 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 706.27 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 728.11 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 740.56 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 752.74 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 805.95 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 828.71 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 802.49 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 718.78 million tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2023 | 681.69 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 617.75 million tonnes | -9.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 617.75 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 787,210 tonnes, 784.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 617.75 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13,166 tonnes, 46922.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from cement in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | +2333.4% | 9,181 tonnes | 223,413 tonnes |
| 1946 | +366.7% | 18,361 tonnes | 85,693 tonnes |
| 1949 | +232.4% | 82,645 tonnes | 274,720 tonnes |
| 1936 | +174.5% | 156,093 tonnes | 428,463 tonnes |
| 1938 | -97.9% | 437,671 tonnes | 9,181 tonnes |
| 1945 | -96.3% | 489,690 tonnes | 18,361 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 58,146 tonnes | 39,782 tonnes | 76,511 tonnes | 2 |
| 1930s | 171,694 tonnes | 9,181 tonnes | 437,671 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 318,827 tonnes | 18,361 tonnes | 654,936 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.27 million tonnes | 586,903 tonnes | 5.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.41 million tonnes | 2.50 million tonnes | 8.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.69 million tonnes | 10.72 million tonnes | 30.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.41 million tonnes | 32.44 million tonnes | 83.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 160.75 million tonnes | 83.07 million tonnes | 224.42 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 396.44 million tonnes | 240.21 million tonnes | 573.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 725.40 million tonnes | 628.66 million tonnes | 805.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 729.88 million tonnes | 617.75 million tonnes | 828.71 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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 annual co₂ emissions from cement in China?
- Annual co₂ emissions from cement in China was 617.75 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from cement recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 828.71 million tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from cement recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,181 tonnes in 1938.
- How does China rank for annual co₂ emissions from cement?
- China ranks 1st out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from cement rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual CO₂ emissions from cement. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 97 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from cement, measured in tonnes.