Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in China
China: Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre was 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in China, 1961–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
China recorded 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre for annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in China peaked at 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre in 2024 and was at its lowest, 131.7 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1967.
China ranks 24th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 165.2 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 162.78 tonnes per square kilometre | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 177.19 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.9% |
| 1964 | 160.84 tonnes per square kilometre | -9.2% |
| 1965 | 197.23 tonnes per square kilometre | +22.6% |
| 1966 | 173.05 tonnes per square kilometre | -12.3% |
| 1967 | 131.7 tonnes per square kilometre | -23.9% |
| 1968 | 146.85 tonnes per square kilometre | +11.5% |
| 1969 | 232.59 tonnes per square kilometre | +58.4% |
| 1970 | 228.37 tonnes per square kilometre | -1.8% |
| 1971 | 190.86 tonnes per square kilometre | -16.4% |
| 1972 | 268.8 tonnes per square kilometre | +40.8% |
| 1973 | 256.52 tonnes per square kilometre | -4.6% |
| 1974 | 256.59 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 254.34 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.9% |
| 1976 | 239.54 tonnes per square kilometre | -5.8% |
| 1977 | 312.35 tonnes per square kilometre | +30.4% |
| 1978 | 357.5 tonnes per square kilometre | +14.5% |
| 1979 | 282.87 tonnes per square kilometre | -20.9% |
| 1980 | 275.89 tonnes per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 265.84 tonnes per square kilometre | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 276.42 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 281.02 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 291.09 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 298.75 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 308.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 320.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 340.92 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 346.11 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 350.15 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 360.29 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 380.05 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 398.45 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 429.31 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 446.48 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 466.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 472.38 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 453.66 tonnes per square kilometre | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 467.43 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 455.68 tonnes per square kilometre | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 452.42 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 480.89 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 555.16 tonnes per square kilometre | +15.4% |
| 2004 | 596.25 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 664.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 729.9 tonnes per square kilometre | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 778.52 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.7% |
| 2008 | 835.07 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 877.24 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 913.54 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 1,017 tonnes per square kilometre | +11.4% |
| 2012 | 1,043 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1,061 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 1,048 tonnes per square kilometre | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 1,047 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 1,023 tonnes per square kilometre | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 1,045 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 1,083 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 1,116 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 1,133 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 1,171 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 1,216 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 1,263 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2024 | 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 261.01 tonnes per square kilometre, 4.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 404.98 tonnes per square kilometre, 3.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | +58.4% | 146.85 tonnes per square kilometre | 232.59 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1972 | +40.8% | 190.86 tonnes per square kilometre | 268.8 tonnes per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 171.94 tonnes per square kilometre | 131.7 tonnes per square kilometre | 232.59 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 264.77 tonnes per square kilometre | 190.86 tonnes per square kilometre | 357.5 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 300.51 tonnes per square kilometre | 265.84 tonnes per square kilometre | 346.11 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 422.48 tonnes per square kilometre | 350.15 tonnes per square kilometre | 472.38 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 642.54 tonnes per square kilometre | 452.42 tonnes per square kilometre | 877.24 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,040 tonnes per square kilometre | 913.54 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,116 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,212 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,133 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 21 Lebanon 1,537 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 22 Antigua and Barbuda 1,451 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 23 Seychelles 1,428 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 25 United Kingdom 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 26 India 1,077 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 27 Malaysia 1,072 tonnes per square kilometre 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 annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in China?
- Annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre in China was 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,275 tonnes per square kilometre in 2024.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 131.7 tonnes per square kilometre in 1967.
- How does China rank for annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre?
- China ranks 24th out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Annual co2 including land use Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Annual CO₂ emissions including land-use change divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.