Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion (millions of tonnes) in South Korea
South Korea: Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion (millions of tonnes) was 550.9 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
550.9
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
9th
of 161 countries
All-time high
635.85
in 2018
All-time low
417.46
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in South Korea, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 550.9 for carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in 2023.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in South Korea peaked at 635.85 in 2018 and was at its lowest, 417.46, in 2000.
That places South Korea 9th out of 161 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion (millions of tonnes) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 417.46 | — |
| 2001 | 428.54 | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 442.87 | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 449.46 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 468.32 | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 466.62 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 472.25 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 489.69 | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 500.78 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 509.56 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 567.31 | +11.3% |
| 2011 | 596.22 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 593.54 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 592.31 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 577.21 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 588.56 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 590.9 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 612.99 | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 635.85 | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 608.72 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 565.83 | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 588.78 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 570.32 | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 550.9 | -3.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 550.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 35.08, 15.7× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 550.9 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 198.49, 2.8× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 464.56 | 417.46 | 509.56 | 10 |
| 2010s | 596.36 | 567.31 | 635.85 | 10 |
| 2020s | 568.96 | 550.9 | 588.78 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 6 Japan 934.79 compare
- 7 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 727.39 compare
- 8 Indonesia 659.17 compare
- 9 Republic of Korea 550.9 compare
- 11 Germany 549.22 compare
- 12 Saudi Arabia 534.68 compare
More climate change data for South Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in South Korea?
- Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in South Korea was 550.9 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 635.85 in 2018.
- What is the lowest carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 417.46 in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 161 countries with data for 2023.
- Is carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion (millions of tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).