CO₂ emissions embedded in trade in China
China: CO₂ emissions embedded in trade was -1.31 billion tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
CO₂ emissions embedded in trade in China, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
China recorded -1.31 billion tonnes for co₂ emissions embedded in trade in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions embedded in trade in China peaked at -73.11 million tonnes in 1992 and was at its lowest, -1.60 billion tonnes, in 2008.
That places China 120th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -254.71 million tonnes | -412.77 million tonnes | -73.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.00 billion tonnes | -1.60 billion tonnes | -392.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.18 billion tonnes | -1.46 billion tonnes | -903.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.22 billion tonnes | -1.31 billion tonnes | -1.10 billion tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 6.2% (2100)
- Population growth -0.2% (2025)
- Population, total 1.41 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Urban population 933.17 million (2025)
- Urban population 66.3% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 285.09 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions embedded in trade in China?
- Co₂ emissions embedded in trade in China was -1.31 billion tonnes in 2023, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions embedded in trade recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was -73.11 million tonnes in 1992.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions embedded in trade recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.60 billion tonnes in 2008.
- How does China rank for co₂ emissions embedded in trade?
- China ranks 120th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is co₂ emissions embedded in trade rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. 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 CO₂ emissions embedded in trade. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions embedded in trade, measured in tonnes.