CO₂ emissions per capita in Belgium
Belgium: CO₂ emissions per capita was 7.28 tonnes per person in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
7.28 tonnes per person
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
38th
of 213 countries
All-time high
14.27 tonnes per person
in 1973
All-time low
1.14 tonnes per person
in 1834
Years of data
196
1802–2024
CO₂ emissions per capita in Belgium, 1802–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes per person.
Analysis
In 2024, co₂ emissions per capita in Belgium stood at 7.28 tonnes per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions per capita in Belgium peaked at 14.27 tonnes per person in 1973 and was at its lowest, 1.14 tonnes per person, in 1834.
That places Belgium 38th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 196 years of available data.
CO₂ emissions per capita in Belgium, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1802 | 1.96 tonnes per person | — |
| 1830 | 1.65 tonnes per person | -15.6% |
| 1831 | 1.18 tonnes per person | -28.6% |
| 1832 | 1.24 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1833 | 1.19 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1834 | 1.14 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1835 | 1.22 tonnes per person | +7.1% |
| 1836 | 1.42 tonnes per person | +16.6% |
| 1837 | 1.51 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1838 | 1.53 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1839 | 1.66 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 1840 | 1.89 tonnes per person | +14.2% |
| 1841 | 1.8 tonnes per person | -5.2% |
| 1842 | 1.85 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1843 | 1.7 tonnes per person | -8.2% |
| 1844 | 1.85 tonnes per person | +8.7% |
| 1845 | 1.93 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1846 | 2.09 tonnes per person | +8.2% |
| 1847 | 2.15 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1848 | 1.89 tonnes per person | -11.9% |
| 1849 | 1.98 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1850 | 2.1 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 1851 | 2.27 tonnes per person | +8.2% |
| 1852 | 2.53 tonnes per person | +11.5% |
| 1853 | 2.6 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1854 | 2.86 tonnes per person | +10.1% |
| 1855 | 2.91 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1856 | 2.86 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1857 | 2.96 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1858 | 3.09 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1859 | 3.16 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1860 | 3.21 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1861 | 3.45 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 1862 | 3.4 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1863 | 3.56 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1864 | 3.71 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1865 | 3.88 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1866 | 4.15 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1867 | 4.46 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 1868 | 4.01 tonnes per person | -10.2% |
| 1869 | 4.28 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1870 | 4.86 tonnes per person | +13.4% |
| 1871 | 4.62 tonnes per person | -4.9% |
| 1872 | 4.94 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1873 | 5.39 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1874 | 4.92 tonnes per person | -8.6% |
| 1875 | 5.07 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1876 | 4.92 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 1877 | 4.64 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 1878 | 5.01 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1879 | 5.05 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1880 | 5.5 tonnes per person | +8.8% |
| 1881 | 5.48 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1882 | 5.75 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 1883 | 6.04 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1884 | 5.89 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1885 | 5.7 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1886 | 5.48 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1887 | 5.75 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1888 | 6.04 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1889 | 6.11 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 6.55 tonnes per person | +7.1% |
| 1891 | 6.15 tonnes per person | -6.0% |
| 1892 | 6.08 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1893 | 5.76 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 1894 | 6.3 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 1895 | 6.29 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1896 | 6.56 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1897 | 6.72 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 1898 | 6.86 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1899 | 7.1 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1900 | 7.41 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1901 | 6.89 tonnes per person | -6.9% |
| 1902 | 7.13 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1903 | 7.6 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1904 | 7.19 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1905 | 7.1 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1906 | 8.04 tonnes per person | +13.1% |
| 1907 | 8.06 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1908 | 7.91 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1909 | 7.83 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1910 | 8.25 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1911 | 8.27 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1912 | 8.66 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1913 | 9.08 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 1914 | 5.42 tonnes per person | -40.4% |
| 1915 | 4.59 tonnes per person | -15.2% |
| 1916 | 6.1 tonnes per person | +33.0% |
| 1917 | 4.83 tonnes per person | -20.9% |
| 1918 | 4.49 tonnes per person | -7.0% |
| 1919 | 5.96 tonnes per person | +32.8% |
| 1920 | 7.3 tonnes per person | +22.5% |
| 1921 | 6.66 tonnes per person | -8.8% |
| 1922 | 7.33 tonnes per person | +10.0% |
| 1923 | 9.36 tonnes per person | +27.7% |
| 1924 | 9.87 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1925 | 10.03 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1926 | 9.92 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1927 | 11.47 tonnes per person | +15.7% |
| 1928 | 11.12 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 1929 | 12.14 tonnes per person | +9.2% |
| 1930 | 11.67 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1931 | 10.43 tonnes per person | -10.6% |
| 1932 | 8.36 tonnes per person | -19.8% |
| 1933 | 8.94 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1934 | 9.19 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1935 | 8.76 tonnes per person | -4.7% |
| 1936 | 9.14 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1937 | 10.97 tonnes per person | +20.0% |
| 1938 | 9.58 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1939 | 8.89 tonnes per person | -7.1% |
| 1940 | 7.47 tonnes per person | -16.0% |
| 1941 | 7.81 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1942 | 7.29 tonnes per person | -6.6% |
| 1943 | 6.89 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 1944 | 3.93 tonnes per person | -42.9% |
| 1945 | 4.58 tonnes per person | +16.5% |
| 1946 | 6.65 tonnes per person | +45.1% |
| 1947 | 9.63 tonnes per person | +44.9% |
| 1948 | 9.95 tonnes per person | +3.3% |
| 1949 | 9.41 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1950 | 8.84 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1951 | 10.34 tonnes per person | +16.9% |
| 1952 | 9.6 tonnes per person | -7.1% |
| 1953 | 9.42 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1954 | 9.76 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1955 | 10.42 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 1956 | 10.9 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 10.8 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 1958 | 9.76 tonnes per person | -9.7% |
| 1959 | 9.76 tonnes per person | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 9.99 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 10.12 tonnes per person | +1.3% |
| 1962 | 10.63 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 11.39 tonnes per person | +7.1% |
| 1964 | 11.09 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 1965 | 11.21 tonnes per person | +1.0% |
| 1966 | 11.12 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 11.29 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 12.4 tonnes per person | +9.8% |
| 1969 | 12.88 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 13.03 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 12.56 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1972 | 13.48 tonnes per person | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 14.27 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 13.86 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 12.5 tonnes per person | -9.8% |
| 1976 | 13.29 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 12.91 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 13.83 tonnes per person | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 14.25 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 13.71 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 12.55 tonnes per person | -8.5% |
| 1982 | 11.87 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 1983 | 10.25 tonnes per person | -13.6% |
| 1984 | 10.63 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 10.53 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 10.35 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 10.36 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 10.06 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 10.75 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 12.08 tonnes per person | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 12.34 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 12.2 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 12.04 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 12.34 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 12.43 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 12.75 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 12.18 tonnes per person | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 12.77 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 12.2 tonnes per person | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 12.37 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 12.26 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 12.28 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 12.36 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 12.36 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 11.99 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 11.75 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 11.34 tonnes per person | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 11.22 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 9.97 tonnes per person | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 10.48 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 9.53 tonnes per person | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 9.23 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 9.21 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.66 tonnes per person | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 8.99 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 8.81 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 8.73 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 8.77 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 8.69 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 7.91 tonnes per person | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 8.2 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 7.64 tonnes per person | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 7.23 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 7.28 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 7.28 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.14 tonnes per person, 1.2× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 7.28 tonnes per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.13 tonnes per person, 1.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions per capita in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | -42.9% | 6.89 tonnes per person | 3.93 tonnes per person |
| 1946 | +45.1% | 4.58 tonnes per person | 6.65 tonnes per person |
| 1947 | +44.9% | 6.65 tonnes per person | 9.63 tonnes per person |
| 1914 | -40.4% | 9.08 tonnes per person | 5.42 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 1.96 tonnes per person | 1.96 tonnes per person | 1.96 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1830s | 1.37 tonnes per person | 1.14 tonnes per person | 1.66 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.91 tonnes per person | 1.7 tonnes per person | 2.15 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.74 tonnes per person | 2.1 tonnes per person | 3.16 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 3.81 tonnes per person | 3.21 tonnes per person | 4.46 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.94 tonnes per person | 4.62 tonnes per person | 5.39 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.78 tonnes per person | 5.48 tonnes per person | 6.11 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.44 tonnes per person | 5.76 tonnes per person | 7.1 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 7.52 tonnes per person | 6.89 tonnes per person | 8.06 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.56 tonnes per person | 4.49 tonnes per person | 9.08 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.52 tonnes per person | 6.66 tonnes per person | 12.14 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.59 tonnes per person | 8.36 tonnes per person | 11.67 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 7.36 tonnes per person | 3.93 tonnes per person | 9.95 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.96 tonnes per person | 8.84 tonnes per person | 10.9 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.21 tonnes per person | 9.99 tonnes per person | 12.88 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.4 tonnes per person | 12.5 tonnes per person | 14.27 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.11 tonnes per person | 10.06 tonnes per person | 13.71 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.33 tonnes per person | 12.04 tonnes per person | 12.77 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.79 tonnes per person | 9.97 tonnes per person | 12.37 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.11 tonnes per person | 8.66 tonnes per person | 10.48 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.65 tonnes per person | 7.23 tonnes per person | 8.2 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More climate change data for Belgium
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 143.51 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 8,360 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,597 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.65 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 235.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,004 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 993.72 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 10.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.75 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions per capita in Belgium?
- Co₂ emissions per capita in Belgium was 7.28 tonnes per person in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions per capita recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 14.27 tonnes per person in 1973.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions per capita recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.14 tonnes per person in 1834.
- How does Belgium rank for co₂ emissions per capita?
- Belgium ranks 38th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 196 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes. This includes emissions from transport, electricity generation, and heating, but not land-use change.