CO₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait
Kuwait: CO₂ emissions per capita was 26.25 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
26.25 tonnes per person
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
2nd
of 213 countries
All-time high
364.79 tonnes per person
in 1991
All-time low
0 tonnes per person
in 1952
Years of data
79
1946–2024
CO₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait, 1946–2024
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
The most recent figure for co₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait is 26.25 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait peaked at 364.79 tonnes per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1952.
That places Kuwait 2nd out of 213 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.
CO₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 17.17 tonnes per person | — |
| 1947 | 46.81 tonnes per person | +172.6% |
| 1948 | 2.32 tonnes per person | -95.0% |
| 1949 | 7.15 tonnes per person | +208.6% |
| 1950 | 2.5 tonnes per person | -65.1% |
| 1951 | 0.7399 tonnes per person | -70.4% |
| 1952 | 0 tonnes per person | -100.0% |
| 1953 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1954 | 8.1 tonnes per person | — |
| 1955 | 9.92 tonnes per person | +22.5% |
| 1956 | 5.02 tonnes per person | -49.4% |
| 1957 | 9.68 tonnes per person | +92.8% |
| 1958 | 14.75 tonnes per person | +52.3% |
| 1959 | 13.59 tonnes per person | -7.8% |
| 1960 | 25.07 tonnes per person | +84.4% |
| 1961 | 28.83 tonnes per person | +15.0% |
| 1962 | 37.09 tonnes per person | +28.6% |
| 1963 | 39.78 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 1964 | 53.51 tonnes per person | +34.5% |
| 1965 | 67.9 tonnes per person | +26.9% |
| 1966 | 61.34 tonnes per person | -9.7% |
| 1967 | 40.47 tonnes per person | -34.0% |
| 1968 | 33.66 tonnes per person | -16.8% |
| 1969 | 35.77 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1970 | 30.92 tonnes per person | -13.6% |
| 1971 | 31.35 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1972 | 30 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1973 | 24.78 tonnes per person | -17.4% |
| 1974 | 18.6 tonnes per person | -24.9% |
| 1975 | 15.22 tonnes per person | -18.2% |
| 1976 | 15.66 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 13.68 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1978 | 15.65 tonnes per person | +14.5% |
| 1979 | 12.4 tonnes per person | -20.8% |
| 1980 | 16.38 tonnes per person | +32.1% |
| 1981 | 15.9 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 12.71 tonnes per person | -20.0% |
| 1983 | 12.37 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 15.56 tonnes per person | +25.8% |
| 1985 | 15.37 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 17.88 tonnes per person | +16.3% |
| 1987 | 15.31 tonnes per person | -14.4% |
| 1988 | 15.4 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 16.16 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 22.47 tonnes per person | +39.1% |
| 1991 | 364.79 tonnes per person | +1523.2% |
| 1992 | 18.16 tonnes per person | -95.0% |
| 1993 | 29.4 tonnes per person | +61.9% |
| 1994 | 34.41 tonnes per person | +17.0% |
| 1995 | 33.46 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 29.92 tonnes per person | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 31.75 tonnes per person | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 28.69 tonnes per person | -9.7% |
| 1999 | 28.99 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 28.13 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 29.44 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 29.18 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 29.62 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 30.53 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 33.36 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 2006 | 32.23 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 30.82 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 31.85 tonnes per person | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 31.78 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 30.48 tonnes per person | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 27.82 tonnes per person | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 30.33 tonnes per person | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 23.68 tonnes per person | -21.9% |
| 2014 | 20.46 tonnes per person | -13.6% |
| 2015 | 24.34 tonnes per person | +19.0% |
| 2016 | 25.98 tonnes per person | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 24.07 tonnes per person | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 23.7 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 23.56 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 20.48 tonnes per person | -13.1% |
| 2021 | 20.15 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 25.24 tonnes per person | +25.3% |
| 2023 | 25.45 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 26.25 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 26.25 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.14 tonnes per person, 4.3× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 26.25 tonnes per person is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.2 tonnes per person, 8.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +1523.2% | 22.47 tonnes per person | 364.79 tonnes per person |
| 1949 | +208.6% | 2.32 tonnes per person | 7.15 tonnes per person |
| 1947 | +172.6% | 17.17 tonnes per person | 46.81 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 18.36 tonnes per person | 2.32 tonnes per person | 46.81 tonnes per person | 4 |
| 1950s | 6.43 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 14.75 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 42.34 tonnes per person | 25.07 tonnes per person | 67.9 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.82 tonnes per person | 12.4 tonnes per person | 31.35 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.3 tonnes per person | 12.37 tonnes per person | 17.88 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 62.2 tonnes per person | 18.16 tonnes per person | 364.79 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.69 tonnes per person | 28.13 tonnes per person | 33.36 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.44 tonnes per person | 20.46 tonnes per person | 30.48 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.51 tonnes per person | 20.15 tonnes per person | 26.25 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More climate change data for Kuwait
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 639,640 kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 721.23 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 515.61 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 205.62 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.95 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4.93 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.07 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0186 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait?
- Co₂ emissions per capita in Kuwait was 26.25 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 364.79 tonnes per person in 1991.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1952.
- How does Kuwait rank for co₂ emissions per capita?
- Kuwait ranks 2nd out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait 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 — 79 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.