CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry in China
China: CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry was 1.71 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.71 billion tonnes
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
2nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
1.73 billion tonnes
in 2023
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1907
Years of data
118
1907–2024
CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry in China, 1907–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
China recorded 1.71 billion tonnes for co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and up 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in China peaked at 1.73 billion tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1907.
China ranks 2nd of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1908 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1910 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1911 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1912 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1913 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1914 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1915 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1916 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1917 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1918 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1919 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1920 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1921 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1922 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1923 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1924 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1925 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1926 | 7,328 tonnes | — |
| 1927 | 10,991 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1928 | 10,991 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 10,992 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 153,888 tonnes | +1300.0% |
| 1931 | 186,864 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1932 | 216,176 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1933 | 267,449 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1934 | 282,128 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1935 | 432,379 tonnes | +53.3% |
| 1936 | 509,296 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1937 | 593,604 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1938 | 835,392 tonnes | +40.7% |
| 1939 | 1.18 million tonnes | +41.2% |
| 1940 | 1.80 million tonnes | +52.2% |
| 1941 | 2.03 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1942 | 2.51 million tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1943 | 952,640 tonnes | -62.0% |
| 1944 | 615,575 tonnes | -35.4% |
| 1945 | 538,569 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 1946 | 216,176 tonnes | -59.9% |
| 1947 | 161,198 tonnes | -25.4% |
| 1948 | 223,538 tonnes | +38.7% |
| 1949 | 362,736 tonnes | +62.3% |
| 1950 | 619,187 tonnes | +70.7% |
| 1951 | 937,984 tonnes | +51.5% |
| 1952 | 1.34 million tonnes | +42.6% |
| 1953 | 1.91 million tonnes | +42.7% |
| 1954 | 3.34 million tonnes | +75.0% |
| 1955 | 5.42 million tonnes | +62.2% |
| 1956 | 8.09 million tonnes | +49.4% |
| 1957 | 8.99 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1958 | 12.36 million tonnes | +37.5% |
| 1959 | 19.05 million tonnes | +54.1% |
| 1960 | 22.99 million tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1961 | 22.34 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1962 | 21.76 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1963 | 23.27 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1964 | 27.73 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1965 | 35.00 million tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1966 | 44.55 million tonnes | +27.3% |
| 1967 | 42.50 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1968 | 48.65 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1969 | 66.85 million tonnes | +37.4% |
| 1970 | 94.64 million tonnes | +41.6% |
| 1971 | 120.09 million tonnes | +26.9% |
| 1972 | 138.33 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1973 | 158.82 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1974 | 182.57 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1975 | 204.19 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1976 | 238.98 million tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1977 | 257.48 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 281.99 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1979 | 278.43 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 273.20 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 256.37 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 257.81 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 263.77 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 271.45 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 284.59 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 303.07 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 321.52 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 343.13 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 354.44 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 330.29 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1991 | 356.03 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 385.79 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1993 | 428.55 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1994 | 423.71 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 468.23 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 510.62 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 557.96 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 559.26 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 596.75 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 648.68 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 659.30 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 653.09 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 727.10 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 2004 | 839.10 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 2005 | 850.18 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 898.54 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 927.36 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 970.12 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 982.36 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.09 billion tonnes | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.18 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 1.23 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 1.33 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 1.36 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 1.50 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 1.56 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 1.52 billion tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 1.52 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 1.56 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 1.73 billion tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 1.71 billion tonnes | -1.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.71 billion tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.32 million tonnes, 182.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 1.71 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.31 million tonnes, 514.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions by fuel or industry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | +1300.0% | 10,992 tonnes | 153,888 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 3 |
| 1910s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 4,030 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10,992 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 465,699 tonnes | 153,888 tonnes | 1.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 940,541 tonnes | 161,198 tonnes | 2.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.21 million tonnes | 619,187 tonnes | 19.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 35.56 million tonnes | 21.76 million tonnes | 66.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 195.55 million tonnes | 94.64 million tonnes | 281.99 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 292.94 million tonnes | 256.37 million tonnes | 354.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 461.72 million tonnes | 330.29 million tonnes | 596.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 815.58 million tonnes | 648.68 million tonnes | 982.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.31 billion tonnes | 1.09 billion tonnes | 1.56 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.61 billion tonnes | 1.52 billion tonnes | 1.73 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 2.19 billion tonnes compare
- 3 India 747.33 million tonnes compare
- 4 Saudi Arabia 451.46 million tonnes compare
- 5 Russia 437.89 million tonnes 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 co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in China?
- Co₂ emissions by fuel or industry in China was 1.71 billion tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions by fuel or industry recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.73 billion tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions by fuel or industry recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1907.
- How does China rank for co₂ emissions by fuel or industry?
- China ranks 2nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions by fuel or industry rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. 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 by fuel or industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 118 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from oil, measured in tonnes.