CO₂ emissions from domestic air travel in China
China: CO₂ emissions from domestic air travel was 78.64 million tonnes in 2024. ▲ Rising
CO₂ emissions from domestic air travel in China, 2013–2024
Source: OECD (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
China recorded 78.64 million tonnes for co₂ emissions from domestic air travel in 2024. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 71.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from domestic air travel in China peaked at 78.64 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 35.47 million tonnes, in 2022.
China ranks 3rd of 143 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
CO₂ emissions from domestic air travel in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 42.70 million tonnes | — |
| 2014 | 45.99 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2015 | 49.81 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 54.56 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 61.13 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 66.84 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2019 | 73.98 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 57.13 million tonnes | -22.8% |
| 2021 | 61.11 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 35.47 million tonnes | -42.0% |
| 2023 | 73.70 million tonnes | +107.8% |
| 2024 | 78.64 million tonnes | +6.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 78.64 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 25,714 tonnes, 3058.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- China's 78.64 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 18,032 tonnes, 4361.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 56.43 million tonnes | 42.70 million tonnes | 73.98 million tonnes | 7 |
| 2020s | 61.21 million tonnes | 35.47 million tonnes | 78.64 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
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 from domestic air travel in China?
- Co₂ emissions from domestic air travel in China was 78.64 million tonnes in 2024, according to OECD (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from domestic air travel recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 78.64 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from domestic air travel recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.47 million tonnes in 2022.
- How does China rank for co₂ emissions from domestic air travel?
- China ranks 3rd out of 143 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from domestic air travel rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions from domestic air travel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic aviation represents flights which depart and arrive within the same country. CO₂ emissions from commercial passenger flights only.