CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea
North Korea: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 62.55 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
62.55 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
52nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
209.25 million tonnes
in 1989
All-time low
13,885 tonnes
in 1905
Years of data
116
1905–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea, 1905–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 62.55 million tonnes for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 57.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea peaked at 209.25 million tonnes in 1989 and was at its lowest, 13,885 tonnes, in 1905.
That places North Korea 52nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 13,885 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 149,260 tonnes | +975.0% |
| 1910 | 187,443 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1911 | 222,154 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1912 | 277,693 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1913 | 322,818 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1914 | 461,664 tonnes | +43.0% |
| 1915 | 576,212 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1916 | 479,020 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1918 | 472,077 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1919 | 558,856 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1920 | 725,472 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1921 | 781,011 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1922 | 798,366 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 954,568 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1924 | 1.00 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1925 | 1.60 million tonnes | +59.5% |
| 1926 | 1.72 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1927 | 1.78 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1928 | 2.05 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1929 | 2.36 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1930 | 2.22 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1931 | 2.35 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1932 | 2.77 million tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1933 | 3.27 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1934 | 4.35 million tonnes | +33.0% |
| 1935 | 5.11 million tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1936 | 6.00 million tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1937 | 6.42 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1938 | 8.59 million tonnes | +33.8% |
| 1939 | 11.22 million tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1940 | 14.43 million tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1941 | 16.09 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1942 | 17.76 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1943 | 17.22 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1944 | 18.19 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1945 | 65,417 tonnes | -99.6% |
| 1946 | 72,686 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1947 | 72,686 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 1.40 million tonnes | +1830.6% |
| 1949 | 1.78 million tonnes | +26.9% |
| 1950 | 780,432 tonnes | -56.2% |
| 1951 | 995,984 tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1952 | 889,758 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1953 | 1.74 million tonnes | +95.1% |
| 1954 | 4.79 million tonnes | +175.8% |
| 1955 | 7.34 million tonnes | +53.4% |
| 1956 | 8.96 million tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1957 | 11.29 million tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1958 | 15.63 million tonnes | +38.5% |
| 1959 | 19.87 million tonnes | +27.1% |
| 1960 | 23.79 million tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1961 | 26.43 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1962 | 30.69 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1963 | 32.83 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1964 | 35.62 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1965 | 44.22 million tonnes | +24.2% |
| 1966 | 47.60 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1967 | 52.39 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1968 | 59.27 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1969 | 64.08 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1970 | 73.48 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1971 | 107.45 million tonnes | +46.2% |
| 1972 | 89.50 million tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1973 | 97.33 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1974 | 101.61 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 107.62 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 110.03 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 113.67 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 108.21 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 110.26 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 114.08 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 114.40 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 116.89 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 125.16 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1984 | 134.66 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 144.29 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 156.84 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1987 | 175.63 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1988 | 199.23 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1989 | 209.25 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 118.38 million tonnes | -43.4% |
| 1991 | 112.82 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 97.99 million tonnes | -13.1% |
| 1993 | 89.59 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1994 | 81.58 million tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1995 | 76.09 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 66.29 million tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1997 | 63.68 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 58.75 million tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1999 | 64.14 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2000 | 69.17 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 71.67 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 68.64 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 70.14 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 71.72 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 75.01 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 76.17 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 63.48 million tonnes | -16.7% |
| 2008 | 70.33 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 67.66 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 65.36 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 47.87 million tonnes | -26.8% |
| 2012 | 46.75 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 36.14 million tonnes | -22.7% |
| 2014 | 39.82 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2015 | 31.28 million tonnes | -21.5% |
| 2016 | 34.24 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 69.71 million tonnes | +103.6% |
| 2018 | 62.61 million tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2019 | 69.51 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2020 | 65.58 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 53.97 million tonnes | -17.7% |
| 2022 | 56.29 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 62.02 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2024 | 62.55 million tonnes | +0.8% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 62.55 million tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 3.17 million tonnes, 19.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 62.55 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.97 million tonnes, 3.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | +1830.6% | 72,686 tonnes | 1.40 million tonnes |
| 1909 | +975.0% | 13,885 tonnes | 149,260 tonnes |
| 1954 | +175.8% | 1.74 million tonnes | 4.79 million tonnes |
| 1945 | -99.6% | 18.19 million tonnes | 65,417 tonnes |
| 2017 | +103.6% | 34.24 million tonnes | 69.71 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 81,572 tonnes | 13,885 tonnes | 149,260 tonnes | 2 |
| 1910s | 395,326 tonnes | 187,443 tonnes | 576,212 tonnes | 9 |
| 1920s | 1.38 million tonnes | 725,472 tonnes | 2.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 5.23 million tonnes | 2.22 million tonnes | 11.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 8.71 million tonnes | 65,417 tonnes | 18.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 7.23 million tonnes | 780,432 tonnes | 19.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 41.69 million tonnes | 23.79 million tonnes | 64.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 101.92 million tonnes | 73.48 million tonnes | 113.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 149.04 million tonnes | 114.08 million tonnes | 209.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 82.93 million tonnes | 58.75 million tonnes | 118.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.40 million tonnes | 63.48 million tonnes | 76.17 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.33 million tonnes | 31.28 million tonnes | 69.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.08 million tonnes | 53.97 million tonnes | 65.58 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More climate change data for North Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total 26.57 million (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 27.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6419 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.2725 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 17.06 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.8% (2025)
- Population growth 0.3% (2025)
- Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita 0.0729 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in North Korea was 62.55 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 209.25 million tonnes in 1989.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,885 tonnes in 1905.
- How does North Korea rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- North Korea ranks 52nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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 from fossil fuels and land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 116 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.