CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 312.91 million tonnes in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
312.91 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
18th
of 215 countries
All-time high
660.40 million tonnes
in 1971
All-time low
115.36 million tonnes
in 1853
Years of data
175
1850–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom is 312.91 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom peaked at 660.40 million tonnes in 1971 and was at its lowest, 115.36 million tonnes, in 1853.
United Kingdom ranks 18th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 122.35 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 116.41 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1852 | 116.00 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1853 | 115.36 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1854 | 139.01 million tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1855 | 130.17 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1856 | 140.08 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1857 | 137.57 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1858 | 134.83 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1859 | 149.70 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1860 | 167.95 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1861 | 175.05 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1862 | 169.47 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1863 | 180.22 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1864 | 193.91 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1865 | 205.49 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1866 | 211.73 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1867 | 217.37 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1868 | 213.22 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1869 | 223.71 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1870 | 228.49 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1871 | 242.04 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1872 | 254.99 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1873 | 264.66 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1874 | 257.19 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1875 | 271.49 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1876 | 271.02 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1877 | 275.90 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1878 | 270.98 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1879 | 272.65 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1880 | 297.12 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1881 | 312.31 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1882 | 314.96 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 327.73 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1884 | 319.10 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1885 | 315.29 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1886 | 312.43 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1887 | 320.44 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1888 | 333.17 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1889 | 345.02 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1890 | 353.02 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1891 | 360.47 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1892 | 353.01 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1893 | 316.21 million tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1894 | 362.10 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1895 | 365.55 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1896 | 375.98 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1897 | 385.97 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1898 | 386.88 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1899 | 414.55 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1900 | 419.74 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 410.70 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1902 | 426.64 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1903 | 429.99 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1904 | 431.99 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1905 | 437.67 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1906 | 453.35 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1907 | 473.57 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1908 | 461.96 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1909 | 466.09 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 469.73 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1911 | 481.35 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1912 | 455.89 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1913 | 498.32 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1914 | 483.18 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1915 | 489.48 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 507.07 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1917 | 501.17 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1918 | 466.85 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1919 | 456.13 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1920 | 480.47 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1921 | 332.19 million tonnes | -30.9% |
| 1922 | 439.61 million tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1923 | 466.07 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1924 | 488.24 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1925 | 461.00 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1926 | 261.07 million tonnes | -43.4% |
| 1927 | 481.34 million tonnes | +84.4% |
| 1928 | 454.45 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1929 | 478.21 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1930 | 460.81 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1931 | 430.98 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1932 | 414.56 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1933 | 412.27 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1934 | 445.28 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1935 | 451.21 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1936 | 476.54 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1937 | 491.70 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1938 | 472.76 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1939 | 474.29 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1940 | 500.08 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1941 | 499.80 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1942 | 493.00 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1943 | 490.22 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1944 | 489.67 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1945 | 453.07 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1946 | 464.41 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1947 | 485.23 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1948 | 503.51 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1949 | 507.55 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 499.23 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1951 | 543.79 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1952 | 527.41 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1953 | 539.10 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 552.03 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 576.12 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1956 | 573.75 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1957 | 570.25 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1958 | 555.99 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1959 | 546.36 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 583.90 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1961 | 588.58 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 592.92 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 603.38 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 607.87 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 622.12 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 618.08 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 592.06 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1968 | 606.50 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 628.39 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 652.59 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 660.40 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 648.03 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1973 | 659.58 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 617.19 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1975 | 603.25 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 598.53 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 604.37 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 604.73 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 644.51 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1980 | 579.04 million tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1981 | 560.55 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1982 | 548.23 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1983 | 545.47 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 529.10 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 559.63 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 568.57 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 571.65 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 570.28 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 581.56 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 601.95 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 609.41 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 593.85 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 579.61 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1994 | 574.02 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 566.16 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 586.76 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 562.71 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 568.54 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 561.65 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 569.03 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 577.97 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 560.27 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 571.62 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 573.43 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 570.34 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 567.85 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 559.57 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 544.93 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 494.11 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 511.90 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 469.71 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 487.48 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 477.61 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 438.81 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 422.46 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 399.43 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 387.37 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 379.73 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 364.75 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 326.26 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2021 | 342.37 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 311.12 million tonnes | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 307.83 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 312.91 million tonnes | +1.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 312.91 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.70 million tonnes, 10.2× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 312.91 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32.69 million tonnes, 9.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +84.4% | 261.07 million tonnes | 481.34 million tonnes |
| 1926 | -43.4% | 461.00 million tonnes | 261.07 million tonnes |
| 1921 | -30.9% | 480.47 million tonnes | 332.19 million tonnes |
| 1922 | +32.3% | 332.19 million tonnes | 439.61 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 130.15 million tonnes | 115.36 million tonnes | 149.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 195.81 million tonnes | 167.95 million tonnes | 223.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 260.94 million tonnes | 228.49 million tonnes | 275.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 319.76 million tonnes | 297.12 million tonnes | 345.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 367.37 million tonnes | 316.21 million tonnes | 414.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 441.17 million tonnes | 410.70 million tonnes | 473.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 480.92 million tonnes | 455.89 million tonnes | 507.07 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 434.26 million tonnes | 261.07 million tonnes | 488.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 453.04 million tonnes | 412.27 million tonnes | 491.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 488.65 million tonnes | 453.07 million tonnes | 507.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 548.40 million tonnes | 499.23 million tonnes | 576.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 604.38 million tonnes | 583.90 million tonnes | 628.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 629.32 million tonnes | 598.53 million tonnes | 660.40 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 561.41 million tonnes | 529.10 million tonnes | 581.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 580.47 million tonnes | 561.65 million tonnes | 609.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 558.91 million tonnes | 494.11 million tonnes | 577.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 433.93 million tonnes | 364.75 million tonnes | 511.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 320.10 million tonnes | 307.83 million tonnes | 342.37 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United Kingdom was 312.91 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 660.40 million tonnes in 1971.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 115.36 million tonnes in 1853.
- How does United Kingdom rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- United Kingdom ranks 18th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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 — 175 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.