CO₂ emissions from transport in India
India: CO₂ emissions from transport was 353.86 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
353.86 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
3rd
of 191 countries
All-time high
353.86 million tonnes
in 2023
All-time low
64.39 million tonnes
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
CO₂ emissions from transport in India, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, co₂ emissions from transport in India stood at 353.86 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 56.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from transport in India peaked at 353.86 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 64.39 million tonnes, in 1990.
India ranks 3rd of 191 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 from transport in India, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.39 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 66.93 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 68.55 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 68.55 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 70.81 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 78.29 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 83.80 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1997 | 85.80 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 88.78 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 93.31 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 95.09 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 94.92 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 97.74 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 99.53 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 108.05 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2005 | 115.40 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 120.65 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 142.98 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2008 | 163.21 million tonnes | +14.1% |
| 2009 | 178.71 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2010 | 192.92 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 209.30 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 221.52 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 226.26 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 235.75 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 259.21 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2016 | 272.52 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 295.17 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 309.38 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 313.49 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 273.27 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 2021 | 299.98 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 343.47 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2023 | 353.86 million tonnes | +3.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 353.86 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.18 million tonnes, 111.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 353.86 million tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 5.62 million tonnes, 62.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.92 million tonnes | 64.39 million tonnes | 93.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 121.63 million tonnes | 94.92 million tonnes | 178.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 253.55 million tonnes | 192.92 million tonnes | 313.49 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 317.64 million tonnes | 273.27 million tonnes | 353.86 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More climate change data for India
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 27.69 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 602,760 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105,678 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 497,082 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 398.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 279,594 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 176,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 103,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 664.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from transport in India?
- Co₂ emissions from transport in India was 353.86 million tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from transport recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 353.86 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from transport recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.39 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does India rank for co₂ emissions from transport?
- India ranks 3rd out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is co₂ emissions from transport rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions from transport. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes.