CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Australia
Australia: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 428.39 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
428.39 million tonnes
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
17th
of 194 countries
All-time high
955.95 million tonnes
in 2010
All-time low
8.78 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Australia, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Australia recorded 428.39 million tonnes for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in 2024.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Australia peaked at 955.95 million tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, 8.78 million tonnes, in 1850.
That places Australia 17th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 8.78 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 8.92 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1852 | 9.67 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1853 | 11.02 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1854 | 11.36 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1855 | 11.47 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1856 | 11.90 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1857 | 12.00 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 12.77 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1859 | 12.75 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1860 | 14.31 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1861 | 15.19 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1862 | 16.15 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1863 | 16.34 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 16.04 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1865 | 18.00 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1866 | 18.34 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1867 | 18.57 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1868 | 18.64 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 18.76 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 23.33 million tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1871 | 27.72 million tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1872 | 28.95 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1873 | 30.06 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1874 | 31.62 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1875 | 31.57 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1876 | 34.02 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1877 | 34.42 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1878 | 34.07 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1879 | 34.69 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1880 | 31.51 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1881 | 30.86 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1882 | 29.91 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1883 | 31.00 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1884 | 31.63 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1885 | 31.32 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1886 | 30.68 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1887 | 31.81 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1888 | 32.01 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 32.69 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 41.49 million tonnes | +26.9% |
| 1891 | 45.49 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1892 | 48.54 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1893 | 49.92 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1894 | 52.12 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1895 | 53.73 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1896 | 54.23 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 58.03 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1898 | 58.05 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 59.00 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1900 | 58.30 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1901 | 59.87 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1902 | 59.78 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1903 | 58.92 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1904 | 59.98 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1905 | 60.40 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1906 | 62.21 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1907 | 65.27 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1908 | 65.07 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1909 | 63.45 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1910 | 62.68 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1911 | 62.44 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1912 | 65.42 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1913 | 65.75 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1914 | 66.03 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1915 | 65.42 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1916 | 61.38 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1917 | 62.31 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1918 | 64.09 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1919 | 62.57 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1920 | 120.86 million tonnes | +93.2% |
| 1921 | 140.62 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1922 | 158.01 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1923 | 168.42 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1924 | 180.46 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1925 | 188.63 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1926 | 193.45 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 200.85 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1928 | 202.49 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1929 | 203.72 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1930 | 150.17 million tonnes | -26.3% |
| 1931 | 122.40 million tonnes | -18.5% |
| 1932 | 111.94 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1933 | 103.69 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1934 | 96.97 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1935 | 95.68 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1936 | 92.07 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1937 | 91.23 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1938 | 88.84 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1939 | 88.85 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 87.05 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1941 | 90.14 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1942 | 94.90 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1943 | 91.38 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1944 | 90.80 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1945 | 90.87 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1946 | 91.93 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1947 | 93.21 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 96.14 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1949 | 95.33 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1950 | 148.87 million tonnes | +56.2% |
| 1951 | 174.59 million tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1952 | 190.85 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1953 | 207.40 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1954 | 222.26 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1955 | 236.69 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 248.54 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1957 | 264.20 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1958 | 269.96 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 278.92 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 258.14 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1961 | 304.28 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1962 | 232.16 million tonnes | -23.7% |
| 1963 | 282.46 million tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1964 | 323.15 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1965 | 375.89 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1966 | 327.01 million tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1967 | 525.78 million tonnes | +60.8% |
| 1968 | 332.16 million tonnes | -36.8% |
| 1969 | 251.03 million tonnes | -24.4% |
| 1970 | 203.76 million tonnes | -18.8% |
| 1971 | 210.58 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 149.83 million tonnes | -28.9% |
| 1973 | 165.88 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1974 | 133.60 million tonnes | -19.5% |
| 1975 | 212.68 million tonnes | +59.2% |
| 1976 | 203.29 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1977 | 338.36 million tonnes | +66.4% |
| 1978 | 308.62 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1979 | 300.17 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1980 | 300.08 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 362.72 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1982 | 296.47 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1983 | 453.74 million tonnes | +53.0% |
| 1984 | 338.10 million tonnes | -25.5% |
| 1985 | 291.89 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1986 | 243.93 million tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1987 | 219.39 million tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1988 | 211.19 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 217.28 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 260.36 million tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1991 | 230.18 million tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1992 | 311.55 million tonnes | +35.4% |
| 1993 | 331.08 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 314.53 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 500.90 million tonnes | +59.3% |
| 1996 | 516.68 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 459.79 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1998 | 538.64 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1999 | 495.73 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 563.53 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 468.95 million tonnes | -16.8% |
| 2002 | 431.89 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 600.28 million tonnes | +39.0% |
| 2004 | 573.64 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 460.55 million tonnes | -19.7% |
| 2006 | 418.28 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2007 | 479.45 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 2008 | 683.10 million tonnes | +42.5% |
| 2009 | 520.05 million tonnes | -23.9% |
| 2010 | 955.95 million tonnes | +83.8% |
| 2011 | 684.47 million tonnes | -28.4% |
| 2012 | 569.69 million tonnes | -16.8% |
| 2013 | 562.27 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 476.28 million tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2015 | 438.67 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2016 | 505.09 million tonnes | +15.1% |
| 2017 | 503.28 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 465.73 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 454.11 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 492.50 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 446.33 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 428.14 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 428.89 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 428.39 million tonnes | -0.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 428.39 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.71 million tonnes, 11.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Australia's 428.39 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 45.03 million tonnes, 9.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | +93.2% | 62.57 million tonnes | 120.86 million tonnes |
| 2010 | +83.8% | 520.05 million tonnes | 955.95 million tonnes |
| 1977 | +66.4% | 203.29 million tonnes | 338.36 million tonnes |
| 1967 | +60.8% | 327.01 million tonnes | 525.78 million tonnes |
| 1975 | +59.2% | 133.60 million tonnes | 212.68 million tonnes |
| 1995 | +59.3% | 314.53 million tonnes | 500.90 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 11.06 million tonnes | 8.78 million tonnes | 12.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 17.03 million tonnes | 14.31 million tonnes | 18.76 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 31.05 million tonnes | 23.33 million tonnes | 34.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 31.34 million tonnes | 29.91 million tonnes | 32.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 52.06 million tonnes | 41.49 million tonnes | 59.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 61.33 million tonnes | 58.30 million tonnes | 65.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 63.81 million tonnes | 61.38 million tonnes | 66.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 175.75 million tonnes | 120.86 million tonnes | 203.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 104.18 million tonnes | 88.84 million tonnes | 150.17 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 92.17 million tonnes | 87.05 million tonnes | 96.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 224.23 million tonnes | 148.87 million tonnes | 278.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 321.21 million tonnes | 232.16 million tonnes | 525.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 222.68 million tonnes | 133.60 million tonnes | 338.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 293.48 million tonnes | 211.19 million tonnes | 453.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 395.94 million tonnes | 230.18 million tonnes | 538.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 519.97 million tonnes | 418.28 million tonnes | 683.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 561.55 million tonnes | 438.67 million tonnes | 955.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 444.85 million tonnes | 428.14 million tonnes | 492.50 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Australia?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Australia was 428.39 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 955.95 million tonnes in 2010.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.78 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does Australia rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- Australia ranks 17th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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), including land-use change, measured in tonnes.