CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States
United States: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 5.02 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.02 billion tonnes
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
2nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
6.45 billion tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
781.13 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States stood at 5.02 billion tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States peaked at 6.45 billion tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 781.13 million tonnes, in 1850.
United States ranks 2nd of 194 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 fossil fuels and land-use change in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 781.13 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 846.44 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1852 | 876.40 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1853 | 924.09 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1854 | 954.73 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1855 | 976.43 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1856 | 995.90 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1857 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 1.05 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1859 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1860 | 975.72 million tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1861 | 892.16 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1862 | 881.18 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1863 | 882.50 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 858.17 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1865 | 828.19 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1866 | 812.24 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1867 | 826.46 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1868 | 819.50 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1869 | 806.62 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1870 | 1.14 billion tonnes | +41.6% |
| 1871 | 1.28 billion tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1872 | 1.38 billion tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1873 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1874 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1875 | 1.58 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 1.62 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1877 | 1.69 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1878 | 1.73 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1879 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1880 | 1.68 billion tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1881 | 1.61 billion tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1882 | 1.64 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1883 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1884 | 1.66 billion tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1885 | 1.64 billion tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1886 | 1.65 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 1.69 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1888 | 1.74 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1889 | 1.68 billion tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1890 | 1.83 billion tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1891 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1892 | 1.89 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 1.93 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1894 | 1.90 billion tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1895 | 1.96 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1896 | 1.97 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 2.00 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1898 | 2.07 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1899 | 2.17 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1900 | 2.14 billion tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1901 | 2.16 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1902 | 2.20 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1903 | 2.31 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1904 | 2.31 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1905 | 2.40 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1906 | 2.44 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1907 | 2.61 billion tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1908 | 2.46 billion tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1909 | 2.58 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1910 | 2.61 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1911 | 2.57 billion tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1912 | 2.59 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1913 | 2.69 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1914 | 2.57 billion tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1915 | 2.59 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1916 | 2.72 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1917 | 2.87 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1918 | 2.95 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1919 | 2.65 billion tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1920 | 2.93 billion tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1921 | 2.62 billion tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1922 | 2.61 billion tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1923 | 3.04 billion tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1924 | 2.82 billion tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1925 | 2.87 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1926 | 2.98 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1927 | 2.90 billion tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1928 | 2.85 billion tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1929 | 2.95 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 2.62 billion tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1931 | 2.32 billion tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1932 | 2.02 billion tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1933 | 2.07 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 2.13 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1935 | 2.14 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1936 | 2.34 billion tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1937 | 2.37 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1938 | 2.07 billion tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1939 | 2.19 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1940 | 2.46 billion tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1941 | 2.66 billion tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1942 | 2.82 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1943 | 2.90 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1944 | 3.08 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1945 | 3.00 billion tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1946 | 2.90 billion tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1947 | 3.13 billion tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1948 | 3.22 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1949 | 2.76 billion tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1950 | 3.02 billion tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1951 | 3.04 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 2.92 billion tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1953 | 2.96 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 2.83 billion tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1955 | 3.05 billion tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1956 | 3.18 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1957 | 3.13 billion tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1958 | 3.02 billion tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1959 | 3.03 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 3.09 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 2.96 billion tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1962 | 3.22 billion tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1963 | 3.24 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 3.35 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 3.45 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 3.60 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1967 | 4.22 billion tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1968 | 4.71 billion tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1969 | 4.50 billion tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 4.68 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 4.65 billion tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 4.82 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 4.98 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 4.82 billion tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 4.61 billion tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 4.82 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 5.09 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 5.16 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 5.15 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 5.00 billion tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1981 | 4.81 billion tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 4.57 billion tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 4.62 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 4.76 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 4.79 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 4.73 billion tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 4.96 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 5.18 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 5.24 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 5.43 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 5.33 billion tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 5.37 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 5.46 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 5.59 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 5.54 billion tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 5.70 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 5.79 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 5.87 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 5.97 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 6.18 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 5.96 billion tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 6.07 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 6.28 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 6.33 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 6.45 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 6.00 billion tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 6.10 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 6.02 billion tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 5.57 billion tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2010 | 5.84 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 5.47 billion tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 5.38 billion tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 5.48 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 5.61 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 5.42 billion tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 5.35 billion tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 5.36 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 5.46 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 5.33 billion tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 4.78 billion tonnes | -10.5% |
| 2021 | 5.11 billion tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 5.17 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 5.04 billion tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 5.02 billion tonnes | -0.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 5.02 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.71 million tonnes, 136.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | +41.6% | 806.62 million tonnes | 1.14 billion tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 950.93 million tonnes | 781.13 million tonnes | 1.08 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 858.27 million tonnes | 806.62 million tonnes | 975.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.52 billion tonnes | 1.14 billion tonnes | 1.81 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.67 billion tonnes | 1.61 billion tonnes | 1.74 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.96 billion tonnes | 1.83 billion tonnes | 2.17 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.36 billion tonnes | 2.14 billion tonnes | 2.61 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.68 billion tonnes | 2.57 billion tonnes | 2.95 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.86 billion tonnes | 2.61 billion tonnes | 3.04 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.23 billion tonnes | 2.02 billion tonnes | 2.62 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.89 billion tonnes | 2.46 billion tonnes | 3.22 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.02 billion tonnes | 2.83 billion tonnes | 3.18 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.63 billion tonnes | 2.96 billion tonnes | 4.71 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.88 billion tonnes | 4.61 billion tonnes | 5.16 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.87 billion tonnes | 4.57 billion tonnes | 5.24 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.60 billion tonnes | 5.33 billion tonnes | 5.97 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.09 billion tonnes | 5.57 billion tonnes | 6.45 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.47 billion tonnes | 5.33 billion tonnes | 5.84 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.02 billion tonnes | 4.78 billion tonnes | 5.17 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in United States was 5.02 billion 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 6.45 billion tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 781.13 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does United States rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.