Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Australia
Australia: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.2857 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
45th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.6463 kilograms per international-$
in 1920
All-time low
0.0031 kilograms per international-$
in 1831
Years of data
203
1820–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Australia, 1820–2022
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per international-$.
Analysis
In 2022, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Australia stood at 0.2857 kilograms per international-$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Australia peaked at 0.6463 kilograms per international-$ in 1920 and was at its lowest, 0.0031 kilograms per international-$, in 1831.
Australia ranks 45th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Australia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.0223 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1821 | 0.0114 kilograms per international-$ | -48.9% |
| 1822 | 0.0139 kilograms per international-$ | +22.3% |
| 1823 | 0.0162 kilograms per international-$ | +16.2% |
| 1824 | 0.0152 kilograms per international-$ | -6.2% |
| 1825 | 0.0088 kilograms per international-$ | -42.2% |
| 1826 | 0.0193 kilograms per international-$ | +119.8% |
| 1827 | 0.0175 kilograms per international-$ | -9.4% |
| 1828 | 0.011 kilograms per international-$ | -37.1% |
| 1829 | 0.0166 kilograms per international-$ | +51.1% |
| 1830 | 0.0129 kilograms per international-$ | -22.4% |
| 1831 | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | -76.3% |
| 1832 | 0.0233 kilograms per international-$ | +662.8% |
| 1833 | 0.0214 kilograms per international-$ | -8.1% |
| 1834 | 0.025 kilograms per international-$ | +16.9% |
| 1835 | 0.0298 kilograms per international-$ | +19.3% |
| 1836 | 0.0302 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 1837 | 0.0361 kilograms per international-$ | +19.3% |
| 1838 | 0.0376 kilograms per international-$ | +4.3% |
| 1839 | 0.0479 kilograms per international-$ | +27.5% |
| 1840 | 0.0518 kilograms per international-$ | +7.9% |
| 1841 | 0.0655 kilograms per international-$ | +26.6% |
| 1842 | 0.0792 kilograms per international-$ | +21.0% |
| 1843 | 0.0437 kilograms per international-$ | -44.9% |
| 1844 | 0.0336 kilograms per international-$ | -23.0% |
| 1845 | 0.0308 kilograms per international-$ | -8.4% |
| 1846 | 0.0475 kilograms per international-$ | +54.4% |
| 1847 | 0.0419 kilograms per international-$ | -11.9% |
| 1848 | 0.0393 kilograms per international-$ | -6.1% |
| 1849 | 0.0397 kilograms per international-$ | +1.0% |
| 1850 | 0.0588 kilograms per international-$ | +48.2% |
| 1851 | 0.0448 kilograms per international-$ | -23.9% |
| 1852 | 0.0341 kilograms per international-$ | -23.9% |
| 1853 | 0.0399 kilograms per international-$ | +17.1% |
| 1854 | 0.0492 kilograms per international-$ | +23.3% |
| 1855 | 0.055 kilograms per international-$ | +11.7% |
| 1856 | 0.0577 kilograms per international-$ | +4.8% |
| 1857 | 0.0667 kilograms per international-$ | +15.7% |
| 1858 | 0.0753 kilograms per international-$ | +12.9% |
| 1859 | 0.0802 kilograms per international-$ | +6.5% |
| 1860 | 0.0981 kilograms per international-$ | +22.3% |
| 1861 | 0.0917 kilograms per international-$ | -6.5% |
| 1862 | 0.1305 kilograms per international-$ | +42.4% |
| 1863 | 0.1156 kilograms per international-$ | -11.4% |
| 1864 | 0.1309 kilograms per international-$ | +13.2% |
| 1865 | 0.1419 kilograms per international-$ | +8.4% |
| 1866 | 0.1755 kilograms per international-$ | +23.7% |
| 1867 | 0.1519 kilograms per international-$ | -13.5% |
| 1868 | 0.1792 kilograms per international-$ | +17.9% |
| 1869 | 0.1697 kilograms per international-$ | -5.3% |
| 1870 | 0.1514 kilograms per international-$ | -10.8% |
| 1871 | 0.1636 kilograms per international-$ | +8.0% |
| 1872 | 0.1678 kilograms per international-$ | +2.6% |
| 1873 | 0.1791 kilograms per international-$ | +6.7% |
| 1874 | 0.1908 kilograms per international-$ | +6.6% |
| 1875 | 0.1733 kilograms per international-$ | -9.2% |
| 1876 | 0.1752 kilograms per international-$ | +1.0% |
| 1877 | 0.1848 kilograms per international-$ | +5.5% |
| 1878 | 0.1822 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 1879 | 0.1808 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 1880 | 0.1611 kilograms per international-$ | -10.9% |
| 1881 | 0.1803 kilograms per international-$ | +11.9% |
| 1882 | 0.2269 kilograms per international-$ | +25.8% |
| 1883 | 0.2376 kilograms per international-$ | +4.7% |
| 1884 | 0.2584 kilograms per international-$ | +8.8% |
| 1885 | 0.2608 kilograms per international-$ | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 0.2553 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 1887 | 0.24 kilograms per international-$ | -6.0% |
| 1888 | 0.2665 kilograms per international-$ | +11.0% |
| 1889 | 0.2733 kilograms per international-$ | +2.6% |
| 1890 | 0.2469 kilograms per international-$ | -9.7% |
| 1891 | 0.2896 kilograms per international-$ | +17.3% |
| 1892 | 0.3098 kilograms per international-$ | +7.0% |
| 1893 | 0.293 kilograms per international-$ | -5.4% |
| 1894 | 0.32 kilograms per international-$ | +9.2% |
| 1895 | 0.351 kilograms per international-$ | +9.7% |
| 1896 | 0.3463 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1897 | 0.4045 kilograms per international-$ | +16.8% |
| 1898 | 0.3769 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 1899 | 0.3849 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 0.4249 kilograms per international-$ | +10.4% |
| 1901 | 0.4926 kilograms per international-$ | +15.9% |
| 1902 | 0.4857 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 1903 | 0.4434 kilograms per international-$ | -8.7% |
| 1904 | 0.4273 kilograms per international-$ | -3.6% |
| 1905 | 0.441 kilograms per international-$ | +3.2% |
| 1906 | 0.492 kilograms per international-$ | +11.6% |
| 1907 | 0.51 kilograms per international-$ | +3.7% |
| 1908 | 0.5348 kilograms per international-$ | +4.9% |
| 1909 | 0.4292 kilograms per international-$ | -19.7% |
| 1910 | 0.4873 kilograms per international-$ | +13.5% |
| 1911 | 0.5333 kilograms per international-$ | +9.4% |
| 1912 | 0.56 kilograms per international-$ | +5.0% |
| 1913 | 0.5754 kilograms per international-$ | +2.7% |
| 1914 | 0.6305 kilograms per international-$ | +9.6% |
| 1915 | 0.5739 kilograms per international-$ | -9.0% |
| 1916 | 0.5153 kilograms per international-$ | -10.2% |
| 1917 | 0.5644 kilograms per international-$ | +9.5% |
| 1918 | 0.6329 kilograms per international-$ | +12.2% |
| 1919 | 0.5683 kilograms per international-$ | -10.2% |
| 1920 | 0.6463 kilograms per international-$ | +13.7% |
| 1921 | 0.5564 kilograms per international-$ | -13.9% |
| 1922 | 0.5539 kilograms per international-$ | -0.4% |
| 1923 | 0.5448 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 1924 | 0.561 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 1925 | 0.5633 kilograms per international-$ | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 0.5493 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 1927 | 0.5718 kilograms per international-$ | +4.1% |
| 1928 | 0.5297 kilograms per international-$ | -7.4% |
| 1929 | 0.5015 kilograms per international-$ | -5.3% |
| 1930 | 0.5335 kilograms per international-$ | +6.4% |
| 1931 | 0.4979 kilograms per international-$ | -6.7% |
| 1932 | 0.4816 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 1933 | 0.4842 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1934 | 0.4863 kilograms per international-$ | +0.4% |
| 1935 | 0.5074 kilograms per international-$ | +4.4% |
| 1936 | 0.5284 kilograms per international-$ | +4.1% |
| 1937 | 0.5387 kilograms per international-$ | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 0.5202 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1939 | 0.5848 kilograms per international-$ | +12.4% |
| 1940 | 0.5107 kilograms per international-$ | -12.7% |
| 1941 | 0.5112 kilograms per international-$ | +0.1% |
| 1942 | 0.4898 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 1943 | 0.4637 kilograms per international-$ | -5.3% |
| 1944 | 0.4783 kilograms per international-$ | +3.2% |
| 1945 | 0.4807 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1946 | 0.544 kilograms per international-$ | +13.2% |
| 1947 | 0.5563 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1948 | 0.5487 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 1949 | 0.5261 kilograms per international-$ | -4.1% |
| 1950 | 0.5696 kilograms per international-$ | +8.3% |
| 1951 | 0.5995 kilograms per international-$ | +5.3% |
| 1952 | 0.6073 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 1953 | 0.5946 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 1954 | 0.6034 kilograms per international-$ | +1.5% |
| 1955 | 0.6061 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 0.6147 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 1957 | 0.6026 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1958 | 0.5937 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 1959 | 0.5961 kilograms per international-$ | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 0.6022 kilograms per international-$ | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 0.5952 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 1962 | 0.5853 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 1963 | 0.5824 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 1964 | 0.5879 kilograms per international-$ | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 0.6137 kilograms per international-$ | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 0.6083 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 0.602 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 0.5988 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 0.598 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 0.6094 kilograms per international-$ | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 0.5963 kilograms per international-$ | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 0.5895 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 0.6195 kilograms per international-$ | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 0.5904 kilograms per international-$ | -4.7% |
| 1975 | 0.5988 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 0.5646 kilograms per international-$ | -5.7% |
| 1977 | 0.5986 kilograms per international-$ | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 0.6109 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 0.5842 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 0.6087 kilograms per international-$ | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 0.6131 kilograms per international-$ | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 0.6259 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 0.5961 kilograms per international-$ | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 0.5841 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 0.574 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 0.561 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 0.5598 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 0.5497 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 0.5618 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 0.5991 kilograms per international-$ | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 0.6058 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 0.5943 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 0.5758 kilograms per international-$ | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 0.5561 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 0.5554 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 0.5426 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 0.5324 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 0.5262 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 0.5175 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 0.5056 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 0.501 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 0.4851 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 0.4788 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 0.4717 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 0.4584 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 0.4516 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 0.4377 kilograms per international-$ | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 0.4311 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 0.4226 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 0.4075 kilograms per international-$ | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 0.3944 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 0.3811 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 0.3663 kilograms per international-$ | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 0.3525 kilograms per international-$ | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 0.3516 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 0.3502 kilograms per international-$ | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 0.3451 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 0.3368 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 0.3305 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 0.3234 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 0.2996 kilograms per international-$ | -7.4% |
| 2022 | 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ | -4.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1825 kilograms per international-$, 1.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2839 kilograms per international-$, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | +662.8% | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0233 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1826 | +119.8% | 0.0088 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0193 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1831 | -76.3% | 0.0129 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1846 | +54.4% | 0.0308 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0475 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1829 | +51.1% | 0.011 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0166 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1821 | -48.9% | 0.0223 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0114 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0152 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0088 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0223 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0267 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0479 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0473 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0308 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0792 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.0562 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0341 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0802 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.1385 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0917 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1792 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.1749 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1514 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1908 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.236 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1611 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2733 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.3323 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2469 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4045 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.4681 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4249 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5348 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.5641 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4873 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6329 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.5578 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5015 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6463 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.5163 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4816 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5848 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.511 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4637 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5563 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.5988 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5696 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6147 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.5974 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5824 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6137 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5962 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5646 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6195 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5834 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5497 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6259 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5605 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5175 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6058 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4644 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4226 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5056 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3616 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3305 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4075 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3029 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3234 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 42 Saint Lucia 0.2962 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 43 Mozambique 0.2956 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 44 Qatar 0.2871 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 46 South Korea 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 47 Czechia 0.2771 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 48 Cuba 0.2764 kilograms per international-$ compare
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 carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Australia?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Australia was 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ in 2022, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6463 kilograms per international-$ in 1920.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ in 1831.
- How does Australia rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Australia ranks 45th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. 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); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 203 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 kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).