Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Canada
Canada: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.3109 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
0.3109 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
38th
of 164 countries
All-time high
1.67 kilograms per international-$
in 1921
All-time low
0.0012 kilograms per international-$
in 1840
Years of data
158
1820–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Canada, 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-$.
Analysis
In 2022, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Canada stood at 0.3109 kilograms per international-$.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Canada peaked at 1.67 kilograms per international-$ in 1921 and was at its lowest, 0.0012 kilograms per international-$, in 1840.
That places Canada 38th out of 164 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 158 years of available data.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Canada, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1830 | 0.002 kilograms per international-$ | -36.9% |
| 1840 | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | -40.7% |
| 1850 | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ | +854.5% |
| 1860 | 0.0489 kilograms per international-$ | +339.4% |
| 1870 | 0.1198 kilograms per international-$ | +145.0% |
| 1871 | 0.1675 kilograms per international-$ | +39.8% |
| 1872 | 0.1756 kilograms per international-$ | +4.8% |
| 1873 | 0.1389 kilograms per international-$ | -20.9% |
| 1874 | 0.1369 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 1875 | 0.162 kilograms per international-$ | +18.3% |
| 1876 | 0.172 kilograms per international-$ | +6.2% |
| 1877 | 0.1756 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1878 | 0.1747 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 1879 | 0.18 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 1880 | 0.4123 kilograms per international-$ | +129.0% |
| 1881 | 0.3863 kilograms per international-$ | -6.3% |
| 1882 | 0.4371 kilograms per international-$ | +13.2% |
| 1883 | 0.4892 kilograms per international-$ | +11.9% |
| 1884 | 0.5238 kilograms per international-$ | +7.1% |
| 1885 | 0.5348 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1886 | 0.5645 kilograms per international-$ | +5.6% |
| 1887 | 0.631 kilograms per international-$ | +11.8% |
| 1888 | 0.7715 kilograms per international-$ | +22.3% |
| 1889 | 0.6504 kilograms per international-$ | -15.7% |
| 1890 | 0.666 kilograms per international-$ | +2.4% |
| 1891 | 0.7302 kilograms per international-$ | +9.6% |
| 1892 | 0.7319 kilograms per international-$ | +0.2% |
| 1893 | 0.7873 kilograms per international-$ | +7.6% |
| 1894 | 0.7179 kilograms per international-$ | -8.8% |
| 1895 | 0.6927 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1896 | 0.7698 kilograms per international-$ | +11.1% |
| 1897 | 0.7015 kilograms per international-$ | -8.9% |
| 1898 | 0.7165 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1899 | 0.799 kilograms per international-$ | +11.5% |
| 1900 | 0.8147 kilograms per international-$ | +2.0% |
| 1901 | 0.8725 kilograms per international-$ | +7.1% |
| 1902 | 0.8549 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1903 | 0.9051 kilograms per international-$ | +5.9% |
| 1904 | 1.06 kilograms per international-$ | +16.7% |
| 1905 | 1.01 kilograms per international-$ | -4.3% |
| 1906 | 0.9709 kilograms per international-$ | -3.9% |
| 1907 | 1.15 kilograms per international-$ | +18.8% |
| 1908 | 1.22 kilograms per international-$ | +6.0% |
| 1909 | 1.06 kilograms per international-$ | -13.5% |
| 1910 | 1.11 kilograms per international-$ | +4.8% |
| 1911 | 1.21 kilograms per international-$ | +9.3% |
| 1912 | 1.27 kilograms per international-$ | +4.7% |
| 1913 | 1.42 kilograms per international-$ | +12.3% |
| 1914 | 1.32 kilograms per international-$ | -7.6% |
| 1915 | 1.11 kilograms per international-$ | -16.0% |
| 1916 | 1.26 kilograms per international-$ | +13.7% |
| 1917 | 1.35 kilograms per international-$ | +7.1% |
| 1918 | 1.51 kilograms per international-$ | +12.2% |
| 1919 | 1.39 kilograms per international-$ | -8.0% |
| 1920 | 1.56 kilograms per international-$ | +12.2% |
| 1921 | 1.67 kilograms per international-$ | +6.9% |
| 1922 | 1.25 kilograms per international-$ | -25.0% |
| 1923 | 1.58 kilograms per international-$ | +26.8% |
| 1924 | 1.3 kilograms per international-$ | -18.0% |
| 1925 | 1.14 kilograms per international-$ | -12.3% |
| 1926 | 1.22 kilograms per international-$ | +6.9% |
| 1927 | 1.2 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 1928 | 1.13 kilograms per international-$ | -6.4% |
| 1929 | 1.19 kilograms per international-$ | +5.8% |
| 1930 | 1.17 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 1931 | 1.12 kilograms per international-$ | -4.9% |
| 1932 | 1.11 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 1933 | 1.18 kilograms per international-$ | +6.6% |
| 1934 | 1.23 kilograms per international-$ | +4.0% |
| 1935 | 1.12 kilograms per international-$ | -8.8% |
| 1936 | 1.17 kilograms per international-$ | +3.8% |
| 1937 | 1.16 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 1938 | 1.03 kilograms per international-$ | -10.8% |
| 1939 | 1.08 kilograms per international-$ | +4.8% |
| 1940 | 1.09 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1941 | 1.05 kilograms per international-$ | -2.9% |
| 1942 | 0.9769 kilograms per international-$ | -7.3% |
| 1943 | 0.9844 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 1944 | 0.9647 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1945 | 0.9255 kilograms per international-$ | -4.1% |
| 1946 | 0.9917 kilograms per international-$ | +7.2% |
| 1947 | 0.9849 kilograms per international-$ | -0.7% |
| 1948 | 1.07 kilograms per international-$ | +8.4% |
| 1949 | 0.9562 kilograms per international-$ | -10.5% |
| 1950 | 0.9465 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 1951 | 0.9454 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 1952 | 0.8635 kilograms per international-$ | -8.7% |
| 1953 | 0.8312 kilograms per international-$ | -3.7% |
| 1954 | 0.8493 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 0.8078 kilograms per international-$ | -4.9% |
| 1956 | 0.8369 kilograms per international-$ | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 0.7834 kilograms per international-$ | -6.4% |
| 1958 | 0.7669 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 1959 | 0.7464 kilograms per international-$ | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 0.7562 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 0.7394 kilograms per international-$ | -2.2% |
| 1962 | 0.7373 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 1963 | 0.7151 kilograms per international-$ | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 0.7562 kilograms per international-$ | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 0.7518 kilograms per international-$ | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 0.7261 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 0.7661 kilograms per international-$ | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 0.7839 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 0.7541 kilograms per international-$ | -3.8% |
| 1970 | 0.8168 kilograms per international-$ | +8.3% |
| 1971 | 0.7988 kilograms per international-$ | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 0.8201 kilograms per international-$ | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 0.7662 kilograms per international-$ | -6.6% |
| 1974 | 0.7523 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 0.7492 kilograms per international-$ | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 0.7142 kilograms per international-$ | -4.7% |
| 1977 | 0.7062 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 0.6917 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 0.7059 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 0.6984 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 0.6571 kilograms per international-$ | -5.9% |
| 1982 | 0.6539 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 0.626 kilograms per international-$ | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 0.6165 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 0.5801 kilograms per international-$ | -5.9% |
| 1986 | 0.5425 kilograms per international-$ | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 0.5551 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 0.5596 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 0.5551 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 0.5479 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 0.5483 kilograms per international-$ | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 0.5585 kilograms per international-$ | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 0.5436 kilograms per international-$ | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 0.5347 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 0.5332 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 0.5408 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 0.5317 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 0.518 kilograms per international-$ | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 0.5043 kilograms per international-$ | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 0.4981 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 0.4813 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 0.4703 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 0.4746 kilograms per international-$ | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 0.4552 kilograms per international-$ | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 0.4354 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 0.42 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 0.4275 kilograms per international-$ | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 0.4108 kilograms per international-$ | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 0.3977 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 0.3941 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 0.387 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 0.3796 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 0.3755 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 0.3627 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 0.3591 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3496 kilograms per international-$ | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 0.3472 kilograms per international-$ | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 0.3429 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 0.3388 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3232 kilograms per international-$ | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 0.3155 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 0.3109 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 0.3109 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1825 kilograms per international-$, 1.7× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | +854.5% | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1860 | +339.4% | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0489 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1870 | +145.0% | 0.0489 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1198 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1880 | +129.0% | 0.18 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4123 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1871 | +39.8% | 0.1198 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1675 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1840 | -40.7% | 0.002 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.002 kilograms per international-$ | 0.002 kilograms per international-$ | 0.002 kilograms per international-$ | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.0489 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0489 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0489 kilograms per international-$ | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.1603 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1198 kilograms per international-$ | 0.18 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.5401 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3863 kilograms per international-$ | 0.7715 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.7313 kilograms per international-$ | 0.666 kilograms per international-$ | 0.799 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.9918 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8147 kilograms per international-$ | 1.22 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.29 kilograms per international-$ | 1.11 kilograms per international-$ | 1.51 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.32 kilograms per international-$ | 1.13 kilograms per international-$ | 1.67 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.14 kilograms per international-$ | 1.03 kilograms per international-$ | 1.23 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.9992 kilograms per international-$ | 0.9255 kilograms per international-$ | 1.09 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.8377 kilograms per international-$ | 0.7464 kilograms per international-$ | 0.9465 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.7486 kilograms per international-$ | 0.7151 kilograms per international-$ | 0.7839 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.7521 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6917 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8201 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6044 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5425 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6984 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5361 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5043 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5585 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4471 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3977 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4981 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3637 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3388 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3941 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3165 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3109 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3232 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 35 Cambodia 0.3203 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 36 Comoros 0.3161 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 37 Lebanon 0.3151 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 39 Uzbekistan 0.3026 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 40 Bolivia 0.3005 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 41 Estonia 0.2992 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for Canada
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.27 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 44,359 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,631 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,728 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,240 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,823 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 406.39 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 63.48 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Canada?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Canada was 0.3109 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 1.67 kilograms per international-$ in 1921.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0012 kilograms per international-$ in 1840.
- How does Canada rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Canada ranks 38th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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 — 158 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-$).