Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in India
India: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.2702 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.2702 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
50th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.3546 kilograms per international-$
in 1999
All-time low
0.0023 kilograms per international-$
in 1861
Years of data
140
1861–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in India, 1861–2022
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-$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in India is 0.2702 kilograms per international-$, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in India peaked at 0.3546 kilograms per international-$ in 1999 and was at its lowest, 0.0023 kilograms per international-$, in 1861.
That places India 50th out of 164 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in India, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1884 | 0.0117 kilograms per international-$ | +416.4% |
| 1885 | 0.0101 kilograms per international-$ | -13.2% |
| 1886 | 0.0117 kilograms per international-$ | +15.6% |
| 1887 | 0.0123 kilograms per international-$ | +5.1% |
| 1888 | 0.0135 kilograms per international-$ | +9.6% |
| 1889 | 0.0163 kilograms per international-$ | +20.5% |
| 1890 | 0.017 kilograms per international-$ | +4.6% |
| 1891 | 0.0202 kilograms per international-$ | +18.7% |
| 1892 | 0.0205 kilograms per international-$ | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 0.0212 kilograms per international-$ | +3.1% |
| 1894 | 0.0211 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 1895 | 0.0271 kilograms per international-$ | +28.3% |
| 1896 | 0.0317 kilograms per international-$ | +16.9% |
| 1897 | 0.029 kilograms per international-$ | -8.3% |
| 1898 | 0.0321 kilograms per international-$ | +10.4% |
| 1899 | 0.0383 kilograms per international-$ | +19.4% |
| 1900 | 0.0439 kilograms per international-$ | +14.7% |
| 1901 | 0.0475 kilograms per international-$ | +8.2% |
| 1902 | 0.0483 kilograms per international-$ | +1.6% |
| 1903 | 0.0486 kilograms per international-$ | +0.6% |
| 1904 | 0.0541 kilograms per international-$ | +11.4% |
| 1905 | 0.0563 kilograms per international-$ | +4.1% |
| 1906 | 0.0633 kilograms per international-$ | +12.4% |
| 1907 | 0.0749 kilograms per international-$ | +18.4% |
| 1908 | 0.0845 kilograms per international-$ | +12.8% |
| 1909 | 0.072 kilograms per international-$ | -14.8% |
| 1910 | 0.07 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 1911 | 0.0743 kilograms per international-$ | +6.1% |
| 1912 | 0.0856 kilograms per international-$ | +15.3% |
| 1913 | 0.0966 kilograms per international-$ | +12.8% |
| 1914 | 0.0923 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 1915 | 0.099 kilograms per international-$ | +7.2% |
| 1916 | 0.0972 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 1917 | 0.1034 kilograms per international-$ | +6.4% |
| 1918 | 0.1333 kilograms per international-$ | +28.9% |
| 1919 | 0.128 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 1920 | 0.1127 kilograms per international-$ | -11.9% |
| 1921 | 0.1128 kilograms per international-$ | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 0.1064 kilograms per international-$ | -5.6% |
| 1923 | 0.1132 kilograms per international-$ | +6.3% |
| 1924 | 0.1155 kilograms per international-$ | +2.0% |
| 1925 | 0.1126 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 1926 | 0.1087 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1927 | 0.1141 kilograms per international-$ | +4.9% |
| 1928 | 0.108 kilograms per international-$ | -5.3% |
| 1929 | 0.1079 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 1930 | 0.1089 kilograms per international-$ | +0.9% |
| 1931 | 0.1006 kilograms per international-$ | -7.7% |
| 1932 | 0.0925 kilograms per international-$ | -8.1% |
| 1933 | 0.0906 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1934 | 0.1003 kilograms per international-$ | +10.6% |
| 1935 | 0.1059 kilograms per international-$ | +5.6% |
| 1936 | 0.1001 kilograms per international-$ | -5.4% |
| 1937 | 0.1127 kilograms per international-$ | +12.6% |
| 1938 | 0.1258 kilograms per international-$ | +11.6% |
| 1939 | 0.1204 kilograms per international-$ | -4.3% |
| 1940 | 0.1237 kilograms per international-$ | +2.8% |
| 1941 | 0.1242 kilograms per international-$ | +0.4% |
| 1942 | 0.1248 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1943 | 0.1045 kilograms per international-$ | -16.3% |
| 1944 | 0.108 kilograms per international-$ | +3.3% |
| 1945 | 0.1218 kilograms per international-$ | +12.8% |
| 1946 | 0.1269 kilograms per international-$ | +4.2% |
| 1947 | 0.156 kilograms per international-$ | +22.9% |
| 1948 | 0.1546 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 1949 | 0.1591 kilograms per international-$ | +2.9% |
| 1950 | 0.172 kilograms per international-$ | +8.1% |
| 1951 | 0.176 kilograms per international-$ | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 0.1802 kilograms per international-$ | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 0.1729 kilograms per international-$ | -4.1% |
| 1954 | 0.1749 kilograms per international-$ | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 0.1857 kilograms per international-$ | +6.2% |
| 1956 | 0.1822 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 1957 | 0.2066 kilograms per international-$ | +13.4% |
| 1958 | 0.2009 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 0.2083 kilograms per international-$ | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 0.2137 kilograms per international-$ | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 0.2245 kilograms per international-$ | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 0.2417 kilograms per international-$ | +7.7% |
| 1963 | 0.2472 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 0.2248 kilograms per international-$ | -9.0% |
| 1965 | 0.2579 kilograms per international-$ | +14.7% |
| 1966 | 0.265 kilograms per international-$ | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 0.2452 kilograms per international-$ | -7.5% |
| 1968 | 0.2605 kilograms per international-$ | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 0.249 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 1970 | 0.2427 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 1971 | 0.254 kilograms per international-$ | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 0.2694 kilograms per international-$ | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 0.2651 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 0.2708 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 0.2698 kilograms per international-$ | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 0.2786 kilograms per international-$ | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 0.2734 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 0.2637 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1979 | 0.2916 kilograms per international-$ | +10.6% |
| 1980 | 0.2874 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 0.2923 kilograms per international-$ | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 0.2927 kilograms per international-$ | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 0.2929 kilograms per international-$ | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 0.2895 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 0.3062 kilograms per international-$ | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 0.3151 kilograms per international-$ | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 0.3223 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 0.3152 kilograms per international-$ | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 0.325 kilograms per international-$ | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 0.3301 kilograms per international-$ | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 0.348 kilograms per international-$ | +5.4% |
| 1992 | 0.354 kilograms per international-$ | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 0.3483 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 0.3475 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 0.3473 kilograms per international-$ | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.3512 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 0.3535 kilograms per international-$ | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 0.3411 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 0.3546 kilograms per international-$ | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 0.352 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 0.3405 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 0.3414 kilograms per international-$ | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 0.3286 kilograms per international-$ | -3.7% |
| 2004 | 0.3246 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 0.3185 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 0.3178 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 0.3165 kilograms per international-$ | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.3205 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 0.3231 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 0.3131 kilograms per international-$ | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 0.3087 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 0.3184 kilograms per international-$ | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3106 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3124 kilograms per international-$ | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 0.3019 kilograms per international-$ | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.292 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 0.2837 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 0.2829 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 0.2721 kilograms per international-$ | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 0.2708 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 0.273 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.2702 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 0.2702 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.1835 kilograms per international-$, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1884 | +416.4% | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0117 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.0126 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0101 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0163 kilograms per international-$ | 6 |
| 1890s | 0.0258 kilograms per international-$ | 0.017 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0383 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0593 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0439 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0845 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.098 kilograms per international-$ | 0.07 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1333 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.1112 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1064 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1155 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1058 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0906 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1258 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1304 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1045 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1591 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.186 kilograms per international-$ | 0.172 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2083 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2429 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2137 kilograms per international-$ | 0.265 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2679 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2427 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2916 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3039 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2874 kilograms per international-$ | 0.325 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3476 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3301 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3546 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3284 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3165 kilograms per international-$ | 0.352 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2996 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2721 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3184 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2714 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2702 kilograms per international-$ | 0.273 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
- 47 Czechia 0.2771 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 48 Cuba 0.2764 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 49 Senegal 0.2722 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 51 United Arab Emirates 0.2656 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 52 United States 0.2593 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 53 Poland 0.2558 kilograms per international-$ compare
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 carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in India?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in India was 0.2702 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3546 kilograms per international-$ in 1999.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ in 1861.
- How does India rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- India ranks 50th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.
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About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).