Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Japan
Japan: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.2157 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
0.2157 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
70th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.4764 kilograms per international-$
in 1970
All-time low
0.0003 kilograms per international-$
in 1870
Years of data
140
1870–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Japan, 1870–2022
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-$.
Analysis
In 2022, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Japan stood at 0.2157 kilograms per international-$.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Japan peaked at 0.4764 kilograms per international-$ in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.0003 kilograms per international-$, in 1870.
Japan ranks 70th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 140 years of available data.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Japan, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1874 | 0.0104 kilograms per international-$ | +2974.0% |
| 1885 | 0.0504 kilograms per international-$ | +387.1% |
| 1886 | 0.051 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 0.0623 kilograms per international-$ | +22.3% |
| 1888 | 0.0764 kilograms per international-$ | +22.7% |
| 1889 | 0.0898 kilograms per international-$ | +17.5% |
| 1890 | 0.091 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 0.115 kilograms per international-$ | +26.4% |
| 1892 | 0.1078 kilograms per international-$ | -6.3% |
| 1893 | 0.1141 kilograms per international-$ | +5.9% |
| 1894 | 0.1322 kilograms per international-$ | +15.9% |
| 1895 | 0.1448 kilograms per international-$ | +9.5% |
| 1896 | 0.1607 kilograms per international-$ | +11.0% |
| 1897 | 0.1667 kilograms per international-$ | +3.7% |
| 1898 | 0.179 kilograms per international-$ | +7.4% |
| 1899 | 0.1881 kilograms per international-$ | +5.1% |
| 1900 | 0.2073 kilograms per international-$ | +10.2% |
| 1901 | 0.2411 kilograms per international-$ | +16.3% |
| 1902 | 0.2739 kilograms per international-$ | +13.6% |
| 1903 | 0.2552 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 1904 | 0.2875 kilograms per international-$ | +12.6% |
| 1905 | 0.3027 kilograms per international-$ | +5.3% |
| 1906 | 0.2987 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1907 | 0.3118 kilograms per international-$ | +4.4% |
| 1908 | 0.3309 kilograms per international-$ | +6.1% |
| 1909 | 0.3355 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 1910 | 0.3433 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 0.3669 kilograms per international-$ | +6.9% |
| 1912 | 0.3998 kilograms per international-$ | +9.0% |
| 1913 | 0.4325 kilograms per international-$ | +8.2% |
| 1914 | 0.4696 kilograms per international-$ | +8.6% |
| 1915 | 0.396 kilograms per international-$ | -15.7% |
| 1916 | 0.3849 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 1917 | 0.4216 kilograms per international-$ | +9.5% |
| 1918 | 0.4384 kilograms per international-$ | +4.0% |
| 1919 | 0.4452 kilograms per international-$ | +1.6% |
| 1920 | 0.4475 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1921 | 0.3645 kilograms per international-$ | -18.5% |
| 1922 | 0.3849 kilograms per international-$ | +5.6% |
| 1923 | 0.4039 kilograms per international-$ | +4.9% |
| 1924 | 0.4077 kilograms per international-$ | +0.9% |
| 1925 | 0.4035 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 1926 | 0.4066 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 1927 | 0.4352 kilograms per international-$ | +7.0% |
| 1928 | 0.4169 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 1929 | 0.4093 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 1930 | 0.4025 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 1931 | 0.3598 kilograms per international-$ | -10.6% |
| 1932 | 0.3338 kilograms per international-$ | -7.2% |
| 1933 | 0.359 kilograms per international-$ | +7.6% |
| 1934 | 0.3957 kilograms per international-$ | +10.2% |
| 1935 | 0.4017 kilograms per international-$ | +1.5% |
| 1936 | 0.4178 kilograms per international-$ | +4.0% |
| 1937 | 0.4318 kilograms per international-$ | +3.4% |
| 1938 | 0.4305 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 1939 | 0.3675 kilograms per international-$ | -14.6% |
| 1940 | 0.4302 kilograms per international-$ | +17.1% |
| 1941 | 0.419 kilograms per international-$ | -2.6% |
| 1942 | 0.3989 kilograms per international-$ | -4.8% |
| 1943 | 0.4107 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 1944 | 0.3732 kilograms per international-$ | -9.1% |
| 1945 | 0.2734 kilograms per international-$ | -26.8% |
| 1946 | 0.2464 kilograms per international-$ | -9.9% |
| 1947 | 0.3307 kilograms per international-$ | +34.2% |
| 1948 | 0.3846 kilograms per international-$ | +16.3% |
| 1949 | 0.4188 kilograms per international-$ | +8.9% |
| 1950 | 0.3996 kilograms per international-$ | -4.6% |
| 1951 | 0.4275 kilograms per international-$ | +7.0% |
| 1952 | 0.4049 kilograms per international-$ | -5.3% |
| 1953 | 0.4219 kilograms per international-$ | +4.2% |
| 1954 | 0.3905 kilograms per international-$ | -7.4% |
| 1955 | 0.358 kilograms per international-$ | -8.3% |
| 1956 | 0.377 kilograms per international-$ | +5.3% |
| 1957 | 0.4113 kilograms per international-$ | +9.1% |
| 1958 | 0.3745 kilograms per international-$ | -8.9% |
| 1959 | 0.365 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 1960 | 0.3894 kilograms per international-$ | +6.7% |
| 1961 | 0.4227 kilograms per international-$ | +8.5% |
| 1962 | 0.4019 kilograms per international-$ | -4.9% |
| 1963 | 0.4109 kilograms per international-$ | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 0.4066 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 0.4137 kilograms per international-$ | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 0.4057 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 0.4262 kilograms per international-$ | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 0.4336 kilograms per international-$ | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 0.448 kilograms per international-$ | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 0.4764 kilograms per international-$ | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 0.4727 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 1972 | 0.4695 kilograms per international-$ | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 0.4615 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 0.4672 kilograms per international-$ | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 0.4311 kilograms per international-$ | -7.7% |
| 1976 | 0.4336 kilograms per international-$ | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 0.4272 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 0.3926 kilograms per international-$ | -8.1% |
| 1979 | 0.3936 kilograms per international-$ | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 0.3794 kilograms per international-$ | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 0.3607 kilograms per international-$ | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 0.3389 kilograms per international-$ | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 0.3252 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 0.3327 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 0.3102 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 1986 | 0.301 kilograms per international-$ | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 0.2853 kilograms per international-$ | -5.2% |
| 1988 | 0.2932 kilograms per international-$ | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 0.2901 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 0.3121 kilograms per international-$ | +7.6% |
| 1991 | 0.305 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 0.3048 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 0.3029 kilograms per international-$ | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 0.3142 kilograms per international-$ | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 0.3092 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 0.3032 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 0.2983 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 0.2922 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 0.3021 kilograms per international-$ | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 0.2994 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 0.295 kilograms per international-$ | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 0.3018 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 0.2994 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 0.292 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 0.289 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 0.2799 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 0.283 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 0.2705 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 0.2699 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 0.2703 kilograms per international-$ | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 0.2822 kilograms per international-$ | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 0.2874 kilograms per international-$ | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 0.2719 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 0.2592 kilograms per international-$ | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 0.253 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 0.2456 kilograms per international-$ | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2346 kilograms per international-$ | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 0.228 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 0.2242 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 0.224 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.2157 kilograms per international-$ | -3.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.2157 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1825 kilograms per international-$, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.2157 kilograms per international-$ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2839 kilograms per international-$, 76% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Japan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | +2974.0% | 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0104 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1885 | +387.1% | 0.0104 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0504 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.0053 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0104 kilograms per international-$ | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.066 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0504 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0898 kilograms per international-$ | 5 |
| 1890s | 0.1399 kilograms per international-$ | 0.091 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1881 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.2845 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2073 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3355 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.4098 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3433 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4696 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.408 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3645 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4475 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.39 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3338 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4318 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.3686 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2464 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4302 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.393 kilograms per international-$ | 0.358 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4275 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.4159 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3894 kilograms per international-$ | 0.448 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4426 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3926 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4764 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3217 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2853 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3794 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3044 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2922 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3142 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.288 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2699 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3018 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2616 kilograms per international-$ | 0.228 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2874 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2213 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2157 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2242 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 67 Greece 0.2183 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 68 Moldova 0.2171 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 69 Indonesia 0.2166 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 71 Argentina 0.215 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 72 Slovakia 0.2101 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 73 Tajikistan 0.2082 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for Japan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 337.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Japan?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Japan was 0.2157 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4764 kilograms per international-$ in 1970.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0003 kilograms per international-$ in 1870.
- How does Japan rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Japan ranks 70th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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
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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-$).