Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in South Korea
South Korea: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.2839 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
46th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.5819 kilograms per international-$
in 1980
All-time low
0.0011 kilograms per international-$
in 1911
Years of data
109
1911–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in South Korea, 1911–2022
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-$.
Analysis
In 2022, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in South Korea stood at 0.2839 kilograms per international-$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in South Korea peaked at 0.5819 kilograms per international-$ in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.0011 kilograms per international-$, in 1911.
South Korea ranks 46th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 0.0011 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1912 | 0.0014 kilograms per international-$ | +25.0% |
| 1913 | 0.0014 kilograms per international-$ | +6.5% |
| 1914 | 0.0019 kilograms per international-$ | +31.3% |
| 1915 | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | +22.5% |
| 1916 | 0.0018 kilograms per international-$ | -21.5% |
| 1918 | 0.0016 kilograms per international-$ | -12.0% |
| 1919 | 0.002 kilograms per international-$ | +22.0% |
| 1920 | 0.0024 kilograms per international-$ | +22.0% |
| 1921 | 0.0024 kilograms per international-$ | +2.3% |
| 1922 | 0.0024 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1923 | 0.0028 kilograms per international-$ | +16.3% |
| 1924 | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | +9.1% |
| 1925 | 0.0047 kilograms per international-$ | +51.6% |
| 1926 | 0.0047 kilograms per international-$ | +1.8% |
| 1927 | 0.0046 kilograms per international-$ | -3.0% |
| 1928 | 0.0056 kilograms per international-$ | +22.7% |
| 1929 | 0.0064 kilograms per international-$ | +13.2% |
| 1930 | 0.0054 kilograms per international-$ | -15.0% |
| 1931 | 0.0057 kilograms per international-$ | +5.4% |
| 1932 | 0.0066 kilograms per international-$ | +16.0% |
| 1933 | 0.0075 kilograms per international-$ | +13.7% |
| 1934 | 0.0098 kilograms per international-$ | +29.5% |
| 1935 | 0.0108 kilograms per international-$ | +10.1% |
| 1936 | 0.013 kilograms per international-$ | +21.0% |
| 1937 | 0.0117 kilograms per international-$ | -10.4% |
| 1938 | 0.016 kilograms per international-$ | +37.6% |
| 1939 | 0.025 kilograms per international-$ | +55.6% |
| 1940 | 0.026 kilograms per international-$ | +4.1% |
| 1941 | 0.0267 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 1942 | 0.0373 kilograms per international-$ | +39.3% |
| 1943 | 0.0347 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 1946 | 0.0275 kilograms per international-$ | -20.9% |
| 1947 | 0.0482 kilograms per international-$ | +75.3% |
| 1948 | 0.0759 kilograms per international-$ | +57.6% |
| 1949 | 0.0906 kilograms per international-$ | +19.3% |
| 1950 | 0.105 kilograms per international-$ | +15.9% |
| 1951 | 0.1414 kilograms per international-$ | +34.7% |
| 1952 | 0.1592 kilograms per international-$ | +12.6% |
| 1953 | 0.1693 kilograms per international-$ | +6.3% |
| 1954 | 0.1768 kilograms per international-$ | +4.4% |
| 1955 | 0.2119 kilograms per international-$ | +19.9% |
| 1956 | 0.2481 kilograms per international-$ | +17.1% |
| 1957 | 0.2477 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 1958 | 0.2552 kilograms per international-$ | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 0.3008 kilograms per international-$ | +17.8% |
| 1960 | 0.3269 kilograms per international-$ | +8.7% |
| 1961 | 0.3513 kilograms per international-$ | +7.5% |
| 1962 | 0.4032 kilograms per international-$ | +14.8% |
| 1963 | 0.4502 kilograms per international-$ | +11.7% |
| 1964 | 0.4322 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 1965 | 0.4538 kilograms per international-$ | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 0.4864 kilograms per international-$ | +7.2% |
| 1967 | 0.5221 kilograms per international-$ | +7.3% |
| 1968 | 0.4886 kilograms per international-$ | -6.4% |
| 1969 | 0.4871 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 0.5601 kilograms per international-$ | +15.0% |
| 1971 | 0.5525 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 0.5308 kilograms per international-$ | -3.9% |
| 1973 | 0.5604 kilograms per international-$ | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 0.5295 kilograms per international-$ | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 0.5307 kilograms per international-$ | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 0.5347 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 0.5392 kilograms per international-$ | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 0.5218 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 0.565 kilograms per international-$ | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 0.5819 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 0.5634 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 1982 | 0.5248 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 0.4909 kilograms per international-$ | -6.5% |
| 1984 | 0.479 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 0.4668 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 0.4385 kilograms per international-$ | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 0.4099 kilograms per international-$ | -6.5% |
| 1988 | 0.4169 kilograms per international-$ | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 0.4127 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 0.4212 kilograms per international-$ | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 0.4229 kilograms per international-$ | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 0.4363 kilograms per international-$ | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 0.4527 kilograms per international-$ | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 0.4496 kilograms per international-$ | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 0.4457 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 0.4577 kilograms per international-$ | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 0.4599 kilograms per international-$ | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 0.4162 kilograms per international-$ | -9.5% |
| 1999 | 0.4088 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 0.405 kilograms per international-$ | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 0.4041 kilograms per international-$ | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 0.3957 kilograms per international-$ | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 0.3945 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 0.3835 kilograms per international-$ | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 0.3771 kilograms per international-$ | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 0.3645 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 0.3606 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 0.3605 kilograms per international-$ | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.364 kilograms per international-$ | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 0.3803 kilograms per international-$ | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 0.3874 kilograms per international-$ | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 0.3811 kilograms per international-$ | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 0.3733 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 0.3587 kilograms per international-$ | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 0.3516 kilograms per international-$ | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 0.3435 kilograms per international-$ | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 0.3417 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 0.34 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 0.3206 kilograms per international-$ | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 0.2986 kilograms per international-$ | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 0.2956 kilograms per international-$ | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1825 kilograms per international-$, 1.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2839 kilograms per international-$, 1.0× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | +75.3% | 0.0275 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0482 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1948 | +57.6% | 0.0482 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0759 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1939 | +55.6% | 0.016 kilograms per international-$ | 0.025 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1925 | +51.6% | 0.0031 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0047 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.0017 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0011 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0023 kilograms per international-$ | 8 |
| 1920s | 0.0039 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0024 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0064 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0111 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0054 kilograms per international-$ | 0.025 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0459 kilograms per international-$ | 0.026 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0906 kilograms per international-$ | 8 |
| 1950s | 0.2015 kilograms per international-$ | 0.105 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3008 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.4402 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3269 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5221 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5425 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5218 kilograms per international-$ | 0.565 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4785 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4099 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5819 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4371 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4088 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4599 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.381 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3605 kilograms per international-$ | 0.405 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3578 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3206 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3874 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2927 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2839 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2986 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 43 Mozambique 0.2956 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 44 Qatar 0.2871 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 45 Australia 0.2857 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 47 Czechia 0.2771 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 48 Cuba 0.2764 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 49 Senegal 0.2722 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in South Korea?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in South Korea was 0.2839 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.5819 kilograms per international-$ in 1980.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0011 kilograms per international-$ in 1911.
- How does South Korea rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- South Korea ranks 46th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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-$).