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
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-$, in 1911.
South Korea ranks 46th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0.0017 kilograms per international-$ | 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
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population 81.2% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 20.71 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
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-$).