Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malaysia
Malaysia: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.3212 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.3212 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
34th
of 164 countries
All-time high
0.4688 kilograms per international-$
in 1995
All-time low
0.0055 kilograms per international-$
in 1912
Years of data
118
1900–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malaysia, 1900–2022
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-$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malaysia is 0.3212 kilograms per international-$, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malaysia peaked at 0.4688 kilograms per international-$ in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.0055 kilograms per international-$, in 1912.
Malaysia ranks 34th of 164 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0.0321 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1901 | 0.0219 kilograms per international-$ | -31.8% |
| 1902 | 0.0215 kilograms per international-$ | -1.9% |
| 1903 | 0.0242 kilograms per international-$ | +12.7% |
| 1904 | 0.0163 kilograms per international-$ | -32.8% |
| 1905 | 0.0184 kilograms per international-$ | +13.4% |
| 1906 | 0.0177 kilograms per international-$ | -3.8% |
| 1907 | 0.0386 kilograms per international-$ | +117.9% |
| 1908 | 0.0339 kilograms per international-$ | -12.2% |
| 1909 | 0.065 kilograms per international-$ | +91.7% |
| 1910 | 0.0755 kilograms per international-$ | +16.1% |
| 1912 | 0.0055 kilograms per international-$ | -92.7% |
| 1913 | 0.0157 kilograms per international-$ | +183.1% |
| 1914 | 0.0323 kilograms per international-$ | +105.8% |
| 1915 | 0.0415 kilograms per international-$ | +28.7% |
| 1916 | 0.121 kilograms per international-$ | +191.5% |
| 1917 | 0.1137 kilograms per international-$ | -6.0% |
| 1918 | 0.1097 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1919 | 0.118 kilograms per international-$ | +7.6% |
| 1920 | 0.1753 kilograms per international-$ | +48.5% |
| 1921 | 0.1799 kilograms per international-$ | +2.6% |
| 1922 | 0.2254 kilograms per international-$ | +25.3% |
| 1923 | 0.3331 kilograms per international-$ | +47.8% |
| 1924 | 0.3173 kilograms per international-$ | -4.7% |
| 1925 | 0.4331 kilograms per international-$ | +36.5% |
| 1926 | 0.3864 kilograms per international-$ | -10.8% |
| 1927 | 0.3994 kilograms per international-$ | +3.3% |
| 1928 | 0.3555 kilograms per international-$ | -11.0% |
| 1929 | 0.296 kilograms per international-$ | -16.7% |
| 1930 | 0.2643 kilograms per international-$ | -10.7% |
| 1931 | 0.1953 kilograms per international-$ | -26.1% |
| 1932 | 0.1397 kilograms per international-$ | -28.5% |
| 1933 | 0.1213 kilograms per international-$ | -13.1% |
| 1934 | 0.1289 kilograms per international-$ | +6.2% |
| 1935 | 0.1374 kilograms per international-$ | +6.6% |
| 1936 | 0.1412 kilograms per international-$ | +2.7% |
| 1937 | 0.1454 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 1938 | 0.146 kilograms per international-$ | +0.4% |
| 1939 | 0.1249 kilograms per international-$ | -14.5% |
| 1940 | 0.232 kilograms per international-$ | +85.7% |
| 1941 | 0.1993 kilograms per international-$ | -14.1% |
| 1942 | 0.0442 kilograms per international-$ | -77.8% |
| 1947 | 0.0695 kilograms per international-$ | +57.1% |
| 1948 | 0.1064 kilograms per international-$ | +53.1% |
| 1949 | 0.0825 kilograms per international-$ | -22.5% |
| 1950 | 0.2286 kilograms per international-$ | +177.1% |
| 1951 | 0.3456 kilograms per international-$ | +51.2% |
| 1952 | 0.4026 kilograms per international-$ | +16.5% |
| 1953 | 0.4087 kilograms per international-$ | +1.5% |
| 1954 | 0.4143 kilograms per international-$ | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 0.4367 kilograms per international-$ | +5.4% |
| 1956 | 0.4192 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 0.1958 kilograms per international-$ | -53.3% |
| 1958 | 0.2136 kilograms per international-$ | +9.1% |
| 1959 | 0.1661 kilograms per international-$ | -22.2% |
| 1960 | 0.2044 kilograms per international-$ | +23.0% |
| 1961 | 0.2131 kilograms per international-$ | +4.3% |
| 1962 | 0.2056 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1963 | 0.2395 kilograms per international-$ | +16.5% |
| 1964 | 0.2859 kilograms per international-$ | +19.4% |
| 1965 | 0.302 kilograms per international-$ | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 0.3377 kilograms per international-$ | +11.8% |
| 1967 | 0.3419 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 0.3267 kilograms per international-$ | -4.4% |
| 1969 | 0.2682 kilograms per international-$ | -17.9% |
| 1970 | 0.4034 kilograms per international-$ | +50.4% |
| 1971 | 0.4292 kilograms per international-$ | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 0.4288 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 0.3662 kilograms per international-$ | -14.6% |
| 1974 | 0.3708 kilograms per international-$ | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 0.3755 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 0.4104 kilograms per international-$ | +9.3% |
| 1977 | 0.3592 kilograms per international-$ | -12.5% |
| 1978 | 0.3395 kilograms per international-$ | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 0.3686 kilograms per international-$ | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 0.3494 kilograms per international-$ | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 0.3594 kilograms per international-$ | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 0.3366 kilograms per international-$ | -6.3% |
| 1983 | 0.394 kilograms per international-$ | +17.0% |
| 1984 | 0.3343 kilograms per international-$ | -15.1% |
| 1985 | 0.3527 kilograms per international-$ | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 0.3845 kilograms per international-$ | +9.0% |
| 1987 | 0.3723 kilograms per international-$ | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 0.3587 kilograms per international-$ | -3.7% |
| 1989 | 0.3832 kilograms per international-$ | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 0.379 kilograms per international-$ | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 0.4169 kilograms per international-$ | +10.0% |
| 1992 | 0.4216 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 0.4517 kilograms per international-$ | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 0.4144 kilograms per international-$ | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 0.4688 kilograms per international-$ | +13.1% |
| 1996 | 0.4248 kilograms per international-$ | -9.4% |
| 1997 | 0.4225 kilograms per international-$ | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 0.4194 kilograms per international-$ | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 0.3718 kilograms per international-$ | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 0.4018 kilograms per international-$ | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 0.4223 kilograms per international-$ | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 0.4005 kilograms per international-$ | -5.2% |
| 2003 | 0.437 kilograms per international-$ | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 0.45 kilograms per international-$ | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 0.4252 kilograms per international-$ | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 0.3989 kilograms per international-$ | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 0.383 kilograms per international-$ | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 0.3974 kilograms per international-$ | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 0.3977 kilograms per international-$ | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 0.3797 kilograms per international-$ | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 0.365 kilograms per international-$ | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 0.3622 kilograms per international-$ | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 0.3926 kilograms per international-$ | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 0.3755 kilograms per international-$ | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3443 kilograms per international-$ | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 0.3315 kilograms per international-$ | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 0.3228 kilograms per international-$ | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 0.3308 kilograms per international-$ | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 0.3349 kilograms per international-$ | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 0.3347 kilograms per international-$ | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.3385 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 0.3212 kilograms per international-$ | -5.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 0.3212 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.2348 kilograms per international-$, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 0.3212 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2839 kilograms per international-$, 1.1× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | +191.5% | 0.0415 kilograms per international-$ | 0.121 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1913 | +183.1% | 0.0055 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0157 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1950 | +177.1% | 0.0825 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2286 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1907 | +117.9% | 0.0177 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0386 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1914 | +105.8% | 0.0157 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0323 kilograms per international-$ |
| 1912 | -92.7% | 0.0755 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0055 kilograms per international-$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.029 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0163 kilograms per international-$ | 0.065 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.0703 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0055 kilograms per international-$ | 0.121 kilograms per international-$ | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.3102 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1753 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4331 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.1544 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1213 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2643 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.1223 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0442 kilograms per international-$ | 0.232 kilograms per international-$ | 6 |
| 1950s | 0.3231 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1661 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4367 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2725 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2044 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3419 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.3852 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3395 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4292 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3625 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3343 kilograms per international-$ | 0.394 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.4191 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3718 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4688 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4114 kilograms per international-$ | 0.383 kilograms per international-$ | 0.45 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3539 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3228 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3926 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3315 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3212 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3385 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 31 Mauritania 0.3361 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 32 Belarus 0.325 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 33 Algeria 0.3236 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 35 Cambodia 0.3203 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 36 Comoros 0.3161 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 37 Lebanon 0.3151 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for Malaysia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 621.79 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,551 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,936 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,616 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 93.41 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,214 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,573 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.74 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malaysia?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Malaysia was 0.3212 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4688 kilograms per international-$ in 1995.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0055 kilograms per international-$ in 1912.
- How does Malaysia rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Malaysia ranks 34th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 — 118 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-$).