Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in United States
United States: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.2593 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.2593 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
52nd
of 164 countries
All-time high
1.66 kilograms per international-$
in 1917
All-time low
0.0292 kilograms per international-$
in 1822
Years of data
203
1820–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in United States, 1820–2022
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-$.
Analysis
In 2022, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in United States stood at 0.2593 kilograms per international-$.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 23.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in United States peaked at 1.66 kilograms per international-$ in 1917 and was at its lowest, 0.0292 kilograms per international-$, in 1822.
That places United States 52nd out of 164 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0354 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0292 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0491 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0757 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0514 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0976 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.1521 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1014 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2195 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.2996 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2311 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3407 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.3692 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3184 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4813 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.5823 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5096 kilograms per international-$ | 0.6315 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.7462 kilograms per international-$ | 0.63 kilograms per international-$ | 0.9562 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.9729 kilograms per international-$ | 0.9338 kilograms per international-$ | 1.05 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.23 kilograms per international-$ | 1.06 kilograms per international-$ | 1.39 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.47 kilograms per international-$ | 1.35 kilograms per international-$ | 1.66 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.39 kilograms per international-$ | 1.31 kilograms per international-$ | 1.61 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.23 kilograms per international-$ | 1.1 kilograms per international-$ | 1.33 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.1 kilograms per international-$ | 1.02 kilograms per international-$ | 1.2 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.9701 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8897 kilograms per international-$ | 1.1 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.8352 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8065 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8881 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.809 kilograms per international-$ | 0.7283 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8834 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5983 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5456 kilograms per international-$ | 0.7015 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.519 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4663 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5548 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4207 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3691 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4652 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3236 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2824 kilograms per international-$ | 0.372 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2608 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2593 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2628 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 49 Senegal 0.2722 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 50 India 0.2702 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 51 United Arab Emirates 0.2656 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 53 Poland 0.2558 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 54 North Macedonia 0.2555 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 55 Dominica 0.2442 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for United States
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.1% (2100)
- Population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Population, total 341.79 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.6% (2025)
- Urban population 274.08 million (2025)
- Urban population 80.2% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 434.87 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in United States?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in United States was 0.2593 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.66 kilograms per international-$ in 1917.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0292 kilograms per international-$ in 1822.
- How does United States rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- United States ranks 52nd out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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-$).