CO₂ emissions from international aviation in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: CO₂ emissions from international aviation was 31.73 million tonnes in 2024. ▼ Falling
CO₂ emissions from international aviation in United Kingdom, 2013–2024
Source: OECD (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 31.73 million tonnes for co₂ emissions from international aviation in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.7% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from international aviation in United Kingdom peaked at 34.40 million tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 11.11 million tonnes, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom 3rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
CO₂ emissions from international aviation in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.89 million tonnes | — |
| 2014 | 29.62 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 30.62 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 32.28 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 33.36 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 34.08 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 34.40 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 12.97 million tonnes | -62.3% |
| 2021 | 11.11 million tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2022 | 24.13 million tonnes | +117.2% |
| 2023 | 29.73 million tonnes | +23.2% |
| 2024 | 31.73 million tonnes | +6.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 31.73 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.69 million tonnes, 18.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 31.73 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.03 million tonnes, 30.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 31.89 million tonnes | 28.89 million tonnes | 34.40 million tonnes | 7 |
| 2020s | 21.93 million tonnes | 11.11 million tonnes | 31.73 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 1 OECD 303.73 million tonnes compare
- 2 United States 68.05 million tonnes compare
- 4 China 27.20 million tonnes compare
- 5 United Arab Emirates 25.58 million tonnes compare
- 6 Germany 20.77 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from international aviation in United Kingdom?
- Co₂ emissions from international aviation in United Kingdom was 31.73 million tonnes in 2024, according to OECD (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from international aviation recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 34.40 million tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from international aviation recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.11 million tonnes in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for co₂ emissions from international aviation?
- United Kingdom ranks 3rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from international aviation rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions from international aviation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
International aviation emissions are assigned to the country of departure. CO₂ emissions from commercial passenger flights only.