Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia
Australia: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 41.66 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
41.66 million tonnes
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
24th
of 197 countries
All-time high
550.92 million tonnes
in 2010
All-time low
-49.26 million tonnes
in 1991
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia is 41.66 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 6.5% on the previous year and down 50.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia peaked at 550.92 million tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, -49.26 million tonnes, in 1991.
Australia ranks 24th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 8.67 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 8.81 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1852 | 9.56 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1853 | 10.86 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1854 | 11.18 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1855 | 11.25 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1856 | 11.60 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1857 | 11.67 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1858 | 12.43 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1859 | 12.26 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1860 | 13.71 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1861 | 14.63 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1862 | 15.37 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1863 | 15.62 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1864 | 15.14 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1865 | 17.03 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1866 | 17.06 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 17.33 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1868 | 17.11 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1869 | 17.29 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 21.93 million tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1871 | 26.28 million tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1872 | 27.32 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1873 | 28.13 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1874 | 29.50 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1875 | 29.43 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1876 | 31.86 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1877 | 32.05 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 31.51 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1879 | 32.11 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1880 | 29.09 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1881 | 27.95 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1882 | 26.46 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1883 | 26.85 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1884 | 27.10 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1885 | 26.45 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1886 | 25.85 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1887 | 26.79 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1888 | 26.40 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1889 | 26.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 36.04 million tonnes | +36.3% |
| 1891 | 38.61 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1892 | 42.08 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1893 | 44.15 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1894 | 45.60 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1895 | 46.98 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1896 | 47.06 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1897 | 50.12 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 49.54 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1899 | 50.30 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1900 | 48.13 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1901 | 48.43 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1902 | 48.38 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1903 | 47.70 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1904 | 48.44 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 48.34 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1906 | 47.85 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1907 | 49.78 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1908 | 48.28 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1909 | 48.87 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 44.97 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1911 | 42.91 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1912 | 44.21 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1913 | 42.94 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1914 | 41.11 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1915 | 43.15 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1916 | 41.53 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1917 | 40.97 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1918 | 40.73 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1919 | 40.38 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1920 | 94.56 million tonnes | +134.1% |
| 1921 | 116.84 million tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1922 | 133.09 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1923 | 142.74 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1924 | 152.27 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1925 | 159.00 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1926 | 163.86 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 169.58 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1928 | 173.47 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 176.81 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1930 | 124.27 million tonnes | -29.7% |
| 1931 | 99.85 million tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1932 | 88.89 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1933 | 78.91 million tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1934 | 70.76 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1935 | 66.72 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1936 | 60.56 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1937 | 57.47 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1938 | 55.14 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1939 | 50.87 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1940 | 51.70 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1941 | 50.81 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1942 | 52.87 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1943 | 50.18 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1944 | 49.77 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1945 | 51.71 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1946 | 49.19 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1947 | 48.44 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1948 | 49.12 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1949 | 47.26 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1950 | 93.23 million tonnes | +97.3% |
| 1951 | 113.53 million tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1952 | 128.44 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1953 | 144.39 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1954 | 154.34 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1955 | 164.75 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1956 | 173.07 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1957 | 188.72 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1958 | 192.03 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1959 | 195.86 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 170.70 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1961 | 217.27 million tonnes | +27.3% |
| 1962 | 141.25 million tonnes | -35.0% |
| 1963 | 186.47 million tonnes | +32.0% |
| 1964 | 219.61 million tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1965 | 262.28 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1966 | 211.28 million tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1967 | 403.50 million tonnes | +91.0% |
| 1968 | 203.39 million tonnes | -49.6% |
| 1969 | 114.62 million tonnes | -43.6% |
| 1970 | 55.90 million tonnes | -51.2% |
| 1971 | 59.46 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1972 | -3.77 million tonnes | -106.3% |
| 1973 | -4.26 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1974 | -32.59 million tonnes | +664.9% |
| 1975 | 39.58 million tonnes | -221.5% |
| 1976 | 33.48 million tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1977 | 156.45 million tonnes | +367.2% |
| 1978 | 117.57 million tonnes | -24.9% |
| 1979 | 107.85 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1980 | 95.71 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1981 | 148.91 million tonnes | +55.6% |
| 1982 | 78.47 million tonnes | -47.3% |
| 1983 | 246.10 million tonnes | +213.6% |
| 1984 | 120.58 million tonnes | -51.0% |
| 1985 | 67.33 million tonnes | -44.2% |
| 1986 | 19.89 million tonnes | -70.5% |
| 1987 | -15.21 million tonnes | -176.5% |
| 1988 | -29.55 million tonnes | +94.3% |
| 1989 | -39.55 million tonnes | +33.9% |
| 1990 | -17.70 million tonnes | -55.2% |
| 1991 | -49.26 million tonnes | +178.2% |
| 1992 | 27.12 million tonnes | -155.1% |
| 1993 | 42.30 million tonnes | +56.0% |
| 1994 | 20.92 million tonnes | -50.6% |
| 1995 | 195.94 million tonnes | +836.8% |
| 1996 | 204.83 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 139.55 million tonnes | -31.9% |
| 1998 | 204.61 million tonnes | +46.6% |
| 1999 | 151.85 million tonnes | -25.8% |
| 2000 | 213.64 million tonnes | +40.7% |
| 2001 | 111.28 million tonnes | -47.9% |
| 2002 | 69.46 million tonnes | -37.6% |
| 2003 | 229.50 million tonnes | +230.4% |
| 2004 | 191.64 million tonnes | -16.5% |
| 2005 | 75.47 million tonnes | -60.6% |
| 2006 | 26.91 million tonnes | -64.3% |
| 2007 | 80.55 million tonnes | +199.4% |
| 2008 | 278.82 million tonnes | +246.1% |
| 2009 | 113.08 million tonnes | -59.4% |
| 2010 | 550.92 million tonnes | +387.2% |
| 2011 | 280.60 million tonnes | -49.1% |
| 2012 | 164.68 million tonnes | -41.3% |
| 2013 | 164.43 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 83.67 million tonnes | -49.1% |
| 2015 | 38.08 million tonnes | -54.5% |
| 2016 | 95.42 million tonnes | +150.6% |
| 2017 | 89.87 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 50.95 million tonnes | -43.3% |
| 2019 | 39.18 million tonnes | -23.1% |
| 2020 | 93.95 million tonnes | +139.8% |
| 2021 | 57.85 million tonnes | -38.4% |
| 2022 | 44.06 million tonnes | -23.8% |
| 2023 | 44.57 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 41.66 million tonnes | -6.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 41.66 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.66 million tonnes, 15.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +836.8% | 20.92 million tonnes | 195.94 million tonnes |
| 1974 | -664.9% | -4.26 million tonnes | -32.59 million tonnes |
| 2010 | +387.2% | 113.08 million tonnes | 550.92 million tonnes |
| 1977 | +367.2% | 33.48 million tonnes | 156.45 million tonnes |
| 2008 | +246.1% | 80.55 million tonnes | 278.82 million tonnes |
| 2003 | +230.4% | 69.46 million tonnes | 229.50 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 10.83 million tonnes | 8.67 million tonnes | 12.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 16.03 million tonnes | 13.71 million tonnes | 17.33 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 29.01 million tonnes | 21.93 million tonnes | 32.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 26.94 million tonnes | 25.85 million tonnes | 29.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 45.05 million tonnes | 36.04 million tonnes | 50.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 48.42 million tonnes | 47.70 million tonnes | 49.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 42.29 million tonnes | 40.38 million tonnes | 44.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 148.22 million tonnes | 94.56 million tonnes | 176.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 75.34 million tonnes | 50.87 million tonnes | 124.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 50.11 million tonnes | 47.26 million tonnes | 52.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 154.84 million tonnes | 93.23 million tonnes | 195.86 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 213.04 million tonnes | 114.62 million tonnes | 403.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 52.97 million tonnes | -32.59 million tonnes | 156.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 69.27 million tonnes | -39.55 million tonnes | 246.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 92.02 million tonnes | -49.26 million tonnes | 204.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 139.04 million tonnes | 26.91 million tonnes | 278.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 155.78 million tonnes | 38.08 million tonnes | 550.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.42 million tonnes | 41.66 million tonnes | 93.95 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Australia was 41.66 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 550.92 million tonnes in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -49.26 million tonnes in 1991.
- How does Australia rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Australia ranks 24th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.