Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in China
China: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was -319.42 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-319.42 million tonnes
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
197th
of 197 countries
All-time high
1.86 billion tonnes
in 1978
All-time low
-319.42 million tonnes
in 2024
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in China, 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 China is -319.42 million tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 140.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in China peaked at 1.86 billion tonnes in 1978 and was at its lowest, -319.42 million tonnes, in 2024.
That places China 197th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom 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 China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 194.76 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 190.90 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1852 | 184.38 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1853 | 176.29 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1854 | 171.67 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1855 | 166.04 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1856 | 160.18 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1857 | 156.44 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1858 | 150.38 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1859 | 146.26 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1860 | 131.18 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1861 | 111.03 million tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1862 | 101.23 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1863 | 94.29 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1864 | 87.45 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1865 | 64.22 million tonnes | -26.6% |
| 1866 | 56.93 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1867 | 46.58 million tonnes | -18.2% |
| 1868 | 39.26 million tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1869 | 30.82 million tonnes | -21.5% |
| 1870 | 38.83 million tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1871 | 37.90 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1872 | 41.18 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1873 | 38.07 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1874 | 38.27 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1875 | 29.77 million tonnes | -22.2% |
| 1876 | 32.82 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1877 | 36.92 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1878 | 33.60 million tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1879 | 37.93 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1880 | 56.24 million tonnes | +48.3% |
| 1881 | 73.70 million tonnes | +31.0% |
| 1882 | 83.28 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1883 | 88.31 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1884 | 92.22 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1885 | 87.79 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1886 | 100.74 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1887 | 106.75 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1888 | 111.33 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1889 | 120.06 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1890 | 142.52 million tonnes | +18.7% |
| 1891 | 154.22 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1892 | 151.92 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1893 | 156.42 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1894 | 163.75 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1895 | 161.60 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1896 | 168.37 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1897 | 180.25 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1898 | 185.79 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1899 | 189.06 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 214.12 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1901 | 237.03 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1902 | 243.18 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1903 | 250.11 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1904 | 256.21 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1905 | 261.76 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1906 | 271.36 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1907 | 278.02 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1908 | 283.02 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1909 | 295.53 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1910 | 312.47 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1911 | 332.59 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1912 | 337.99 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 335.98 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1914 | 359.38 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1915 | 367.91 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1916 | 368.73 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1917 | 380.87 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1918 | 385.97 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1919 | 385.35 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1920 | 371.41 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1921 | 370.25 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1922 | 363.69 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1923 | 372.91 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1924 | 369.82 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1925 | 378.54 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1926 | 374.28 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1927 | 376.94 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1928 | 376.66 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1929 | 394.00 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1930 | 458.45 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1931 | 486.08 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1932 | 511.62 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1933 | 523.85 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 543.33 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1935 | 556.15 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1936 | 565.71 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1937 | 572.85 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1938 | 585.06 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1939 | 597.38 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 666.36 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1941 | 699.42 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1942 | 722.40 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1943 | 749.92 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1944 | 763.71 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 784.72 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1946 | 796.50 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1947 | 806.70 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1948 | 812.27 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1949 | 832.35 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1950 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +36.1% |
| 1951 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +26.1% |
| 1952 | 1.08 billion tonnes | -24.1% |
| 1953 | 1.01 billion tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1954 | 1.28 billion tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1955 | 1.22 billion tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1956 | 1.05 billion tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1957 | 1.02 billion tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1958 | 673.74 million tonnes | -33.6% |
| 1959 | 510.23 million tonnes | -24.3% |
| 1960 | 453.61 million tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1961 | 980.30 million tonnes | +116.1% |
| 1962 | 1.07 billion tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1963 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1964 | 1.05 billion tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1965 | 1.35 billion tonnes | +28.8% |
| 1966 | 1.08 billion tonnes | -20.4% |
| 1967 | 776.20 million tonnes | -27.8% |
| 1968 | 883.12 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1969 | 1.58 billion tonnes | +78.4% |
| 1970 | 1.34 billion tonnes | -15.2% |
| 1971 | 882.61 million tonnes | -33.9% |
| 1972 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +76.2% |
| 1973 | 1.40 billion tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1974 | 1.38 billion tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 1.20 billion tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1976 | 1.02 billion tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1977 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +55.7% |
| 1978 | 1.86 billion tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1979 | 1.13 billion tonnes | -39.4% |
| 1980 | 1.10 billion tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1981 | 1.02 billion tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1982 | 988.88 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1983 | 944.51 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 888.59 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 807.53 million tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1986 | 790.19 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 755.90 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1988 | 776.19 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 787.23 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 803.76 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 763.35 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 836.73 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1993 | 826.45 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 936.58 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1995 | 840.44 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1996 | 880.87 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 922.43 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 903.73 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 838.43 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 634.23 million tonnes | -24.4% |
| 2001 | 523.33 million tonnes | -17.5% |
| 2002 | 416.53 million tonnes | -20.4% |
| 2003 | 376.72 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2004 | 386.73 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 353.83 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 366.23 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 334.24 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 347.44 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 354.24 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2010 | -33.50 million tonnes | -109.5% |
| 2011 | 30.30 million tonnes | -190.5% |
| 2012 | 25.57 million tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2013 | 23.09 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2014 | -132.59 million tonnes | -674.2% |
| 2015 | -27.97 million tonnes | -78.9% |
| 2016 | -144.62 million tonnes | +417.0% |
| 2017 | -185.64 million tonnes | +28.4% |
| 2018 | -178.00 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2019 | -232.57 million tonnes | +30.7% |
| 2020 | -263.68 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2021 | -288.30 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2022 | -297.69 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2023 | -312.14 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2024 | -319.42 million tonnes | +2.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's -319.42 million tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,429 tonnes. (58 countries reporting)
- China's -319.42 million tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.66 million tonnes. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | -674.2% | 23.09 million tonnes | -132.59 million tonnes |
| 2016 | -417.0% | -27.97 million tonnes | -144.62 million tonnes |
| 2011 | +190.5% | -33.50 million tonnes | 30.30 million tonnes |
| 1961 | +116.1% | 453.61 million tonnes | 980.30 million tonnes |
| 2010 | -109.5% | 354.24 million tonnes | -33.50 million tonnes |
| 1969 | +78.4% | 883.12 million tonnes | 1.58 billion tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 169.73 million tonnes | 146.26 million tonnes | 194.76 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 76.30 million tonnes | 30.82 million tonnes | 131.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 36.53 million tonnes | 29.77 million tonnes | 41.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 92.04 million tonnes | 56.24 million tonnes | 120.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 165.39 million tonnes | 142.52 million tonnes | 189.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 259.03 million tonnes | 214.12 million tonnes | 295.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 356.72 million tonnes | 312.47 million tonnes | 385.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 374.85 million tonnes | 363.69 million tonnes | 394.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 540.05 million tonnes | 458.45 million tonnes | 597.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 763.43 million tonnes | 666.36 million tonnes | 832.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.04 billion tonnes | 510.23 million tonnes | 1.43 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.04 billion tonnes | 453.61 million tonnes | 1.58 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.34 billion tonnes | 882.61 million tonnes | 1.86 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 885.43 million tonnes | 755.90 million tonnes | 1.10 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 855.28 million tonnes | 763.35 million tonnes | 936.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 409.35 million tonnes | 334.24 million tonnes | 634.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -85.59 million tonnes | -232.57 million tonnes | 30.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -296.25 million tonnes | -319.42 million tonnes | -263.68 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in China?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in China was -319.42 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.86 billion tonnes in 1978.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -319.42 million tonnes in 2024.
- How does China rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- China ranks 197th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 140.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.