Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States
United States: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 112.06 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
112.06 million tonnes
Change on year
down 5.9%
World rank
10th
of 197 countries
All-time high
1.64 billion tonnes
in 1879
All-time low
-68.07 million tonnes
in 2011
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
United States recorded 112.06 million tonnes for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in 2024.
That represents a change of down 5.9% on the previous year and up 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States peaked at 1.64 billion tonnes in 1879 and was at its lowest, -68.07 million tonnes, in 2011.
United States ranks 10th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 761.34 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 821.81 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1852 | 849.61 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1853 | 893.93 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1854 | 921.57 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1855 | 938.27 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1856 | 955.86 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 979.12 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1859 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1860 | 928.28 million tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1861 | 846.48 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1862 | 833.73 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1863 | 827.69 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1864 | 799.52 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1865 | 769.37 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1866 | 753.00 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1867 | 753.60 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 737.15 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1869 | 712.92 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1870 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +46.4% |
| 1871 | 1.18 billion tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1872 | 1.25 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1873 | 1.33 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1875 | 1.44 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1876 | 1.49 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1877 | 1.54 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1878 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1879 | 1.64 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1880 | 1.48 billion tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1881 | 1.40 billion tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1882 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 1.41 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 1.39 billion tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1885 | 1.37 billion tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1886 | 1.36 billion tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1887 | 1.38 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1888 | 1.37 billion tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1889 | 1.34 billion tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1890 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1891 | 1.45 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 1.44 billion tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1893 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1894 | 1.48 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1895 | 1.48 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1896 | 1.49 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 1.50 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1899 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1900 | 1.47 billion tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1901 | 1.44 billion tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1902 | 1.44 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1903 | 1.41 billion tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1904 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1905 | 1.41 billion tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1906 | 1.40 billion tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1907 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1908 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 1.41 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1910 | 1.33 billion tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1911 | 1.31 billion tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1912 | 1.24 billion tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1913 | 1.24 billion tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1914 | 1.24 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1915 | 1.21 billion tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1916 | 1.19 billion tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1917 | 1.19 billion tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1918 | 1.20 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1919 | 1.17 billion tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1920 | 1.18 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 1.19 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1922 | 1.17 billion tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1923 | 1.14 billion tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1924 | 1.11 billion tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1925 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1926 | 1.08 billion tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1927 | 1.04 billion tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1928 | 1.02 billion tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1929 | 987.74 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1930 | 877.30 million tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1931 | 833.20 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1932 | 762.40 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1933 | 719.12 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1934 | 698.61 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1935 | 644.74 million tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1936 | 624.19 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1937 | 581.49 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1938 | 553.26 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1939 | 523.71 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1940 | 586.94 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1941 | 612.54 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1942 | 623.05 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 631.64 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1944 | 636.21 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1945 | 636.49 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 638.49 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1947 | 639.27 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1948 | 638.29 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1949 | 592.56 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1950 | 479.82 million tonnes | -19.0% |
| 1951 | 418.04 million tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1952 | 371.96 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1953 | 346.15 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1954 | 340.50 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1955 | 322.84 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1956 | 316.28 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1957 | 290.15 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1958 | 270.31 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1959 | 195.95 million tonnes | -27.5% |
| 1960 | 192.43 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 72.47 million tonnes | -62.3% |
| 1962 | 229.09 million tonnes | +216.1% |
| 1963 | 113.70 million tonnes | -50.4% |
| 1964 | 87.95 million tonnes | -22.7% |
| 1965 | 48.97 million tonnes | -44.3% |
| 1966 | 28.04 million tonnes | -42.7% |
| 1967 | 513.21 million tonnes | +1730.6% |
| 1968 | 865.73 million tonnes | +68.7% |
| 1969 | 464.06 million tonnes | -46.4% |
| 1970 | 340.13 million tonnes | -26.7% |
| 1971 | 280.14 million tonnes | -17.6% |
| 1972 | 242.01 million tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1973 | 205.00 million tonnes | -15.3% |
| 1974 | 207.60 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 192.30 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1976 | 200.58 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 335.56 million tonnes | +67.3% |
| 1978 | 259.70 million tonnes | -22.6% |
| 1979 | 242.69 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1980 | 273.94 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1981 | 266.27 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1982 | 262.46 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 276.16 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 284.62 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 291.72 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 231.08 million tonnes | -20.8% |
| 1987 | 266.34 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1988 | 282.25 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 283.77 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 299.22 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 250.53 million tonnes | -16.3% |
| 1992 | 194.77 million tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1993 | 177.94 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1994 | 230.72 million tonnes | +29.7% |
| 1995 | 114.03 million tonnes | -50.6% |
| 1996 | 94.96 million tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1997 | 121.21 million tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1998 | 129.29 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 170.90 million tonnes | +32.2% |
| 2000 | 155.80 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 56.93 million tonnes | -63.5% |
| 2002 | 126.33 million tonnes | +121.9% |
| 2003 | 268.84 million tonnes | +112.8% |
| 2004 | 215.30 million tonnes | -19.9% |
| 2005 | 323.50 million tonnes | +50.3% |
| 2006 | -49.36 million tonnes | -115.3% |
| 2007 | -20.98 million tonnes | -57.5% |
| 2008 | 97.34 million tonnes | -564.0% |
| 2009 | 79.04 million tonnes | -18.8% |
| 2010 | 170.20 million tonnes | +115.3% |
| 2011 | -68.07 million tonnes | -140.0% |
| 2012 | 46.09 million tonnes | -167.7% |
| 2013 | 2.38 million tonnes | -94.8% |
| 2014 | 74.88 million tonnes | +3043.6% |
| 2015 | 53.68 million tonnes | -28.3% |
| 2016 | 105.19 million tonnes | +95.9% |
| 2017 | 164.42 million tonnes | +56.3% |
| 2018 | 99.65 million tonnes | -39.4% |
| 2019 | 98.06 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 86.54 million tonnes | -11.7% |
| 2021 | 89.72 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 118.01 million tonnes | +31.5% |
| 2023 | 119.04 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 112.06 million tonnes | -5.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States 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 | +3043.6% | 2.38 million tonnes | 74.88 million tonnes |
| 1967 | +1730.6% | 28.04 million tonnes | 513.21 million tonnes |
| 2008 | +564.0% | -20.98 million tonnes | 97.34 million tonnes |
| 1962 | +216.1% | 72.47 million tonnes | 229.09 million tonnes |
| 2012 | +167.7% | -68.07 million tonnes | 46.09 million tonnes |
| 2011 | -140.0% | 170.20 million tonnes | -68.07 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 916.86 million tonnes | 761.34 million tonnes | 1.04 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 796.17 million tonnes | 712.92 million tonnes | 928.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.39 billion tonnes | 1.04 billion tonnes | 1.64 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.39 billion tonnes | 1.34 billion tonnes | 1.48 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.48 billion tonnes | 1.43 billion tonnes | 1.55 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.42 billion tonnes | 1.40 billion tonnes | 1.47 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.23 billion tonnes | 1.17 billion tonnes | 1.33 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.10 billion tonnes | 987.74 million tonnes | 1.19 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 681.80 million tonnes | 523.71 million tonnes | 877.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 623.55 million tonnes | 586.94 million tonnes | 639.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 335.20 million tonnes | 195.95 million tonnes | 479.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 261.57 million tonnes | 28.04 million tonnes | 865.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 250.57 million tonnes | 192.30 million tonnes | 340.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 271.86 million tonnes | 231.08 million tonnes | 291.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 178.36 million tonnes | 94.96 million tonnes | 299.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 125.27 million tonnes | -49.36 million tonnes | 323.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.65 million tonnes | -68.07 million tonnes | 170.20 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 105.07 million tonnes | 86.54 million tonnes | 119.04 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States was 112.06 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.64 billion tonnes in 1879.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -68.07 million tonnes in 2011.
- How does United States rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- United States ranks 10th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.6%. 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) – 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.
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About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.