What is carbon intensity of energy in Australia?

Carbon intensity of energy in Australia was 250.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Australia?

The highest recorded value was 279.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2005.

What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Australia?

The lowest recorded value was 235.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1976.

How does Australia rank for carbon intensity of energy?

Australia ranks 45th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.

Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in Australia?

Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this Australia data come from?

The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity of energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Carbon intensity of energy in Australia

Name: Carbon intensity of energy in Australia
Creator: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Australia: Carbon intensity of energy was 250.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)

250.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour

Change on year

down 1.4%

World rank

45th

of 204 countries

All-time high

279.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour

in 2005

All-time low

235.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour

in 1976

Years of data

1965–2024

Carbon intensity of energy in Australia, 1965–2024

Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.

Analysis

In 2024, carbon intensity of energy in Australia stood at 250.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 3.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, carbon intensity of energy in Australia peaked at 279.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2005 and was at its lowest, 235.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 1976.

Australia ranks 45th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	269.29 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	264.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	276.64 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	5
1970s	249.67 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	235.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	268.76 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
1980s	256.09 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	249.89 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	264.29 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
1990s	272.49 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	268.44 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	276.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
2000s	275.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	268.94 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	279.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
2010s	265.96 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	258.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	274.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
2020s	257.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	250.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	268.25 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	5

Countries ranked near Australia

42 Papua New Guinea 254.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
43 Algeria 253.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
44 Tanzania 252.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
46 Cambodia 249.72 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
47 Kuwait 248.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
48 North Macedonia 247.59 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More climate change data for Australia

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.4% (2100)
Population growth 1.5% (2025)
Population, total 27.61 million (2025)
Urban population growth 1.7% (2025)
Urban population 24.22 million (2025)
Urban population 87.7% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 14.48 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 20.04 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 14.48 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 14.48 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is carbon intensity of energy in Australia?: Carbon intensity of energy in Australia was 250.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Australia?: The highest recorded value was 279.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2005.
What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Australia?: The lowest recorded value was 235.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1976.
How does Australia rank for carbon intensity of energy?: Australia ranks 45th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in Australia?: Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia data come from?: The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity of energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Carbon intensity of energy
Unit: grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 204 places, 9,804 data points, 1965–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of total energy supply, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.