Carbon intensity of energy in Germany
Germany: Carbon intensity of energy was 204.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
204.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
109th
of 204 countries
All-time high
326.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 1965
All-time low
201.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 2020
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Carbon intensity of energy in Germany, 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
The most recent figure for carbon intensity of energy in Germany is 204.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity of energy in Germany peaked at 326.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1965 and was at its lowest, 201.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 2020.
That places Germany 109th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Carbon intensity of energy in Germany, year by year
| Year | grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 326.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | — |
| 1966 | 323.22 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 318.69 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 313.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 309.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 286.71 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -7.5% |
| 1971 | 286.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.0% |
| 1972 | 277.99 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.0% |
| 1973 | 274.16 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 273.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 268.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 273.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 264.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 261.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 256.56 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 261.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 256.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 257.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 253.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 248.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 243.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 246.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 241.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 239.43 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 237.01 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 251.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +6.3% |
| 1991 | 248.78 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 242.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 240.9 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 239.29 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 237.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 234.31 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 230.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 230.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 227.01 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 227.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 226.96 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 226.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 224.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 221.15 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 221.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 220.99 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 221.67 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 221.81 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 218.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 219.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 223.74 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 224.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 223.36 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 222.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 223.23 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 218.74 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 211.4 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 210.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 203.69 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 201.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 202.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 212.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 210.86 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 204.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.9% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 204.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is above the median for high income countries, which is 184.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 1.1× the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Germany's 204.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 189.51 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 1.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 318.47 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 309.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 326.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
| 1970s | 272.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 256.56 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 286.71 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 248.61 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 237.01 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 261.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 238.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 227.01 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 251.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 223.09 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 218.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 227.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 218.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 203.69 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 224.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 206.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 201.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 212.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 106 Ireland 208.43 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 107 Central African Republic 207.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 108 Sierra Leone 205.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 110 Russia 204.26 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 111 Venezuela 203.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 112 Saint Lucia 202.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
More climate change data for Germany
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.70 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 43,971 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,073 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,898 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 34.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,246 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 12,227 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 122.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 46.14 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity of energy in Germany?
- Carbon intensity of energy in Germany was 204.73 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 326.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1965.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 201.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for carbon intensity of energy?
- Germany ranks 109th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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
Fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of total energy supply, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.