What is carbon intensity of energy in India?

Carbon intensity of energy in India was 296.16 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 India?

The highest recorded value was 298.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2018.

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

The lowest recorded value was 244.9 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1969.

How does India rank for carbon intensity of energy?

India ranks 18th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.

Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in India?

Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this India 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 India

Name: Carbon intensity of energy in India
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)

India: Carbon intensity of energy was 296.16 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)

296.16 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour

Change on year

down 0.5%

World rank

18th

of 204 countries

All-time high

298.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour

in 2018

All-time low

244.9 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour

in 1969

Years of data

1965–2024

Carbon intensity of energy in India, 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

India recorded 296.16 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour for carbon intensity of energy in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, carbon intensity of energy in India peaked at 298.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2018 and was at its lowest, 244.9 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 1969.

India ranks 18th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 60 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	260.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	244.9 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	266.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	5
1970s	260.78 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	256.44 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	265.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
1980s	264.25 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	255.22 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	268.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
1990s	273.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	266.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	283.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
2000s	276.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	270.45 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	279.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
2010s	290.36 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	278.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	298.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	10
2020s	295.14 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	290.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	297.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour	5

Countries ranked near India

15 Suriname 303.34 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
16 Botswana 301.67 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
17 Maldives 297.4 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
19 Vietnam 294.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
20 Cuba 290.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
21 Laos 288.44 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare

See the full ranking of 204 places →

More climate change data for India

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 14.8% (2100)
Population growth 0.9% (2025)
Population, total 1.46 billion (2025)
Urban population growth 1.8% (2025)
Urban population 522.44 million (2025)
Urban population 35.7% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 2.2 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 66.07 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 2.2 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 2.2 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is carbon intensity of energy in India?: Carbon intensity of energy in India was 296.16 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 India?: The highest recorded value was 298.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2018.
What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in India?: The lowest recorded value was 244.9 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1969.
How does India rank for carbon intensity of energy?: India ranks 18th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in India?: Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India 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.