Carbon intensity of energy in New Zealand
New Zealand: Carbon intensity of energy was 125.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
125.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
191st
of 204 countries
All-time high
182.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 1988
All-time low
124.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 2023
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Carbon intensity of energy in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 125.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity of energy in New Zealand peaked at 182.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1988 and was at its lowest, 124.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 2023.
That places New Zealand 191st out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Carbon intensity of energy in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 181.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | — |
| 1966 | 176.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.7% |
| 1967 | 175.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 169.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.9% |
| 1969 | 174.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 157.33 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -9.7% |
| 1971 | 164.24 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 166.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 177.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +7.0% |
| 1974 | 178.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 175.56 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.7% |
| 1976 | 174.76 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 178.47 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 162.64 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -8.9% |
| 1979 | 154.96 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 165.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 157.81 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 162.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 156.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 156.76 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 174.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +11.6% |
| 1986 | 172.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 179.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 182.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 172.18 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.6% |
| 1990 | 162.57 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.6% |
| 1991 | 162.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 170.47 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 166.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 161.87 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 158.81 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 160.95 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 165.92 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 160.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 161.45 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 159.4 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 167.33 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 166.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 178.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 176.66 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 180.87 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 177.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 173.13 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 171.87 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 158.19 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -8.0% |
| 2010 | 150.51 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 146.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 148.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 142.99 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 136.74 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 135.32 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 127.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 129.61 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 131.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 131.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 132.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 135.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 128.59 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 124.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 125.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 125.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is below the median for high income countries, which is 184.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 68% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 125.88 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 214.52 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 59% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 175.57 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 169.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 181.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
| 1970s | 169.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 154.96 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 178.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 168.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 156.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 182.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 163.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 158.81 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 170.47 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 171.06 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 158.19 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 180.87 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 138.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 127.1 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 150.51 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 129.57 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 124.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 135.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 188 Mozambique 141.16 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 189 Belgium 136.25 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 190 Netherlands 131.13 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 192 Hong Kong 122.25 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 193 Norway 121.81 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 194 Panama 121.36 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity of energy in New Zealand?
- Carbon intensity of energy in New Zealand was 125.88 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 182.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1988.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 124.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2023.
- How does New Zealand rank for carbon intensity of energy?
- New Zealand ranks 191st out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.