Consumption-based carbon intensity in New Zealand
New Zealand: Consumption-based carbon intensity was 0.2122 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ▼ Falling
Consumption-based carbon intensity in New Zealand, 1990–2022
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per international-$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for consumption-based carbon intensity in New Zealand is 0.2122 kilograms per international-$, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based carbon intensity in New Zealand peaked at 0.3783 kilograms per international-$ in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.2122 kilograms per international-$, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 75th of 119 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.3522 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3252 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3783 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3195 kilograms per international-$ | 0.273 kilograms per international-$ | 0.3461 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2544 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2245 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2805 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2195 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2122 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2233 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 72 Germany 0.2146 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 73 Dominican Republic 0.2138 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 74 Nicaragua 0.2136 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 76 Paraguay 0.2101 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 77 Austria 0.2085 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 78 Chile 0.2061 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.1% (2100)
- Population growth 0.7% (2025)
- Population, total 5.32 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.7% (2025)
- Urban population 4.47 million (2025)
- Urban population 84.0% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 6.23 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 2.01 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 6.23 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 6.23 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based carbon intensity in New Zealand?
- Consumption-based carbon intensity in New Zealand was 0.2122 kilograms per international-$ in 2022, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based carbon intensity recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3783 kilograms per international-$ in 1992.
- What is the lowest consumption-based carbon intensity recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2122 kilograms per international-$ in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for consumption-based carbon intensity?
- New Zealand ranks 75th out of 119 countries with data for 2022.
- Is consumption-based carbon intensity rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. 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); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based carbon intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual consumption-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), measured in kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).