Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Australia
Australia: Consumption-based CO₂ emissions was 372.15 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
372.15 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
18th
of 120 countries
All-time high
413.16 million tonnes
in 2012
All-time low
244.68 million tonnes
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, consumption-based co₂ emissions in Australia stood at 372.15 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based co₂ emissions in Australia peaked at 413.16 million tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 244.68 million tonnes, in 1990.
Australia ranks 18th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 244.68 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 245.43 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 248.07 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 248.78 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 257.95 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 263.70 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 269.74 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 276.16 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 293.76 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 300.47 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 292.06 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 300.77 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 320.94 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 342.50 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 351.71 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 351.77 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 364.11 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 376.29 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 372.48 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 398.73 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 399.24 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 399.24 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 413.16 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 386.21 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 384.51 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 387.23 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 389.91 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 396.01 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 386.38 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 383.65 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 374.33 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 363.13 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 365.08 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 372.15 million tonnes | +1.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 372.15 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 77.36 million tonnes, 4.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Australia's 372.15 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 229.69 million tonnes, 1.6× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 264.87 million tonnes | 244.68 million tonnes | 300.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 347.14 million tonnes | 292.06 million tonnes | 398.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 392.55 million tonnes | 383.65 million tonnes | 413.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 368.67 million tonnes | 363.13 million tonnes | 374.33 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based co₂ emissions in Australia?
- Consumption-based co₂ emissions in Australia was 372.15 million tonnes in 2023, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 413.16 million tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 244.68 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for consumption-based co₂ emissions?
- Australia ranks 18th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is consumption-based co₂ emissions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 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 tonnes.