Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Consumption-based CO₂ emissions was 487.10 million tonnes in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
487.10 million tonnes
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
13th
of 120 countries
All-time high
774.67 million tonnes
in 2004
All-time low
469.89 million tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in United Kingdom, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 487.10 million tonnes for consumption-based co₂ emissions in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based co₂ emissions in United Kingdom peaked at 774.67 million tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 469.89 million tonnes, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 13th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 666.01 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 677.03 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 701.88 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 660.38 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 651.19 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 647.73 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 673.73 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 661.35 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 691.94 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 688.60 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 739.10 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 729.48 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 734.86 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 763.02 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 774.67 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 765.83 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 766.86 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 764.98 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 731.52 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 641.82 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 686.87 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 626.62 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 640.54 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 624.81 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 604.91 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 597.00 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 582.75 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 558.34 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 545.25 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 524.73 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 469.89 million tonnes | -10.5% |
| 2021 | 517.61 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 502.77 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 487.10 million tonnes | -3.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 487.10 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 77.36 million tonnes, 6.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 487.10 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 53.10 million tonnes, 9.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 671.98 million tonnes | 647.73 million tonnes | 701.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 741.21 million tonnes | 641.82 million tonnes | 774.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 599.18 million tonnes | 524.73 million tonnes | 686.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 494.34 million tonnes | 469.89 million tonnes | 517.61 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based co₂ emissions in United Kingdom?
- Consumption-based co₂ emissions in United Kingdom was 487.10 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 774.67 million tonnes in 2004.
- What is the lowest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 469.89 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for consumption-based co₂ emissions?
- United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is consumption-based co₂ emissions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.