Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Australia
Australia: Cumulative CO₂ emissions was 20.04 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
20.04 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
17th
of 215 countries
All-time high
20.04 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
275
1750–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Australia, 1750–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cumulative co₂ emissions in Australia is 20.04 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 275 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions in Australia peaked at 20.04 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1750.
Australia ranks 17th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1752 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1753 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1754 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1755 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1756 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1757 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1758 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1759 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1760 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1761 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1762 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1763 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1764 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1765 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1766 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1767 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1768 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1769 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1770 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1771 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1772 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1773 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1774 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1775 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1776 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1777 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1778 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1779 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1780 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1781 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1782 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1783 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1784 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1785 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1786 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1787 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1788 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1789 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1790 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1791 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1792 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1793 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1794 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1795 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1796 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1797 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1798 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1799 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1800 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1801 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1802 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1803 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1804 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1805 | 236 tonnes | — |
| 1806 | 897 tonnes | +280.1% |
| 1807 | 1,526 tonnes | +70.1% |
| 1808 | 2,313 tonnes | +51.6% |
| 1809 | 3,572 tonnes | +54.4% |
| 1810 | 4,831 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1811 | 7,034 tonnes | +45.6% |
| 1812 | 9,237 tonnes | +31.3% |
| 1813 | 12,069 tonnes | +30.7% |
| 1814 | 15,520 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1815 | 18,273 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1816 | 20,554 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1817 | 22,599 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1818 | 24,487 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1819 | 28,027 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1820 | 34,187 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1821 | 37,334 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1822 | 41,268 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1823 | 45,988 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1824 | 50,708 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1825 | 53,578 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1826 | 59,938 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1827 | 65,840 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1828 | 69,626 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1829 | 75,657 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1830 | 81,405 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1831 | 82,826 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1832 | 94,065 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1833 | 104,783 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1834 | 118,141 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1835 | 137,639 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1836 | 157,536 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1837 | 182,841 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1838 | 209,935 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1839 | 243,422 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1840 | 291,027 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1841 | 345,846 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1842 | 408,625 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1843 | 449,317 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1844 | 485,691 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1845 | 520,816 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1846 | 582,124 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1847 | 646,212 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1848 | 717,719 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1849 | 794,055 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1850 | 906,107 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1851 | 1.01 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1852 | 1.12 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1853 | 1.27 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1854 | 1.45 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1855 | 1.67 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1856 | 1.97 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1857 | 2.30 million tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1858 | 2.64 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1859 | 3.13 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1860 | 3.73 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1861 | 4.29 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1862 | 5.07 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1863 | 5.79 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1864 | 6.70 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1865 | 7.67 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1866 | 8.95 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1867 | 10.19 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1868 | 11.72 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1869 | 13.19 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1870 | 14.59 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1871 | 16.03 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1872 | 17.67 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1873 | 19.60 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1874 | 21.72 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1875 | 23.87 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1876 | 26.02 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1877 | 28.40 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1878 | 30.96 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1879 | 33.54 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1880 | 35.95 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1881 | 38.86 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1882 | 42.31 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1883 | 46.46 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1884 | 50.99 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1885 | 55.86 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1886 | 60.69 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1887 | 65.71 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1888 | 71.32 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1889 | 77.57 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1890 | 83.02 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1891 | 89.91 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1892 | 96.37 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1893 | 102.14 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1894 | 108.66 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1895 | 115.41 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1896 | 122.58 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1897 | 130.49 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 139.00 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1899 | 147.69 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1900 | 157.86 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1901 | 169.30 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1902 | 180.70 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1903 | 191.92 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1904 | 203.47 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1905 | 215.52 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1906 | 229.88 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1907 | 245.36 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1908 | 262.15 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1909 | 276.74 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1910 | 294.44 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1911 | 313.97 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1912 | 335.18 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1913 | 357.98 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1914 | 382.90 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1915 | 405.17 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1916 | 425.03 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1917 | 446.36 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1918 | 469.73 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1919 | 491.91 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 518.22 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1921 | 542.00 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1922 | 566.92 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1923 | 592.61 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1924 | 620.80 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1925 | 650.43 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1926 | 680.02 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1927 | 711.29 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1928 | 740.31 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1929 | 767.21 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 793.11 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1931 | 815.66 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1932 | 838.71 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1933 | 863.50 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1934 | 889.70 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1935 | 918.66 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1936 | 950.18 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1937 | 983.93 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1938 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1939 | 1.06 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1940 | 1.09 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1941 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1942 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1943 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1944 | 1.25 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1945 | 1.29 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1946 | 1.34 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1947 | 1.38 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1948 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1949 | 1.48 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1950 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1951 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1952 | 1.66 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 1.72 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 1.79 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 1.86 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1956 | 1.93 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1957 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1958 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1959 | 2.17 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 2.26 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1961 | 2.34 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1962 | 2.44 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 2.53 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1964 | 2.64 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 2.75 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1966 | 2.86 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1968 | 3.12 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 3.25 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 3.40 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 3.55 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1972 | 3.70 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 3.87 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 4.04 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 4.21 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 4.38 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 4.57 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 4.76 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 4.95 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 5.15 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 5.37 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 5.59 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 5.79 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 6.01 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 6.23 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1986 | 6.46 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1987 | 6.69 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 6.93 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 7.19 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 7.47 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 7.75 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 8.03 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 8.32 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 8.62 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 8.92 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 9.23 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 9.55 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 9.89 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 10.23 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 10.58 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 10.94 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 11.30 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 11.67 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 12.05 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 12.44 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 12.83 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 13.23 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 13.63 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 14.04 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 14.44 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 14.85 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 15.25 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 15.65 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 16.04 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 16.44 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 16.85 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 17.27 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 17.68 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 18.10 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 18.50 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 18.88 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 19.27 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 19.65 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 20.04 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 20.04 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.73 billion tonnes, 11.6× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Australia's 20.04 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 247.31 million tonnes, 81.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1806 | +280.1% | 236 tonnes | 897 tonnes |
| 1807 | +70.1% | 897 tonnes | 1,526 tonnes |
| 1809 | +54.4% | 2,313 tonnes | 3,572 tonnes |
| 1808 | +51.6% | 1,526 tonnes | 2,313 tonnes |
| 1811 | +45.6% | 4,831 tonnes | 7,034 tonnes |
| 1810 | +35.2% | 3,572 tonnes | 4,831 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 854.4 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 3,572 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 16,263 tonnes | 4,831 tonnes | 28,027 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 53,412 tonnes | 34,187 tonnes | 75,657 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 141,259 tonnes | 81,405 tonnes | 243,422 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 524,143 tonnes | 291,027 tonnes | 794,055 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.75 million tonnes | 906,107 tonnes | 3.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 7.73 million tonnes | 3.73 million tonnes | 13.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 23.24 million tonnes | 14.59 million tonnes | 33.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 54.57 million tonnes | 35.95 million tonnes | 77.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 113.53 million tonnes | 83.02 million tonnes | 147.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 213.29 million tonnes | 157.86 million tonnes | 276.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 392.27 million tonnes | 294.44 million tonnes | 491.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 638.98 million tonnes | 518.22 million tonnes | 767.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 912.67 million tonnes | 793.11 million tonnes | 1.06 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.28 billion tonnes | 1.09 billion tonnes | 1.48 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.83 billion tonnes | 1.53 billion tonnes | 2.17 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.72 billion tonnes | 2.26 billion tonnes | 3.25 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.14 billion tonnes | 3.40 billion tonnes | 4.95 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.14 billion tonnes | 5.15 billion tonnes | 7.19 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.80 billion tonnes | 7.47 billion tonnes | 10.23 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.27 billion tonnes | 10.58 billion tonnes | 14.04 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.26 billion tonnes | 14.44 billion tonnes | 18.10 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.27 billion tonnes | 18.50 billion tonnes | 20.04 billion tonnes | 5 |
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 cumulative co₂ emissions in Australia?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions in Australia was 20.04 billion tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.04 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Australia rank for cumulative co₂ emissions?
- Australia ranks 17th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Cumulative CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 275 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.