Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Japan
Japan: Cumulative CO₂ emissions was 69.61 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
69.61 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
6th
of 215 countries
All-time high
69.61 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
10,992 tonnes
in 1868
Years of data
157
1868–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Japan, 1868–2024
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 Japan is 69.61 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 157 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions in Japan peaked at 69.61 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10,992 tonnes, in 1868.
Japan ranks 6th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1868 | 10,992 tonnes | — |
| 1869 | 29,312 tonnes | +166.7% |
| 1870 | 47,632 tonnes | +62.5% |
| 1871 | 73,280 tonnes | +53.8% |
| 1872 | 106,256 tonnes | +45.0% |
| 1873 | 146,560 tonnes | +37.9% |
| 1874 | 732,800 tonnes | +400.0% |
| 1875 | 2.17 million tonnes | +196.5% |
| 1876 | 3.58 million tonnes | +64.6% |
| 1877 | 4.87 million tonnes | +36.1% |
| 1878 | 6.72 million tonnes | +38.2% |
| 1879 | 9.04 million tonnes | +34.4% |
| 1880 | 11.39 million tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1881 | 13.80 million tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1882 | 16.32 million tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1883 | 19.03 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1884 | 21.98 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1885 | 25.33 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1886 | 28.94 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1887 | 33.41 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1888 | 38.58 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1889 | 44.84 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1890 | 51.59 million tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1891 | 59.72 million tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1892 | 67.79 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1893 | 76.37 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1894 | 87.39 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1895 | 99.62 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1896 | 112.53 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1897 | 126.08 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1898 | 143.32 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1899 | 160.59 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1900 | 180.00 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1901 | 203.28 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1902 | 228.22 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1903 | 254.01 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1904 | 283.06 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1905 | 312.99 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1906 | 345.85 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1907 | 380.92 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1908 | 418.55 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1909 | 456.81 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1910 | 496.19 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1911 | 540.40 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1912 | 589.68 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1913 | 644.00 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1914 | 702.01 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1915 | 754.86 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1916 | 813.46 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1917 | 880.94 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1918 | 952.48 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1919 | 1.03 billion tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1920 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1921 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1922 | 1.24 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1923 | 1.32 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1924 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1925 | 1.48 billion tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1926 | 1.56 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1927 | 1.65 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1928 | 1.75 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1929 | 1.84 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1930 | 1.93 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1931 | 2.00 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1932 | 2.08 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1933 | 2.17 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1934 | 2.28 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1935 | 2.38 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1936 | 2.50 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1937 | 2.62 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1938 | 2.76 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1939 | 2.88 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1940 | 3.04 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1941 | 3.19 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1942 | 3.34 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1943 | 3.49 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 3.63 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1945 | 3.71 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1946 | 3.76 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1947 | 3.83 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 3.92 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1949 | 4.01 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1950 | 4.12 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 4.24 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 4.37 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 4.52 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1954 | 4.66 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 4.80 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1956 | 4.96 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 5.15 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1958 | 5.33 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1959 | 5.52 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1960 | 5.76 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 6.04 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1962 | 6.33 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 6.66 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 7.02 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 7.41 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1966 | 7.83 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 8.32 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1968 | 8.88 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1969 | 9.53 billion tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 10.30 billion tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1971 | 11.10 billion tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1972 | 11.96 billion tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 12.88 billion tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1974 | 13.79 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 14.66 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 15.57 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1977 | 16.51 billion tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 17.41 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 18.37 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1980 | 19.32 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1981 | 20.25 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 21.15 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 22.03 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 22.97 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 23.89 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 24.80 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 25.70 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 26.69 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 27.71 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 28.86 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 30.03 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 31.21 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1993 | 32.38 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 33.60 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 34.84 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 36.08 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 37.32 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 38.53 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 39.76 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 41.02 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 42.27 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 43.55 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 44.83 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 46.11 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 47.40 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 48.66 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 49.96 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 51.19 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 52.35 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 53.56 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 54.82 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 56.12 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 57.43 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 58.69 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 59.91 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 61.11 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 62.30 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 63.44 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 64.54 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 65.58 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 66.63 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 67.66 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 68.65 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 69.61 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 69.61 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.73 billion tonnes, 40.2× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Japan's 69.61 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 247.31 million tonnes, 281.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | +400.0% | 146,560 tonnes | 732,800 tonnes |
| 1875 | +196.5% | 732,800 tonnes | 2.17 million tonnes |
| 1869 | +166.7% | 10,992 tonnes | 29,312 tonnes |
| 1876 | +64.6% | 2.17 million tonnes | 3.58 million tonnes |
| 1870 | +62.5% | 29,312 tonnes | 47,632 tonnes |
| 1871 | +53.8% | 47,632 tonnes | 73,280 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 20,152 tonnes | 10,992 tonnes | 29,312 tonnes | 2 |
| 1870s | 2.75 million tonnes | 47,632 tonnes | 9.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 25.36 million tonnes | 11.39 million tonnes | 44.84 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 98.50 million tonnes | 51.59 million tonnes | 160.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 306.37 million tonnes | 180.00 million tonnes | 456.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 740.57 million tonnes | 496.19 million tonnes | 1.03 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.45 billion tonnes | 1.11 billion tonnes | 1.84 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.36 billion tonnes | 1.93 billion tonnes | 2.88 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.59 billion tonnes | 3.04 billion tonnes | 4.01 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.77 billion tonnes | 4.12 billion tonnes | 5.52 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.38 billion tonnes | 5.76 billion tonnes | 9.53 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.25 billion tonnes | 10.30 billion tonnes | 18.37 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.45 billion tonnes | 19.32 billion tonnes | 27.71 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 34.26 billion tonnes | 28.86 billion tonnes | 39.76 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.73 billion tonnes | 41.02 billion tonnes | 52.35 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.19 billion tonnes | 53.56 billion tonnes | 64.54 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.63 billion tonnes | 65.58 billion tonnes | 69.61 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More climate change data for Japan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 337.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions in Japan?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions in Japan was 69.61 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 69.61 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,992 tonnes in 1868.
- How does Japan rank for cumulative co₂ emissions?
- Japan ranks 6th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 157 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.