Cumulative CO₂ emissions in New Zealand
New Zealand: Cumulative CO₂ emissions was 2.01 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.01 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
69th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.01 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
275
1750–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in New Zealand, 1750–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions in New Zealand stood at 2.01 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 275 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions in New Zealand peaked at 2.01 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1750.
New Zealand ranks 69th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in New Zealand, 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 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1806 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1807 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1808 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1809 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1810 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1811 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1812 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1813 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1814 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1815 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1816 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1817 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1818 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1819 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1820 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1821 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1822 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1823 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1824 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1825 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1826 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1827 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1828 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1829 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1830 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1831 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1832 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1833 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1834 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1835 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1836 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1837 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1838 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1839 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1840 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1841 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1842 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1843 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1844 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1845 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1846 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1847 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1848 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1849 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1850 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1852 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1853 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1854 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1855 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1856 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1857 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1858 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1859 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1860 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1861 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1862 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1863 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1864 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1865 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1866 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1867 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1868 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1869 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1870 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1871 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1872 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1873 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1874 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1875 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1876 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1877 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1878 | 355,408 tonnes | — |
| 1879 | 861,040 tonnes | +142.3% |
| 1880 | 1.52 million tonnes | +76.2% |
| 1881 | 2.25 million tonnes | +48.6% |
| 1882 | 3.08 million tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1883 | 4.01 million tonnes | +30.1% |
| 1884 | 5.07 million tonnes | +26.4% |
| 1885 | 6.20 million tonnes | +22.3% |
| 1886 | 7.38 million tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1887 | 8.61 million tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1888 | 9.98 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1889 | 11.29 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1890 | 12.71 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1891 | 14.20 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1892 | 15.70 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1893 | 17.25 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1894 | 18.85 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1895 | 20.48 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1896 | 22.25 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1897 | 24.12 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1898 | 26.15 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1899 | 28.32 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1900 | 30.76 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1901 | 33.50 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1902 | 36.54 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1903 | 39.71 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1904 | 43.15 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1905 | 46.69 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1906 | 50.55 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1907 | 54.63 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1908 | 58.79 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1909 | 63.05 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1910 | 67.95 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1911 | 72.56 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1912 | 77.42 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1913 | 81.64 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1914 | 86.72 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1915 | 91.65 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1916 | 96.69 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1917 | 101.31 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1918 | 105.85 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1919 | 109.98 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1920 | 113.54 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1921 | 117.03 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1922 | 120.60 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1923 | 124.43 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1924 | 128.42 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1925 | 132.51 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1926 | 136.78 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1927 | 141.28 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1928 | 146.00 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1929 | 150.89 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 155.75 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1931 | 159.99 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1932 | 163.53 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 167.08 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1934 | 171.06 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1935 | 175.21 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1936 | 179.39 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1937 | 183.77 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1938 | 188.01 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1939 | 192.48 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1940 | 197.24 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1941 | 202.24 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1942 | 207.33 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1943 | 212.70 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1944 | 218.17 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1945 | 223.79 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1946 | 229.32 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1947 | 234.77 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1948 | 240.28 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1949 | 245.88 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1950 | 254.45 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1951 | 262.62 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1952 | 271.94 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 280.50 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 289.56 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 298.96 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 308.63 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 318.94 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 329.12 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1959 | 339.44 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 350.97 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 362.72 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 373.92 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 386.14 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 399.23 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 412.92 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 426.92 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 440.54 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 454.02 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 468.27 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 482.45 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 497.50 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 513.69 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 531.89 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 550.65 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 568.92 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 588.17 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 608.48 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 626.51 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 643.00 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 660.49 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 677.05 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 695.32 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 713.31 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 732.65 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 754.51 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 777.46 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 801.62 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 827.07 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 852.52 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 878.01 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 904.18 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 932.33 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 960.08 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 987.96 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 1.05 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 1.14 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 1.20 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 1.24 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 1.28 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 1.31 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 1.35 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 1.39 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 1.42 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 1.46 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 1.49 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 1.56 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 1.60 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 1.63 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.71 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.74 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 1.78 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.85 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 1.92 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 1.95 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 1.98 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2.01 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.73 billion tonnes, 1.2× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2.01 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 247.31 million tonnes, 8.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1879 | +142.3% | 355,408 tonnes | 861,040 tonnes |
| 1880 | +76.2% | 861,040 tonnes | 1.52 million tonnes |
| 1881 | +48.6% | 1.52 million tonnes | 2.25 million tonnes |
| 1882 | +36.7% | 2.25 million tonnes | 3.08 million tonnes |
| 1883 | +30.1% | 3.08 million tonnes | 4.01 million tonnes |
| 1884 | +26.4% | 4.01 million tonnes | 5.07 million 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 | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 121,645 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 861,040 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.94 million tonnes | 1.52 million tonnes | 11.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 20.00 million tonnes | 12.71 million tonnes | 28.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 45.74 million tonnes | 30.76 million tonnes | 63.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 89.18 million tonnes | 67.95 million tonnes | 109.98 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 131.15 million tonnes | 113.54 million tonnes | 150.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 173.63 million tonnes | 155.75 million tonnes | 192.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 221.17 million tonnes | 197.24 million tonnes | 245.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 295.42 million tonnes | 254.45 million tonnes | 339.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 407.56 million tonnes | 350.97 million tonnes | 468.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 561.13 million tonnes | 482.45 million tonnes | 643.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 749.20 million tonnes | 660.49 million tonnes | 852.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.00 billion tonnes | 878.01 million tonnes | 1.14 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.33 billion tonnes | 1.17 billion tonnes | 1.49 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.69 billion tonnes | 1.53 billion tonnes | 1.85 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.95 billion tonnes | 1.88 billion tonnes | 2.01 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions in New Zealand?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions in New Zealand was 2.01 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.01 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1750.
- How does New Zealand rank for cumulative co₂ emissions?
- New Zealand ranks 69th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.