Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in China
China: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement was 17.31 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
17.31 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
1st
of 211 countries
All-time high
17.31 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
39,782 tonnes
in 1928
Years of data
97
1928–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in China, 1928–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in China stood at 17.31 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 97 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 74.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in China peaked at 17.31 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 39,782 tonnes, in 1928.
That places China 1st out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 39,782 tonnes | — |
| 1929 | 116,293 tonnes | +192.3% |
| 1930 | 189,744 tonnes | +63.2% |
| 1931 | 287,678 tonnes | +51.6% |
| 1932 | 367,250 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1933 | 480,477 tonnes | +30.8% |
| 1934 | 578,411 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 1935 | 734,504 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 1936 | 1.16 million tonnes | +58.3% |
| 1937 | 1.60 million tonnes | +37.6% |
| 1938 | 1.61 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1939 | 1.83 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1940 | 2.11 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1941 | 2.60 million tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1942 | 3.26 million tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1943 | 3.90 million tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1944 | 4.39 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1945 | 4.40 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1946 | 4.49 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1947 | 4.66 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1948 | 4.75 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1949 | 5.02 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1950 | 5.61 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1951 | 6.64 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1952 | 7.85 million tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1953 | 9.46 million tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1954 | 11.38 million tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1955 | 13.25 million tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1956 | 15.91 million tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1957 | 18.77 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1958 | 22.64 million tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1959 | 27.74 million tonnes | +22.6% |
| 1960 | 34.26 million tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1961 | 36.84 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1962 | 39.34 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1963 | 42.70 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1964 | 47.73 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1965 | 54.53 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1966 | 62.92 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1967 | 69.00 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1968 | 74.26 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1969 | 81.87 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1970 | 92.59 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1971 | 105.70 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1972 | 120.39 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1973 | 135.81 million tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1974 | 151.10 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1975 | 170.12 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 189.28 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 212.05 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1978 | 238.68 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1979 | 268.77 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1980 | 301.21 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1981 | 334.80 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1982 | 373.27 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1983 | 416.92 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1984 | 466.39 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1985 | 524.93 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1986 | 591.38 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1987 | 665.72 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1988 | 749.38 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1989 | 832.89 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1990 | 915.96 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1991 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1992 | 1.14 billion tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1993 | 1.28 billion tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1994 | 1.44 billion tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1995 | 1.62 billion tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1996 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1997 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1998 | 2.22 billion tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1999 | 2.44 billion tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2000 | 2.68 billion tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 2.95 billion tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2002 | 3.22 billion tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 3.57 billion tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 3.93 billion tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 4.35 billion tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2006 | 4.81 billion tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 5.31 billion tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 5.83 billion tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 6.40 billion tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 7.03 billion tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 7.73 billion tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2012 | 8.43 billion tonnes | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 9.17 billion tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 9.93 billion tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 10.63 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 11.36 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 12.10 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 12.85 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 13.66 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 14.49 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 15.29 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 16.01 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 16.69 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 17.31 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 17.31 billion tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 35.51 million tonnes, 487.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 17.31 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.51 million tonnes, 11483.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from cement in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | +192.3% | 39,782 tonnes | 116,293 tonnes |
| 1930 | +63.2% | 116,293 tonnes | 189,744 tonnes |
| 1936 | +58.3% | 734,504 tonnes | 1.16 million tonnes |
| 1931 | +51.6% | 189,744 tonnes | 287,678 tonnes |
| 1937 | +37.6% | 1.16 million tonnes | 1.60 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 78,038 tonnes | 39,782 tonnes | 116,293 tonnes | 2 |
| 1930s | 884,472 tonnes | 189,744 tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.96 million tonnes | 2.11 million tonnes | 5.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 13.92 million tonnes | 5.61 million tonnes | 27.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 54.34 million tonnes | 34.26 million tonnes | 81.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 168.45 million tonnes | 92.59 million tonnes | 268.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 525.69 million tonnes | 301.21 million tonnes | 832.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.59 billion tonnes | 915.96 million tonnes | 2.44 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.31 billion tonnes | 2.68 billion tonnes | 6.40 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.29 billion tonnes | 7.03 billion tonnes | 13.66 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.96 billion tonnes | 14.49 billion tonnes | 17.31 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in China?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from cement in China was 17.31 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 from cement recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 17.31 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from cement recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,782 tonnes in 1928.
- How does China rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from cement?
- China ranks 1st out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from cement rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 from cement. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 97 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from cement since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.