Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per capita was 400.14 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per capita in South Korea, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per person.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita in South Korea stood at 400.14 tonnes per person. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita in South Korea peaked at 400.14 tonnes per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.49 tonnes per person, in 1960.
That places South Korea 53rd out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 by world region, per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.49 tonnes per person | — |
| 1961 | 3.94 tonnes per person | +13.2% |
| 1962 | 4.48 tonnes per person | +13.7% |
| 1963 | 5.13 tonnes per person | +14.5% |
| 1964 | 5.79 tonnes per person | +12.9% |
| 1965 | 6.52 tonnes per person | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 7.38 tonnes per person | +13.1% |
| 1967 | 8.37 tonnes per person | +13.5% |
| 1968 | 9.39 tonnes per person | +12.1% |
| 1969 | 10.52 tonnes per person | +12.1% |
| 1970 | 11.96 tonnes per person | +13.7% |
| 1971 | 13.51 tonnes per person | +12.9% |
| 1972 | 15.05 tonnes per person | +11.5% |
| 1973 | 16.93 tonnes per person | +12.5% |
| 1974 | 18.82 tonnes per person | +11.2% |
| 1975 | 20.82 tonnes per person | +10.6% |
| 1976 | 23.09 tonnes per person | +10.9% |
| 1977 | 25.63 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1978 | 28.3 tonnes per person | +10.4% |
| 1979 | 31.42 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1980 | 34.46 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 37.53 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 40.53 tonnes per person | +8.0% |
| 1983 | 43.68 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 47.12 tonnes per person | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 50.79 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 54.57 tonnes per person | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 58.49 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 1988 | 62.94 tonnes per person | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 67.58 tonnes per person | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 72.76 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 78.41 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 84.46 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 91.08 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1994 | 98.13 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 105.66 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1996 | 113.9 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 122.52 tonnes per person | +7.6% |
| 1998 | 129.81 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 137.7 tonnes per person | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 145.91 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 154.41 tonnes per person | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 163.51 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 172.8 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 2004 | 182.34 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 192.3 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 201.69 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 211.39 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 220.65 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 230.42 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 241.27 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 251.91 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 263.09 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 274.48 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 285.17 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 296.1 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 307.38 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 319.26 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 330.87 tonnes per person | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 342.2 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 353.26 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 365.62 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 378.05 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 389.15 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 400.14 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 400.14 tonnes per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 492.99 tonnes per person, 81% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 400.14 tonnes per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 95.25 tonnes per person, 4.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.5 tonnes per person | 3.49 tonnes per person | 10.52 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.55 tonnes per person | 11.96 tonnes per person | 31.42 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 49.77 tonnes per person | 34.46 tonnes per person | 67.58 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 103.44 tonnes per person | 72.76 tonnes per person | 137.7 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 187.54 tonnes per person | 145.91 tonnes per person | 230.42 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 291.17 tonnes per person | 241.27 tonnes per person | 342.2 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 377.24 tonnes per person | 353.26 tonnes per person | 400.14 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita in South Korea?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita in South Korea was 400.14 tonnes per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 400.14 tonnes per person in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.49 tonnes per person in 1960.
- How does South Korea rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita?
- South Korea ranks 53rd out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.