Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square in China
China: Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square was 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
37,033 tonnes per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
59th
of 192 countries
All-time high
37,033 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
4,166 tonnes per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square in China, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square in China stood at 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 43.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square in China peaked at 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4,166 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1961.
China ranks 59th of 192 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 including land-use change, per square in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4,166 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 4,329 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 4,506 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 4,667 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 4,864 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 5,037 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 5,169 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 5,316 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 5,549 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 5,777 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1971 | 5,968 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 6,237 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 6,493 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 6,750 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 7,004 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 7,244 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 7,556 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 7,913 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 8,196 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 8,472 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 8,738 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 9,014 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 9,296 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 9,587 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 9,885 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 10,194 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 10,514 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 10,855 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 11,201 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 11,552 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 11,912 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 12,292 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 12,690 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 13,120 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 13,566 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 14,033 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 14,505 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 14,959 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 15,426 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 15,882 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 16,334 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 16,815 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 17,370 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 17,967 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 18,631 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 19,361 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 20,139 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 20,974 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 21,852 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 22,765 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 23,782 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 24,826 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 25,887 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 26,936 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 27,983 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 29,006 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 30,051 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 31,134 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 32,250 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 33,383 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 34,554 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 35,770 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19,084 tonnes per square kilometre, 1.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 19,423 tonnes per square kilometre, 1.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4,845 tonnes per square kilometre | 4,166 tonnes per square kilometre | 5,549 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 6,914 tonnes per square kilometre | 5,777 tonnes per square kilometre | 8,196 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,776 tonnes per square kilometre | 8,472 tonnes per square kilometre | 11,201 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 13,405 tonnes per square kilometre | 11,552 tonnes per square kilometre | 15,426 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,533 tonnes per square kilometre | 15,882 tonnes per square kilometre | 21,852 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 27,462 tonnes per square kilometre | 22,765 tonnes per square kilometre | 32,250 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 35,185 tonnes per square kilometre | 33,383 tonnes per square kilometre | 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 56 Azerbaijan 38,538 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 57 Nicaragua 37,482 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 58 North Macedonia 37,260 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 60 Ireland 36,478 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 61 Sri Lanka 35,803 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 62 Andorra 35,559 tonnes per square kilometre compare
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 including land-use change, per square in China?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square in China was 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 37,033 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,166 tonnes per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does China rank for cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square?
- China ranks 59th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change, per square rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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 including land-use change divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.