Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in South Korea
South Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre was 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
206,188 tonnes per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
19th
of 204 countries
All-time high
206,188 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
1,053 tonnes per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in South Korea, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre for cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in South Korea peaked at 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,053 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1961.
South Korea ranks 19th of 204 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, per square kilometre in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,053 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 1,232 tonnes per square kilometre | +17.0% |
| 1963 | 1,451 tonnes per square kilometre | +17.7% |
| 1964 | 1,681 tonnes per square kilometre | +15.9% |
| 1965 | 1,940 tonnes per square kilometre | +15.4% |
| 1966 | 2,251 tonnes per square kilometre | +16.0% |
| 1967 | 2,615 tonnes per square kilometre | +16.2% |
| 1968 | 3,001 tonnes per square kilometre | +14.7% |
| 1969 | 3,441 tonnes per square kilometre | +14.7% |
| 1970 | 3,998 tonnes per square kilometre | +16.2% |
| 1971 | 4,604 tonnes per square kilometre | +15.2% |
| 1972 | 5,229 tonnes per square kilometre | +13.6% |
| 1973 | 5,986 tonnes per square kilometre | +14.5% |
| 1974 | 6,769 tonnes per square kilometre | +13.1% |
| 1975 | 7,615 tonnes per square kilometre | +12.5% |
| 1976 | 8,581 tonnes per square kilometre | +12.7% |
| 1977 | 9,674 tonnes per square kilometre | +12.7% |
| 1978 | 10,847 tonnes per square kilometre | +12.1% |
| 1979 | 12,224 tonnes per square kilometre | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 13,619 tonnes per square kilometre | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 15,066 tonnes per square kilometre | +10.6% |
| 1982 | 16,525 tonnes per square kilometre | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 18,071 tonnes per square kilometre | +9.4% |
| 1984 | 19,737 tonnes per square kilometre | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 21,487 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.9% |
| 1986 | 23,315 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.5% |
| 1987 | 25,236 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.2% |
| 1988 | 27,423 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 1989 | 29,740 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.4% |
| 1990 | 32,337 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 1991 | 35,195 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 38,305 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 41,728 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.9% |
| 1994 | 45,415 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 49,392 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 53,757 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.8% |
| 1997 | 58,370 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 62,289 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 66,545 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 71,106 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 2001 | 75,610 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 80,490 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 85,494 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 90,551 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 95,672 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 100,840 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 106,181 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 111,596 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 117,056 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 123,003 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 129,430 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 135,724 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 142,075 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 148,529 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 155,015 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 161,488 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 168,165 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 175,021 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 181,497 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 187,620 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 193,932 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 200,151 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for high income countries, which is 42,545 tonnes per square kilometre, 4.8× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9,316 tonnes per square kilometre, 22.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,074 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,053 tonnes per square kilometre | 3,441 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 7,553 tonnes per square kilometre | 3,998 tonnes per square kilometre | 12,224 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 21,022 tonnes per square kilometre | 13,619 tonnes per square kilometre | 29,740 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 48,333 tonnes per square kilometre | 32,337 tonnes per square kilometre | 66,545 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 93,460 tonnes per square kilometre | 71,106 tonnes per square kilometre | 117,056 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 151,995 tonnes per square kilometre | 123,003 tonnes per square kilometre | 181,497 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 196,973 tonnes per square kilometre | 187,620 tonnes per square kilometre | 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 16 Nauru 250,640 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 17 Qatar 214,540 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 18 Kuwait 210,236 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 20 Japan 188,306 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 21 Czechia 158,826 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 22 Barbados 145,372 tonnes per square kilometre compare
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, per square kilometre in South Korea?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in South Korea was 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 206,188 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,053 tonnes per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does South Korea rank for cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. 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, 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 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 ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 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 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.