Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region in North Korea
North Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region was 5.49 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.49 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
39th
of 215 countries
All-time high
5.49 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
13,885 tonnes
in 1905
Years of data
116
1905–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region in North Korea, 1905–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 5.49 billion tonnes for cumulative co₂ emissions by world region in 2024. That is the highest value across all 116 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by world region in North Korea peaked at 5.49 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13,885 tonnes, in 1905.
North Korea ranks 39th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region in North Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 13,885 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 163,145 tonnes | +1075.0% |
| 1910 | 350,588 tonnes | +114.9% |
| 1911 | 572,742 tonnes | +63.4% |
| 1912 | 850,435 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 1913 | 1.17 million tonnes | +38.0% |
| 1914 | 1.63 million tonnes | +39.3% |
| 1915 | 2.21 million tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1916 | 2.69 million tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1918 | 3.16 million tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1919 | 3.72 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1920 | 4.45 million tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1921 | 5.23 million tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1922 | 6.03 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1923 | 6.98 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1924 | 7.98 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1925 | 9.58 million tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1926 | 11.30 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1927 | 13.08 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1928 | 15.13 million tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1929 | 17.49 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1930 | 19.71 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1931 | 22.07 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1932 | 24.84 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1933 | 28.11 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1934 | 32.46 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1935 | 37.57 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1936 | 43.58 million tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1937 | 50.00 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1938 | 58.59 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1939 | 69.81 million tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1940 | 84.24 million tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1941 | 100.33 million tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1942 | 118.09 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1943 | 135.31 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1944 | 153.50 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1945 | 153.56 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1946 | 153.64 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 153.71 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 155.11 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1949 | 156.89 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1950 | 157.67 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1951 | 158.67 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 159.56 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 161.29 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 166.08 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 173.43 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1956 | 182.39 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 193.68 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 209.31 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1959 | 229.18 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1960 | 252.97 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1961 | 279.39 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1962 | 310.08 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1963 | 342.91 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1964 | 378.52 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1965 | 422.75 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 470.35 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1967 | 522.74 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1968 | 582.01 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1969 | 646.09 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1970 | 719.56 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1971 | 827.02 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1972 | 916.52 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1973 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1974 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1975 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 1.33 billion tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1977 | 1.45 billion tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1980 | 1.78 billion tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 1.89 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1982 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 2.14 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 2.27 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1985 | 2.41 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 2.57 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 2.75 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 2.95 billion tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 3.16 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 3.27 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 3.39 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 3.48 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 3.57 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 3.66 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 3.73 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 3.80 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 3.86 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 3.92 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 3.98 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 4.05 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 4.13 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 4.19 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 4.26 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 4.34 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 4.41 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 4.49 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 4.55 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 4.62 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 4.69 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 4.75 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 4.80 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 4.85 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 4.89 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 4.92 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 4.96 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 4.99 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 5.06 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 5.12 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 5.19 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 5.26 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 5.31 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 5.37 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 5.43 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 5.49 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 5.49 billion tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 61.51 million tonnes, 89.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 5.49 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 247.31 million tonnes, 22.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | +1075.0% | 13,885 tonnes | 163,145 tonnes |
| 1910 | +114.9% | 163,145 tonnes | 350,588 tonnes |
| 1911 | +63.4% | 350,588 tonnes | 572,742 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 88,515 tonnes | 13,885 tonnes | 163,145 tonnes | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.82 million tonnes | 350,588 tonnes | 3.72 million tonnes | 9 |
| 1920s | 9.73 million tonnes | 4.45 million tonnes | 17.49 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 38.67 million tonnes | 19.71 million tonnes | 69.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 136.44 million tonnes | 84.24 million tonnes | 156.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 179.13 million tonnes | 157.67 million tonnes | 229.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 420.78 million tonnes | 252.97 million tonnes | 646.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.18 billion tonnes | 719.56 million tonnes | 1.67 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.39 billion tonnes | 1.78 billion tonnes | 3.16 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.67 billion tonnes | 3.27 billion tonnes | 3.98 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.37 billion tonnes | 4.05 billion tonnes | 4.69 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.95 billion tonnes | 4.75 billion tonnes | 5.19 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.37 billion tonnes | 5.26 billion tonnes | 5.49 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More climate change data for North Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.2725 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 17.06 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.8% (2025)
- Population, total 26.57 million (2025)
- Population growth 0.3% (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6419 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 27.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita 0.0729 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions by world region in North Korea?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by world region in North Korea was 5.49 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 by world region recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.49 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by world region recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,885 tonnes in 1905.
- How does North Korea rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by world region?
- North Korea ranks 39th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by world region rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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 by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 116 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.