Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in Australia
Australia: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source was 125.87 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in Australia, 1990–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Australia stood at 125.87 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 45.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Australia peaked at 125.87 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.24 million tonnes, in 1990.
Australia ranks 12th of 46 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 source in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.24 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 4.47 million tonnes | +99.4% |
| 1992 | 6.83 million tonnes | +52.8% |
| 1993 | 9.41 million tonnes | +37.7% |
| 1994 | 12.40 million tonnes | +31.9% |
| 1995 | 15.31 million tonnes | +23.4% |
| 1996 | 18.36 million tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1997 | 21.64 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1998 | 25.10 million tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1999 | 28.74 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 32.09 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2001 | 35.55 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 39.38 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 43.27 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 47.19 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 51.08 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2006 | 54.93 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 59.01 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 63.11 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 66.85 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 70.86 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 74.91 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 78.73 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 82.30 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2014 | 86.30 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 90.33 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 94.24 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 98.14 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 102.04 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 105.91 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 109.65 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 113.68 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 117.77 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 121.82 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 125.87 million tonnes | +3.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 125.87 million tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 243.01 million tonnes, 52% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Australia's 125.87 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.73 million tonnes, 4.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +99.4% | 2.24 million tonnes | 4.47 million tonnes |
| 1992 | +52.8% | 4.47 million tonnes | 6.83 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.45 million tonnes | 2.24 million tonnes | 28.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.25 million tonnes | 32.09 million tonnes | 66.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 88.38 million tonnes | 70.86 million tonnes | 105.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 117.76 million tonnes | 109.65 million tonnes | 125.87 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Australia?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Australia was 125.87 million 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 source recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 125.87 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by source recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.24 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by source?
- Australia ranks 12th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from other industry sources since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.