Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in Japan
Japan: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source was 524.97 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in Japan, 1990–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Japan is 524.97 million tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 32.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Japan peaked at 524.97 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 18.18 million tonnes, in 1990.
Japan ranks 4th of 46 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 by source in Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 18.18 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 35.89 million tonnes | +97.5% |
| 1992 | 52.42 million tonnes | +46.1% |
| 1993 | 68.55 million tonnes | +30.8% |
| 1994 | 84.43 million tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1995 | 100.49 million tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1996 | 116.46 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1997 | 132.43 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1998 | 147.75 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1999 | 163.19 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 179.22 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2001 | 194.94 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2002 | 210.18 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 225.36 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 240.97 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 256.94 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 273.29 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 290.20 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 306.04 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 319.78 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 335.07 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 349.81 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 364.73 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 380.05 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 395.25 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 409.65 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 423.82 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 437.99 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 451.88 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 464.90 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 476.86 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 489.64 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 501.89 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 513.60 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 524.97 million tonnes | +2.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 524.97 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 243.01 million tonnes, 2.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Japan's 524.97 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.73 million tonnes, 17.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in Japan 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 | +97.5% | 18.18 million tonnes | 35.89 million tonnes |
| 1992 | +46.1% | 35.89 million tonnes | 52.42 million tonnes |
| 1993 | +30.8% | 52.42 million tonnes | 68.55 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 91.98 million tonnes | 18.18 million tonnes | 163.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 249.69 million tonnes | 179.22 million tonnes | 319.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 401.31 million tonnes | 335.07 million tonnes | 464.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 501.39 million tonnes | 476.86 million tonnes | 524.97 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More climate change data for Japan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 337.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Japan?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by source in Japan was 524.97 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 524.97 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by source recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.18 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by source?
- Japan ranks 4th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.