Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in South Korea
South Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source was 243.01 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in South Korea, 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 South Korea stood at 243.01 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 71.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by source in South Korea peaked at 243.01 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.95 million tonnes, in 1990.
That places South Korea 6th out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.95 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 6.47 million tonnes | +119.3% |
| 1992 | 10.22 million tonnes | +58.0% |
| 1993 | 14.49 million tonnes | +41.8% |
| 1994 | 18.78 million tonnes | +29.6% |
| 1995 | 23.39 million tonnes | +24.5% |
| 1996 | 28.06 million tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1997 | 32.90 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1998 | 37.47 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1999 | 42.21 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 47.12 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 52.21 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 57.35 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 62.55 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 68.19 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 73.92 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 79.78 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 86.16 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 92.67 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 98.67 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 105.96 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 114.53 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2012 | 123.25 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 132.03 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2014 | 141.70 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 151.50 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2016 | 161.36 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 171.60 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 181.92 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 192.10 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 202.28 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 212.46 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 222.65 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 232.83 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 243.01 million tonnes | +4.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 243.01 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 243.01 million tonnes, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 243.01 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.73 million tonnes, 8.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +119.3% | 2.95 million tonnes | 6.47 million tonnes |
| 1992 | +58.0% | 6.47 million tonnes | 10.22 million tonnes |
| 1993 | +41.8% | 10.22 million tonnes | 14.49 million tonnes |
| 1994 | +29.6% | 14.49 million tonnes | 18.78 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.69 million tonnes | 2.95 million tonnes | 42.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.86 million tonnes | 47.12 million tonnes | 98.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 147.59 million tonnes | 105.96 million tonnes | 192.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 222.65 million tonnes | 202.28 million tonnes | 243.01 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 by source in South Korea?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by source in South Korea was 243.01 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 243.01 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.95 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by source?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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 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.