Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source was 123.11 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 123.11 million tonnes. 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 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom peaked at 123.11 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.86 million tonnes, in 1990.
That places United Kingdom 13th out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.86 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 7.31 million tonnes | +89.5% |
| 1992 | 10.76 million tonnes | +47.3% |
| 1993 | 13.78 million tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1994 | 17.43 million tonnes | +26.5% |
| 1995 | 21.42 million tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1996 | 25.55 million tonnes | +19.3% |
| 1997 | 28.98 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1998 | 32.85 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1999 | 36.59 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 2000 | 40.03 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 43.32 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 46.58 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 50.80 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 55.29 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 59.78 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 64.30 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2007 | 68.81 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 73.12 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 76.47 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 80.03 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 83.75 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 87.33 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 90.86 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 94.58 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 97.78 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 100.61 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 103.58 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 106.62 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 109.81 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 112.52 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 115.28 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 117.80 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 120.42 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 123.11 million tonnes | +2.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 123.11 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.73 million tonnes, 4.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 123.11 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.11 million tonnes, 4.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom 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 | +89.5% | 3.86 million tonnes | 7.31 million tonnes |
| 1992 | +47.3% | 7.31 million tonnes | 10.76 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.85 million tonnes | 3.86 million tonnes | 36.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.85 million tonnes | 40.03 million tonnes | 76.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 95.50 million tonnes | 80.03 million tonnes | 109.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 117.83 million tonnes | 112.52 million tonnes | 123.11 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom was 123.11 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 123.11 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by source recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.86 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by source?
- United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.