Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change in South Korea
South Korea: Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change was 20.97 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
20.97 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
23rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
20.97 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
53,800 tonnes
in 1909
Years of data
116
1905–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change in South Korea, 1905–2024
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 including land-use change in South Korea is 20.97 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 116 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 41.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change in South Korea peaked at 20.97 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53,800 tonnes, in 1909.
That places South Korea 23rd out of 194 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 including land-use change in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 148,980 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 53,800 tonnes | -63.9% |
| 1910 | 4.15 million tonnes | +7620.1% |
| 1911 | 7.15 million tonnes | +72.1% |
| 1912 | 11.43 million tonnes | +59.9% |
| 1913 | 17.75 million tonnes | +55.3% |
| 1914 | 24.26 million tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1915 | 32.07 million tonnes | +32.2% |
| 1916 | 40.98 million tonnes | +27.8% |
| 1918 | 51.41 million tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1919 | 62.61 million tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1920 | 74.31 million tonnes | +18.7% |
| 1921 | 86.25 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1922 | 98.81 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1923 | 111.09 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1924 | 126.55 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1925 | 140.07 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1926 | 153.86 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1927 | 170.53 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1928 | 184.85 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1929 | 200.05 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1930 | 212.77 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1931 | 221.40 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1932 | 231.99 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1933 | 239.85 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 249.15 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1935 | 258.43 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1936 | 267.07 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1937 | 274.94 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1938 | 283.30 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1939 | 291.64 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1940 | 300.06 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1941 | 309.19 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1942 | 317.78 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1943 | 326.27 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1944 | 334.62 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1945 | 343.36 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1946 | 351.35 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1947 | 358.76 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1948 | 365.48 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1949 | 374.91 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1950 | 381.77 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1951 | 388.09 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 393.76 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1953 | 400.39 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 406.97 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1955 | 412.27 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 418.90 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 425.07 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 430.32 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 434.29 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 439.99 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 447.22 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 460.31 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 489.16 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1964 | 523.81 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1965 | 556.70 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 592.31 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 632.31 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 671.73 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 715.75 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1970 | 770.19 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1971 | 827.07 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 887.86 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 960.99 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 1.32 billion tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1978 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 1.56 billion tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 1.69 billion tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1981 | 1.83 billion tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 1.97 billion tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 2.12 billion tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1984 | 2.28 billion tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 2.45 billion tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1986 | 2.63 billion tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 2.81 billion tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 3.02 billion tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 3.25 billion tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 3.50 billion tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 3.77 billion tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 4.07 billion tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 4.40 billion tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 4.75 billion tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 5.13 billion tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 5.55 billion tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1997 | 5.99 billion tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 6.36 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 6.77 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 7.66 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 8.14 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 8.62 billion tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 9.11 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 9.60 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 10.10 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 10.62 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 11.15 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 11.68 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 12.27 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 12.90 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 13.52 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 14.15 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 14.78 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 15.41 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 16.04 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 16.69 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 17.36 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 18.00 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 18.59 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 19.20 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 19.81 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 20.39 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 20.97 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 20.97 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.31 billion tonnes, 6.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 20.97 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.16 billion tonnes, 9.7× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | +7620.1% | 53,800 tonnes | 4.15 million tonnes |
| 1909 | -63.9% | 148,980 tonnes | 53,800 tonnes |
| 1911 | +72.1% | 4.15 million tonnes | 7.15 million tonnes |
| 1912 | +59.9% | 7.15 million tonnes | 11.43 million tonnes |
| 1913 | +55.3% | 11.43 million tonnes | 17.75 million tonnes |
| 1914 | +36.7% | 17.75 million tonnes | 24.26 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 101,390 tonnes | 53,800 tonnes | 148,980 tonnes | 2 |
| 1910s | 27.98 million tonnes | 4.15 million tonnes | 62.61 million tonnes | 9 |
| 1920s | 134.64 million tonnes | 74.31 million tonnes | 200.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 253.05 million tonnes | 212.77 million tonnes | 291.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 338.18 million tonnes | 300.06 million tonnes | 374.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 409.18 million tonnes | 381.77 million tonnes | 434.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 552.93 million tonnes | 439.99 million tonnes | 715.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.11 billion tonnes | 770.19 million tonnes | 1.56 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.41 billion tonnes | 1.69 billion tonnes | 3.25 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.03 billion tonnes | 3.50 billion tonnes | 6.77 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.39 billion tonnes | 7.21 billion tonnes | 11.68 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.11 billion tonnes | 12.27 billion tonnes | 18.00 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.79 billion tonnes | 18.59 billion tonnes | 20.97 billion 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 including land-use change in South Korea?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change in South Korea was 20.97 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 including land-use change recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20.97 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 53,800 tonnes in 1909.
- How does South Korea rank for cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change?
- South Korea ranks 23rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions including land-use change rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.9%. 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 including land-use change. 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), including land-use change, since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.