Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 3.28 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.28 billion tonnes
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
50th
of 197 countries
All-time high
3.29 billion tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
2.45 million tonnes
in 1859
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United Kingdom, 1850–2024
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 from land-use change in United Kingdom is 3.28 billion tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in United Kingdom peaked at 3.29 billion tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.45 million tonnes, in 1859.
That places United Kingdom 50th out of 197 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 from land-use change in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 9.41 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 16.09 million tonnes | +70.9% |
| 1852 | 19.69 million tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1853 | 22.36 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1854 | 24.58 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1855 | 24.41 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1856 | 21.26 million tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1857 | 16.60 million tonnes | -21.9% |
| 1858 | 10.41 million tonnes | -37.3% |
| 1859 | 2.45 million tonnes | -76.5% |
| 1860 | 4.74 million tonnes | +93.4% |
| 1861 | 13.27 million tonnes | +179.9% |
| 1862 | 29.78 million tonnes | +124.5% |
| 1863 | 53.56 million tonnes | +79.9% |
| 1864 | 83.01 million tonnes | +55.0% |
| 1865 | 116.76 million tonnes | +40.7% |
| 1866 | 155.75 million tonnes | +33.4% |
| 1867 | 198.41 million tonnes | +27.4% |
| 1868 | 242.91 million tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1869 | 286.93 million tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1870 | 331.00 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1871 | 372.02 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1872 | 409.95 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1873 | 448.92 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1874 | 489.70 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1875 | 528.61 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1876 | 564.42 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1877 | 600.12 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1878 | 635.10 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1879 | 669.03 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1880 | 706.62 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1881 | 739.48 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1882 | 774.17 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1883 | 809.83 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1884 | 845.01 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1885 | 878.13 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1886 | 911.83 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1887 | 946.34 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1888 | 981.18 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1889 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1890 | 1.05 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1891 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1892 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1893 | 1.15 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1894 | 1.19 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1895 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1896 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1897 | 1.29 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1898 | 1.33 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1899 | 1.36 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1900 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1901 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1902 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1903 | 1.50 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1904 | 1.54 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1905 | 1.57 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1906 | 1.61 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1907 | 1.64 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1908 | 1.68 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1909 | 1.71 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1910 | 1.75 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1911 | 1.78 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1912 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 1.85 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1914 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1915 | 1.91 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1916 | 1.94 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1917 | 1.97 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1918 | 2.00 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1919 | 2.03 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1920 | 2.04 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1921 | 2.06 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1922 | 2.08 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1923 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1924 | 2.10 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1925 | 2.11 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1926 | 2.13 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1927 | 2.13 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1928 | 2.14 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1929 | 2.16 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1930 | 2.17 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1931 | 2.18 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1932 | 2.19 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 2.20 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1934 | 2.21 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1935 | 2.22 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1936 | 2.23 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1937 | 2.25 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1938 | 2.26 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1939 | 2.27 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1940 | 2.29 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1941 | 2.31 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1942 | 2.32 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1943 | 2.34 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1944 | 2.36 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1945 | 2.39 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1946 | 2.41 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1947 | 2.43 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1948 | 2.45 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1949 | 2.48 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1950 | 2.50 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1951 | 2.52 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1952 | 2.54 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 2.56 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 2.58 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 2.60 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1956 | 2.62 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 2.65 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 2.67 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 2.70 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 2.72 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 2.75 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 2.77 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 2.79 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1964 | 2.81 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 2.83 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 2.84 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 2.86 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 2.87 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 2.87 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 2.88 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 2.88 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 2.89 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 2.89 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 2.90 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 2.90 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 2.90 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 2.91 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 2.91 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 2.92 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.92 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 2.92 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 2.93 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 2.93 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 2.94 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 2.94 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 2.94 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 2.96 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 2.97 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.98 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 2.98 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 2.98 billion tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 2.97 billion tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 2.97 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 2.98 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 3.00 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 2.99 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 2.99 billion tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 3.00 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 3.01 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 3.06 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 3.08 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 3.10 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 3.11 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 3.12 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.13 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 3.14 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 3.16 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.18 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.19 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 3.21 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 3.23 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 3.24 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 3.27 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 3.28 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.29 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.29 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 3.29 billion tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.29 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 3.28 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 3.28 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 323.46 million tonnes, 10.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 3.28 billion tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.87 million tonnes, 7.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | +179.9% | 4.74 million tonnes | 13.27 million tonnes |
| 1862 | +124.5% | 13.27 million tonnes | 29.78 million tonnes |
| 1860 | +93.4% | 2.45 million tonnes | 4.74 million tonnes |
| 1863 | +79.9% | 29.78 million tonnes | 53.56 million tonnes |
| 1859 | -76.5% | 10.41 million tonnes | 2.45 million tonnes |
| 1851 | +70.9% | 9.41 million tonnes | 16.09 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 16.73 million tonnes | 2.45 million tonnes | 24.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 118.51 million tonnes | 4.74 million tonnes | 286.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 504.89 million tonnes | 331.00 million tonnes | 669.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 860.63 million tonnes | 706.62 million tonnes | 1.01 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.20 billion tonnes | 1.05 billion tonnes | 1.36 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.55 billion tonnes | 1.40 billion tonnes | 1.71 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.89 billion tonnes | 1.75 billion tonnes | 2.03 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.11 billion tonnes | 2.04 billion tonnes | 2.16 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.22 billion tonnes | 2.17 billion tonnes | 2.27 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.38 billion tonnes | 2.29 billion tonnes | 2.48 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.59 billion tonnes | 2.50 billion tonnes | 2.70 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.81 billion tonnes | 2.72 billion tonnes | 2.87 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.90 billion tonnes | 2.88 billion tonnes | 2.92 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.94 billion tonnes | 2.92 billion tonnes | 2.98 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.98 billion tonnes | 2.97 billion tonnes | 3.00 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.05 billion tonnes | 2.99 billion tonnes | 3.12 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.20 billion tonnes | 3.13 billion tonnes | 3.28 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.29 billion tonnes | 3.28 billion tonnes | 3.29 billion 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 from land-use change in United Kingdom?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in United Kingdom was 3.28 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 from land-use change recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3.29 billion tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.45 million tonnes in 1859.
- How does United Kingdom rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- United Kingdom ranks 50th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. 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 from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.