Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States
United States: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 125.85 billion tonnes in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
125.85 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
1st
of 197 countries
All-time high
125.85 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
761.34 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States stood at 125.85 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States peaked at 125.85 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 761.34 million tonnes, in 1850.
United States ranks 1st of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 761.34 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 1.58 billion tonnes | +107.9% |
| 1852 | 2.43 billion tonnes | +53.7% |
| 1853 | 3.33 billion tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1854 | 4.25 billion tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1855 | 5.19 billion tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1856 | 6.14 billion tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1857 | 7.12 billion tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1858 | 8.13 billion tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1859 | 9.17 billion tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1860 | 10.10 billion tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1861 | 10.94 billion tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1862 | 11.78 billion tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1863 | 12.60 billion tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1864 | 13.40 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1865 | 14.17 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1866 | 14.93 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1867 | 15.68 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1868 | 16.42 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1869 | 17.13 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1870 | 18.17 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1871 | 19.35 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1872 | 20.60 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1873 | 21.94 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 23.34 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1875 | 24.78 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1876 | 26.27 billion tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1877 | 27.80 billion tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1878 | 29.39 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1879 | 31.03 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1880 | 32.51 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1881 | 33.91 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1882 | 35.31 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1883 | 36.73 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1884 | 38.11 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1885 | 39.48 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1886 | 40.84 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1887 | 42.23 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 43.59 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1889 | 44.94 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1890 | 46.37 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1891 | 47.81 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1892 | 49.26 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1893 | 50.73 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1894 | 52.21 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1895 | 53.68 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1896 | 55.17 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1897 | 56.67 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1898 | 58.20 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1899 | 59.75 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1900 | 61.22 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1901 | 62.66 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1902 | 64.09 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1903 | 65.51 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1904 | 66.94 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 68.35 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1906 | 69.75 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1907 | 71.15 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1908 | 72.55 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1909 | 73.96 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1910 | 75.29 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 76.60 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1912 | 77.84 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 79.08 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1914 | 80.32 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1915 | 81.54 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1916 | 82.73 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1917 | 83.92 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1918 | 85.11 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1919 | 86.28 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1920 | 87.46 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 88.65 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1922 | 89.81 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1923 | 90.95 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1924 | 92.06 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1925 | 93.17 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 94.25 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1927 | 95.29 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1928 | 96.30 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1929 | 97.29 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 98.17 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1931 | 99.00 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1932 | 99.76 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 100.48 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1934 | 101.18 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1935 | 101.83 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1936 | 102.45 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 103.03 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1938 | 103.59 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1939 | 104.11 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1940 | 104.70 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1941 | 105.31 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1942 | 105.93 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1943 | 106.56 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1944 | 107.20 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1945 | 107.84 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1946 | 108.47 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1947 | 109.11 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1948 | 109.75 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1949 | 110.35 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1950 | 110.83 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1951 | 111.24 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1952 | 111.61 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 111.96 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 112.30 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1955 | 112.62 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 112.94 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1957 | 113.23 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 113.50 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1959 | 113.70 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1960 | 113.89 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1961 | 113.96 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 114.19 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 114.31 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 114.39 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 114.44 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 114.47 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 114.98 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 115.85 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 116.31 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 116.65 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 116.93 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 117.17 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 117.38 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 117.59 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 117.78 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 117.98 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 118.32 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 118.58 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 118.82 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 119.09 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 119.36 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 119.62 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 119.90 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 120.18 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 120.47 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 120.70 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 120.97 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 121.25 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 121.54 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 121.84 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 122.09 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 122.28 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 122.46 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 122.69 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 122.81 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 122.90 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 123.02 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 123.15 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 123.32 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 123.48 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 123.53 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 123.66 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 123.93 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 124.14 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 124.47 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 124.42 billion tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 124.40 billion tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 124.50 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 124.57 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 124.74 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 124.68 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 124.72 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 124.72 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 124.80 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 124.85 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 124.96 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 125.12 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 125.22 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 125.32 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 125.41 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 125.50 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 125.61 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 125.73 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 125.85 billion tonnes | +0.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 125.85 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 323.46 million tonnes, 389.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | +107.9% | 761.34 million tonnes | 1.58 billion tonnes |
| 1852 | +53.7% | 1.58 billion tonnes | 2.43 billion tonnes |
| 1853 | +36.7% | 2.43 billion tonnes | 3.33 billion tonnes |
| 1854 | +27.7% | 3.33 billion tonnes | 4.25 billion tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 4.81 billion tonnes | 761.34 million tonnes | 9.17 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 13.72 billion tonnes | 10.10 billion tonnes | 17.13 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 24.27 billion tonnes | 18.17 billion tonnes | 31.03 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 38.77 billion tonnes | 32.51 billion tonnes | 44.94 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 52.99 billion tonnes | 46.37 billion tonnes | 59.75 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 67.62 billion tonnes | 61.22 billion tonnes | 73.96 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 80.87 billion tonnes | 75.29 billion tonnes | 86.28 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 92.52 billion tonnes | 87.46 billion tonnes | 97.29 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 101.36 billion tonnes | 98.17 billion tonnes | 104.11 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 107.52 billion tonnes | 104.70 billion tonnes | 110.35 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 112.39 billion tonnes | 110.83 billion tonnes | 113.70 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 114.68 billion tonnes | 113.89 billion tonnes | 116.31 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 117.72 billion tonnes | 116.65 billion tonnes | 118.82 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 120.31 billion tonnes | 119.09 billion tonnes | 121.54 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 122.66 billion tonnes | 121.84 billion tonnes | 123.32 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 124.11 billion tonnes | 123.48 billion tonnes | 124.57 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 124.91 billion tonnes | 124.68 billion tonnes | 125.32 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 125.62 billion tonnes | 125.41 billion tonnes | 125.85 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in United States was 125.85 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 125.85 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 761.34 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does United States rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- United States ranks 1st out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.