Cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in China
China: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil was 39.19 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
39.19 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
2nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
39.19 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1907
Years of data
118
1907–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in China, 1907–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
China recorded 39.19 billion tonnes for cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in 2024. That is the highest value across all 118 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 63.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in China peaked at 39.19 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1907.
That places China 2nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1908 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1910 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1911 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1912 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1913 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1914 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1915 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1916 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1917 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1918 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1919 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1920 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1921 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1922 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1923 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1924 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1925 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1926 | 7,328 tonnes | — |
| 1927 | 18,319 tonnes | +150.0% |
| 1928 | 29,310 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 1929 | 40,302 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 1930 | 194,190 tonnes | +381.8% |
| 1931 | 381,054 tonnes | +96.2% |
| 1932 | 597,230 tonnes | +56.7% |
| 1933 | 864,679 tonnes | +44.8% |
| 1934 | 1.15 million tonnes | +32.6% |
| 1935 | 1.58 million tonnes | +37.7% |
| 1936 | 2.09 million tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1937 | 2.68 million tonnes | +28.4% |
| 1938 | 3.52 million tonnes | +31.1% |
| 1939 | 4.70 million tonnes | +33.5% |
| 1940 | 6.49 million tonnes | +38.2% |
| 1941 | 8.53 million tonnes | +31.3% |
| 1942 | 11.03 million tonnes | +29.4% |
| 1943 | 11.98 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1944 | 12.60 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1945 | 13.14 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1946 | 13.36 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 13.52 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1948 | 13.74 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 14.10 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1950 | 14.72 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1951 | 15.66 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 17.00 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1953 | 18.91 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1954 | 22.25 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1955 | 27.67 million tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1956 | 35.76 million tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1957 | 44.75 million tonnes | +25.1% |
| 1958 | 57.11 million tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1959 | 76.16 million tonnes | +33.4% |
| 1960 | 99.15 million tonnes | +30.2% |
| 1961 | 121.48 million tonnes | +22.5% |
| 1962 | 143.25 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 166.52 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1964 | 194.25 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1965 | 229.25 million tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1966 | 273.79 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1967 | 316.29 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1968 | 364.94 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1969 | 431.79 million tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1970 | 526.44 million tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1971 | 646.53 million tonnes | +22.8% |
| 1972 | 784.86 million tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1973 | 943.67 million tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1974 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +19.3% |
| 1975 | 1.33 billion tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1976 | 1.57 billion tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1977 | 1.83 billion tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1978 | 2.11 billion tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1979 | 2.39 billion tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 2.66 billion tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 2.92 billion tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1982 | 3.17 billion tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1983 | 3.44 billion tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1984 | 3.71 billion tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 3.99 billion tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 4.30 billion tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 4.62 billion tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 4.96 billion tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1989 | 5.32 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 5.65 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 6.00 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 6.39 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1993 | 6.82 billion tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1994 | 7.24 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 7.71 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 8.22 billion tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 8.78 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 9.34 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 9.93 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 10.58 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 11.24 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 11.89 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 12.62 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 13.46 billion tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2005 | 14.31 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 15.21 billion tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 16.14 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 17.11 billion tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 18.09 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 19.18 billion tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 20.31 billion tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 21.48 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 22.72 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 23.97 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 25.30 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 26.66 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 28.09 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 29.59 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 31.15 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 32.67 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 34.19 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 35.75 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 37.48 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2024 | 39.19 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 39.19 billion tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 463.11 million tonnes, 84.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 39.19 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 120.06 million tonnes, 326.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from oil in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | +381.8% | 40,302 tonnes | 194,190 tonnes |
| 1927 | +150.0% | 7,328 tonnes | 18,319 tonnes |
| 1931 | +96.2% | 194,190 tonnes | 381,054 tonnes |
| 1928 | +60.0% | 18,319 tonnes | 29,310 tonnes |
| 1932 | +56.7% | 381,054 tonnes | 597,230 tonnes |
| 1933 | +44.8% | 597,230 tonnes | 864,679 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 3 |
| 1910s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 9,526 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 40,302 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.77 million tonnes | 194,190 tonnes | 4.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 11.85 million tonnes | 6.49 million tonnes | 14.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 33.00 million tonnes | 14.72 million tonnes | 76.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 234.07 million tonnes | 99.15 million tonnes | 431.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.33 billion tonnes | 526.44 million tonnes | 2.39 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.91 billion tonnes | 2.66 billion tonnes | 5.32 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.61 billion tonnes | 5.65 billion tonnes | 9.93 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.07 billion tonnes | 10.58 billion tonnes | 18.09 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.85 billion tonnes | 19.18 billion tonnes | 31.15 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.86 billion tonnes | 32.67 billion tonnes | 39.19 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in China?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from oil in China was 39.19 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 oil recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 39.19 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from oil recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1907.
- How does China rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from oil?
- China ranks 2nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from oil rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 63.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 oil. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 118 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from oil since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.