Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita was 4.22 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom, 1970–2024
Source: Joint Research Centre (European Commission) and International Energy Agency (IEA), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom stood at 4.22. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom peaked at 12.28 in 1973 and was at its lowest, 4.22, in 2024.
United Kingdom ranks 65th of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 12.1 | — |
| 1971 | 11.97 | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 11.73 | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 12.28 | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 11.47 | -6.6% |
| 1975 | 11.1 | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 11.21 | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 11.36 | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 11.33 | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 11.96 | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 10.81 | -9.7% |
| 1981 | 10.46 | -3.2% |
| 1982 | 10.18 | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 10.06 | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 9.75 | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 10.2 | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 10.42 | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 10.48 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 10.42 | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 10.15 | -2.5% |
| 1990 | 10.18 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 10.3 | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 10.05 | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 9.74 | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 9.59 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 9.45 | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 9.76 | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 9.38 | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 9.36 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 9.27 | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 9.37 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 9.53 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 9.22 | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 9.4 | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 9.35 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 9.26 | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 9.2 | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 8.98 | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 8.64 | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 7.76 | -10.1% |
| 2010 | 7.98 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 7.26 | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 7.56 | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 7.33 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 6.66 | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 6.39 | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 5.97 | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 5.77 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 5.64 | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 5.39 | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 4.79 | -11.1% |
| 2021 | 5.05 | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 4.81 | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 4.45 | -7.4% |
| 2024 | 4.22 | -5.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 4.22 is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.15, 82% of the median. (77 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 4.22 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.08, 83% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.65 | 11.1 | 12.28 | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.29 | 9.75 | 10.81 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.71 | 9.27 | 10.3 | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.07 | 7.76 | 9.53 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.6 | 5.39 | 7.98 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.66 | 4.22 | 5.05 | 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 energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom?
- Energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in United Kingdom was 4.22 in 2024, according to Joint Research Centre (European Commission) and International Energy Agency (IEA), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 12.28 in 1973.
- What is the lowest energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.22 in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita?
- United Kingdom ranks 65th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Joint Research Centre (European Commission) and International Energy Agency (IEA), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average energy consumption per capita is measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Average carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per capita are measured in tonnes per person.