Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea
North Korea: Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region was 89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
65th
of 199 countries
All-time high
253.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1989
All-time low
12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1866
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea is 89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea peaked at 253.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1989 and was at its lowest, 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1866.
That places North Korea 65th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 12.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 13.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1852 | 12.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1853 | 12.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1854 | 12.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1855 | 12.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 12.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1857 | 12.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 12.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 12.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1860 | 12.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 12.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1862 | 12.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1863 | 12.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1864 | 12.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1865 | 12.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1866 | 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1867 | 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 12.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 12.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 12.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1871 | 12.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1872 | 12.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1873 | 12.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 12.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1875 | 12.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1876 | 12.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 12.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1878 | 12.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1879 | 12.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1880 | 13.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1881 | 12.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1882 | 12.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1883 | 12.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1884 | 13.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 13.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 13.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1888 | 13.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1889 | 13.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1890 | 13.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1891 | 13.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1892 | 13.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1893 | 12.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1894 | 12.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1895 | 13.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1896 | 13.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1897 | 13.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 13.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1899 | 13.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 13.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 13.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1902 | 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1903 | 13.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1904 | 13.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1905 | 13.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1906 | 13.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 13.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1908 | 13.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 14.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1910 | 17.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.1% |
| 1911 | 18.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1912 | 19.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1913 | 20.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1914 | 21.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1915 | 21.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1916 | 22.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1917 | 22.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1918 | 23.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1919 | 24.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1920 | 24.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1921 | 25.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1922 | 25.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1923 | 25.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 26.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1925 | 27.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1926 | 27.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1927 | 28.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1928 | 28.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1929 | 29.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 29.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1931 | 29.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1932 | 30.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1933 | 31.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1934 | 32.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1935 | 33.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1936 | 34.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1937 | 35.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1938 | 37.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1939 | 41.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1940 | 44.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1941 | 44.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1942 | 45.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 44.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1944 | 44.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1945 | 25.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -41.9% |
| 1946 | 25.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1947 | 24.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1948 | 24.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1949 | 24.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1950 | 19.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.2% |
| 1951 | 17.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 1952 | 15.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.6% |
| 1953 | 15.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 19.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.9% |
| 1955 | 23.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.8% |
| 1956 | 25.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.6% |
| 1957 | 29.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.3% |
| 1958 | 34.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.2% |
| 1959 | 38.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.9% |
| 1960 | 40.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 44.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1962 | 48.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1963 | 51.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1964 | 53.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 63.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.3% |
| 1966 | 66.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1967 | 71.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 79.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.2% |
| 1969 | 86.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1970 | 99.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.6% |
| 1971 | 130.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.3% |
| 1972 | 120.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.8% |
| 1973 | 124.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 130.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 135.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 139.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 145.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 143.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 154.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 154.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 154.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 158.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 167.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 178.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 188.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 200.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 218.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1988 | 243.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.2% |
| 1989 | 253.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 162.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -36.0% |
| 1991 | 154.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1992 | 138.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.6% |
| 1993 | 140.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 121.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.5% |
| 1995 | 109.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 100.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 1997 | 97.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 92.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 98.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 103.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 106.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 102.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 105.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 113.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 115.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 115.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 107.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 112.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 109.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 102.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 85.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 82.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 71.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.3% |
| 2014 | 74.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 65.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 2016 | 69.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 104.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +49.6% |
| 2018 | 94.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.6% |
| 2019 | 102.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 97.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 82.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.1% |
| 2022 | 86.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 90.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for low income countries, which is 52.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +49.6% | 69.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 104.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1945 | -41.9% | 44.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1990 | -36.0% | 253.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 162.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1971 | +32.3% | 99.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 130.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1954 | +27.9% | 15.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 12.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 12.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 12.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 13.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 13.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 13.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 21.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 26.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 33.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 41.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 34.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 45.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 23.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 60.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 40.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 86.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 132.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 99.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 154.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 191.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 154.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 253.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 121.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 92.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 162.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 109.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 102.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 115.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 65.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 104.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 89.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 82.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 97.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 62 Belarus 94.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 63 Cambodia 91.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 64 Romania 90.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 66 Finland 87.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 67 Czechia 84.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 68 New Zealand 81.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for North Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total 26.57 million (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6419 units per person (2025)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.2725 % change on previous year (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 27.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population 17.06 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.8% (2025)
- Population growth 0.3% (2025)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions from cement 0.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea?
- Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region in North Korea was 89.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 253.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1989.
- What is the lowest annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1866.
- How does North Korea rank for annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region?
- North Korea ranks 65th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual greenhouse gas emissions by world region. 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.