Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand
New Zealand: Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita was 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
3rd
of 196 countries
All-time high
4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1969
All-time low
2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand stood at 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand peaked at 4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1969 and was at its lowest, 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 2024.
New Zealand ranks 3rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1961 | 4.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 4.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1963 | 4.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 4.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 4.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 4.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 4.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 4.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 4.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 4.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.0% |
| 1972 | 4.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 4.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 4.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 4.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 4.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 4.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 4.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 4.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 4.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 4.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 4.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 4.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1988 | 4.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 4.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 4.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 3.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.4% |
| 1992 | 3.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 3.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 3.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 3.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 3.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 3.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 3.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 3.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 3.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 3.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 3.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 3.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 3.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 3.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 3.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 3.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 3.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 3.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 3.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 2.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 2.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 2.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 2.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 2.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 2.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.3851 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 6.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2284 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 11.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 1 Mongolia 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 2 Botswana 3.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 4 Australia 2.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 5 Uruguay 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 6 Central African Republic 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand?
- Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita in New Zealand was 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1969.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita?
- New Zealand ranks 3rd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Greenhouse gas emissions by gas, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Greenhouse gas emissions by gas Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.