Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in Australia
Australia: Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita was -0.4599 tonnes per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in Australia is -0.4599 tonnes per person, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 36.6% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in Australia peaked at 0.357 tonnes per person in 2012 and was at its lowest, -3.02 tonnes per person, in 2000.
That places Australia 105th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -1.95 tonnes per person | — |
| 1991 | -1.96 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1992 | -2.07 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1993 | -2.26 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1994 | -1.99 tonnes per person | -11.7% |
| 1995 | -2.28 tonnes per person | +14.4% |
| 1996 | -2.3 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1997 | -2.38 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1998 | -2.15 tonnes per person | -9.6% |
| 1999 | -2.3 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 2000 | -3.02 tonnes per person | +31.7% |
| 2001 | -2.94 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 2002 | -2.12 tonnes per person | -27.9% |
| 2003 | -1.43 tonnes per person | -32.6% |
| 2004 | -1.51 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 2005 | -1.64 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 2006 | -1.32 tonnes per person | -19.3% |
| 2007 | -1.08 tonnes per person | -18.5% |
| 2008 | -1.49 tonnes per person | +37.9% |
| 2009 | -0.3788 tonnes per person | -74.5% |
| 2010 | -0.2611 tonnes per person | -31.1% |
| 2011 | -0.2064 tonnes per person | -21.0% |
| 2012 | 0.357 tonnes per person | -273.0% |
| 2013 | -0.5007 tonnes per person | -240.3% |
| 2014 | -0.3434 tonnes per person | -31.4% |
| 2015 | -0.558 tonnes per person | +62.5% |
| 2016 | -0.8119 tonnes per person | +45.5% |
| 2017 | -0.7033 tonnes per person | -13.4% |
| 2018 | -1.13 tonnes per person | +60.8% |
| 2019 | -1.23 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 2020 | -0.9406 tonnes per person | -23.4% |
| 2021 | -0.9761 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 2022 | -0.7251 tonnes per person | -25.7% |
| 2023 | -0.4599 tonnes per person | -36.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -0.4599 tonnes per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.47 tonnes per person. (52 countries reporting)
- Australia's -0.4599 tonnes per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.3656 tonnes per person. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +273.0% | -0.2064 tonnes per person | 0.357 tonnes per person |
| 2013 | -240.3% | 0.357 tonnes per person | -0.5007 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -2.16 tonnes per person | -2.38 tonnes per person | -1.95 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.69 tonnes per person | -3.02 tonnes per person | -0.3788 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.5386 tonnes per person | -1.23 tonnes per person | 0.357 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.7754 tonnes per person | -0.9761 tonnes per person | -0.4599 tonnes per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in Australia?
- Imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in Australia was -0.4599 tonnes per person in 2023, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.357 tonnes per person in 2012.
- What is the lowest imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.02 tonnes per person in 2000.
- How does Australia rank for imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita?
- Australia ranks 105th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual net carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions embedded in trade, measured in tonnes per person.