Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita was 3.54 tonnes per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates, 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
United Arab Emirates recorded 3.54 tonnes per person for imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in 2023.
The figure is down 20.5% on the previous year and down 37.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates peaked at 10.52 tonnes per person in 2008 and was at its lowest, -7.59 tonnes per person, in 2000.
United Arab Emirates ranks 9th of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.68 tonnes per person | — |
| 1991 | 1.77 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 2.25 tonnes per person | +26.9% |
| 1993 | 0.9872 tonnes per person | -56.1% |
| 1994 | 1.21 tonnes per person | +22.1% |
| 1995 | 2.18 tonnes per person | +81.3% |
| 1996 | 1.49 tonnes per person | -31.7% |
| 1997 | 3.57 tonnes per person | +139.3% |
| 1998 | 5.52 tonnes per person | +54.6% |
| 1999 | 7.43 tonnes per person | +34.7% |
| 2000 | -7.59 tonnes per person | -202.2% |
| 2001 | -3.27 tonnes per person | -56.9% |
| 2002 | 0.8547 tonnes per person | -126.1% |
| 2003 | 4.29 tonnes per person | +401.7% |
| 2004 | 4.76 tonnes per person | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 7.03 tonnes per person | +47.9% |
| 2006 | 9.57 tonnes per person | +36.1% |
| 2007 | 9.8 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 10.52 tonnes per person | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 6.56 tonnes per person | -37.6% |
| 2010 | 4.42 tonnes per person | -32.6% |
| 2011 | 4.65 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 4.38 tonnes per person | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 5.67 tonnes per person | +29.5% |
| 2014 | 5.37 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 4.2 tonnes per person | -21.9% |
| 2016 | 3.44 tonnes per person | -17.9% |
| 2017 | 4.56 tonnes per person | +32.5% |
| 2018 | 4.62 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 3.48 tonnes per person | -24.6% |
| 2020 | 0.6893 tonnes per person | -80.2% |
| 2021 | 2.8 tonnes per person | +306.3% |
| 2022 | 4.45 tonnes per person | +58.8% |
| 2023 | 3.54 tonnes per person | -20.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 3.54 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.47 tonnes per person, 2.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 3.54 tonnes per person is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.0266 tonnes per person, 133.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +401.7% | 0.8547 tonnes per person | 4.29 tonnes per person |
| 2021 | +306.3% | 0.6893 tonnes per person | 2.8 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.81 tonnes per person | 0.9872 tonnes per person | 7.43 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.25 tonnes per person | -7.59 tonnes per person | 10.52 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.48 tonnes per person | 3.44 tonnes per person | 5.67 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.87 tonnes per person | 0.6893 tonnes per person | 4.45 tonnes per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
More climate change data for United Arab Emirates
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 20.45 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,596 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 556.37 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,039 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.1 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 37.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 113.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 113.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.0084 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.4265 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates?
- Imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in United Arab Emirates was 3.54 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 10.52 tonnes per person in 2008.
- What is the lowest imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.59 tonnes per person in 2000.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 9th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.