Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United States
United States: Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita was 1.49 tonnes per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United States, 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 United States is 1.49 tonnes per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 191.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in United States peaked at 1.92 tonnes per person in 2006 and was at its lowest, -0.3978 tonnes per person, in 1991.
That places United States 28th out of 120 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 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 United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -0.3174 tonnes per person | — |
| 1991 | -0.3978 tonnes per person | +25.3% |
| 1992 | 0.0338 tonnes per person | -108.5% |
| 1993 | -0.1996 tonnes per person | -691.1% |
| 1994 | -0.1484 tonnes per person | -25.7% |
| 1995 | -0.1464 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1996 | -0.2063 tonnes per person | +40.9% |
| 1997 | -0.1262 tonnes per person | -38.8% |
| 1998 | 0.3713 tonnes per person | -394.3% |
| 1999 | 0.492 tonnes per person | +32.5% |
| 2000 | 0.7338 tonnes per person | +49.1% |
| 2001 | 0.8636 tonnes per person | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 1.14 tonnes per person | +31.5% |
| 2003 | 1.48 tonnes per person | +30.3% |
| 2004 | 1.52 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 1.79 tonnes per person | +17.9% |
| 2006 | 1.92 tonnes per person | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 1.34 tonnes per person | -30.1% |
| 2008 | 0.9799 tonnes per person | -27.0% |
| 2009 | 0.7791 tonnes per person | -20.5% |
| 2010 | 0.7091 tonnes per person | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 0.6317 tonnes per person | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6901 tonnes per person | +9.2% |
| 2013 | 0.5132 tonnes per person | -25.6% |
| 2014 | 0.7026 tonnes per person | +36.9% |
| 2015 | 0.9966 tonnes per person | +41.9% |
| 2016 | 0.949 tonnes per person | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 0.9955 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 0.9649 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 1.02 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 1.22 tonnes per person | +19.5% |
| 2021 | 1.38 tonnes per person | +13.4% |
| 2022 | 1.49 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 2023 | 1.49 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.49 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.47 tonnes per person, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imported or exported CO₂ emissions per capita in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | -691.1% | 0.0338 tonnes per person | -0.1996 tonnes per person |
| 1998 | +394.3% | -0.1262 tonnes per person | 0.3713 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -0.0645 tonnes per person | -0.3978 tonnes per person | 0.492 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.25 tonnes per person | 0.7338 tonnes per person | 1.92 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8172 tonnes per person | 0.5132 tonnes per person | 1.02 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4 tonnes per person | 1.22 tonnes per person | 1.49 tonnes per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in United States?
- Imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita in United States was 1.49 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 1.92 tonnes per person in 2006.
- What is the lowest imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.3978 tonnes per person in 1991.
- How does United States rank for imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita?
- United States ranks 28th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported or exported co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 191.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.