Methane emissions, per capita in United States
United States: Methane emissions, per capita was 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
29th
of 195 countries
All-time high
4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1969
All-time low
2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2016
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Methane emissions, per capita in United States, 1960–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions, per capita in United States is 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions, per capita in United States peaked at 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1969 and was at its lowest, 2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 2016.
United States ranks 29th of 195 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Methane emissions, per capita in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1961 | 3.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 3.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 3.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 3.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 4.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 4.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 4.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 4.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 4.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 4.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 4.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1974 | 4.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 4.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 4.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 4.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 4.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 3.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 3.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1984 | 3.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 3.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1986 | 3.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 3.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1991 | 3.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 3.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 3.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 3.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 3.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 3.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 3.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 2.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1999 | 2.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 2.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 2.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 2.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 2.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 2.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 2.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 2.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 2.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 2.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 2.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 2.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 2.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 2.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 2.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 2.4× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 26 South Sudan 2.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 27 Argentina 2.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 28 Central African Republic 2.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 30 Congo 2.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 31 Bolivia 2.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 32 Palau 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
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 methane emissions, per capita in United States?
- Methane emissions, per capita in United States was 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest methane emissions, per capita recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1969.
- What is the lowest methane emissions, per capita recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2016.
- How does United States rank for methane emissions, per capita?
- United States ranks 29th out of 195 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions, per capita rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Methane emissions, 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
Methane emissions divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Methane emissions ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Methane emissions 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
Methane emissions divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.