Nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Nitrous oxide emissions was 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
44th
of 201 countries
All-time high
20.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1997
All-time low
153,564 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea is 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea peaked at 20.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1997 and was at its lowest, 153,564 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
South Korea ranks 44th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 153,564 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 156,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1852 | 158,977 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1853 | 161,557 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 164,004 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1855 | 166,282 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1856 | 168,353 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1857 | 170,181 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 171,728 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 172,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 173,836 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 174,491 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 175,090 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1863 | 175,646 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1864 | 176,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 176,690 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 177,208 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 177,741 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 178,305 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 178,915 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 179,585 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 182,157 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 187,966 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 196,261 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1874 | 206,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1875 | 217,313 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1876 | 228,571 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1877 | 239,317 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1878 | 248,802 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1879 | 256,275 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1880 | 260,989 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1881 | 263,849 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 266,314 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 268,463 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 270,377 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 272,134 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 273,814 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 275,495 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 277,259 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 279,183 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 295,331 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1891 | 298,127 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 301,510 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 305,435 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 309,857 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1895 | 314,732 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 320,016 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1897 | 325,663 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1898 | 331,630 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1899 | 337,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1900 | 344,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1901 | 351,354 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1902 | 359,215 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1903 | 367,889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1904 | 377,336 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1905 | 387,519 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1906 | 398,398 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1907 | 409,936 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1908 | 422,094 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1909 | 434,833 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1910 | 448,115 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1911 | 463,605 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1912 | 482,522 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1913 | 504,164 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1914 | 527,826 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1915 | 552,805 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1916 | 578,398 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1917 | 603,901 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1918 | 628,609 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1919 | 651,821 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1920 | 672,831 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1921 | 692,704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1922 | 712,819 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1923 | 732,947 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1924 | 752,860 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1925 | 772,328 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 791,123 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 809,016 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1928 | 825,777 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 841,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1930 | 854,990 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1931 | 868,144 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1932 | 881,525 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1933 | 894,834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1934 | 907,773 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 920,044 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 931,349 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1937 | 941,390 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1938 | 949,868 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1939 | 956,485 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1940 | 960,944 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1941 | 995,666 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1942 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1943 | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.9% |
| 1944 | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.9% |
| 1945 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 1946 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.1% |
| 1947 | 1.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1948 | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1949 | 2.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1950 | 2.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1951 | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1953 | 2.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 2.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1955 | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 2.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 2.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1960 | 2.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1961 | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.8% |
| 1962 | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 3.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1965 | 3.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 3.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 1967 | 3.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1968 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 4.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1970 | 4.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1971 | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1972 | 4.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 4.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1974 | 5.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1975 | 5.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 5.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.7% |
| 1977 | 5.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 6.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 1979 | 6.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 6.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 5.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 6.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.3% |
| 1984 | 7.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1985 | 7.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 7.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 7.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 8.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 9.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1990 | 10.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 13.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +33.5% |
| 1992 | 14.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1993 | 13.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.4% |
| 1994 | 14.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 14.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 16.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 20.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.9% |
| 1998 | 17.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.5% |
| 1999 | 17.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 16.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 16.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 12.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.2% |
| 2003 | 12.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 13.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 13.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 12.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 12.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 11.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 11.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 12.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 12.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 12.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 12.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 12.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 12.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 14.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 14.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 14.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 14.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 14.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 14.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 14.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 13.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 5.4× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 8.7× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +33.5% | 10.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 164,390 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 153,564 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 172,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 176,410 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 173,836 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 178,915 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 214,254 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 179,585 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 256,275 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 270,788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 260,989 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 279,183 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 314,017 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 295,331 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 337,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 385,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 344,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 434,833 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 544,177 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 448,115 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 651,821 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 760,358 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 672,831 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 841,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 910,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 854,990 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 956,485 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 960,944 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 20.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 41 Zambia 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 42 Niger 14.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 43 Mali 13.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 45 New Zealand 13.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 46 Saudi Arabia 13.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 47 Mozambique 12.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in South Korea was 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1997.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 153,564 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does South Korea rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- South Korea ranks 44th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Nitrous oxide emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.