Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in South Korea
South Korea: Per capita CO₂ emissions by source was 4.78 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in South Korea, 1905–2024
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
South Korea recorded 4.78 tonnes per person for per capita co₂ emissions by source in 2024.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 27.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Korea peaked at 6.59 tonnes per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 tonnes per person, in 1905.
South Korea ranks 9th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.0005 tonnes per person | 0.0001 tonnes per person | 0.0008 tonnes per person | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.0021 tonnes per person | 0.0011 tonnes per person | 0.003 tonnes per person | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.0061 tonnes per person | 0.0035 tonnes per person | 0.0099 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0195 tonnes per person | 0.0092 tonnes per person | 0.0393 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0613 tonnes per person | 0.0268 tonnes per person | 0.1103 tonnes per person | 9 |
| 1950s | 0.2141 tonnes per person | 0.085 tonnes per person | 0.3515 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.604 tonnes per person | 0.3921 tonnes per person | 0.7677 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.8799 tonnes per person | 0.7082 tonnes per person | 1.22 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.89 tonnes per person | 1.3 tonnes per person | 2.3 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.48 tonnes per person | 2.05 tonnes per person | 3.13 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.38 tonnes per person | 3.5 tonnes per person | 5.4 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.41 tonnes per person | 6.05 tonnes per person | 6.59 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.22 tonnes per person | 4.78 tonnes per person | 5.48 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population 81.2% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 20.71 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Korea?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by source in South Korea was 4.78 tonnes per person in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions by source recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.59 tonnes per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 tonnes per person in 1905.
- How does South Korea rank for per capita co₂ emissions by source?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 Per capita CO₂ emissions by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 115 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal, measured in tonnes per person.