Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Per capita CO₂ emissions by source was 0.2451 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom, 1750–2024
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
The most recent figure for per capita co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom is 0.2451 tonnes per person, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 230 years on record.
The figure is down 6.0% on the previous year and down 86.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom peaked at 10.91 tonnes per person in 1916 and was at its lowest, 0.2451 tonnes per person, in 2024.
United Kingdom ranks 71st of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1 tonnes per person | — |
| 1760 | 1.07 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 1770 | 1.26 tonnes per person | +18.0% |
| 1780 | 1.45 tonnes per person | +15.0% |
| 1790 | 1.77 tonnes per person | +22.0% |
| 1800 | 2.92 tonnes per person | +64.6% |
| 1801 | 2.83 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 1802 | 2.77 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1803 | 2.54 tonnes per person | -8.0% |
| 1804 | 2.48 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 1805 | 2.58 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1806 | 2.7 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1807 | 2.81 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1808 | 2.88 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1809 | 2.92 tonnes per person | +1.3% |
| 1810 | 2.87 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 1811 | 2.82 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1812 | 2.73 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1813 | 2.62 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1814 | 2.53 tonnes per person | -3.5% |
| 1815 | 2.44 tonnes per person | -3.5% |
| 1816 | 2.32 tonnes per person | -5.0% |
| 1817 | 2.33 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 2.3 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1819 | 2.17 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 1820 | 2.06 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1821 | 2.04 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 1822 | 2.07 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1823 | 2.11 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1824 | 2.15 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1825 | 2.19 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1826 | 2.18 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1827 | 2.24 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1828 | 2.24 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1829 | 2.23 tonnes per person | -0.1% |
| 1830 | 2.81 tonnes per person | +25.7% |
| 1831 | 2.65 tonnes per person | -5.8% |
| 1832 | 2.54 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1833 | 2.49 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 1834 | 2.62 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 1835 | 2.84 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 1836 | 3.06 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1837 | 2.9 tonnes per person | -5.2% |
| 1838 | 2.81 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1839 | 2.87 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1840 | 3.04 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1841 | 3.04 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1842 | 3.18 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1843 | 3.3 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1844 | 3.49 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1845 | 3.7 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 1846 | 3.54 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 1847 | 3.76 tonnes per person | +6.5% |
| 1848 | 4.02 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1849 | 4.32 tonnes per person | +7.4% |
| 1850 | 4.49 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 1851 | 4.25 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 1852 | 4.22 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 1853 | 4.17 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 1854 | 4.99 tonnes per person | +19.8% |
| 1855 | 4.65 tonnes per person | -6.9% |
| 1856 | 4.97 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1857 | 4.85 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1858 | 4.73 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 1859 | 5.21 tonnes per person | +10.3% |
| 1860 | 5.81 tonnes per person | +11.4% |
| 1861 | 6.01 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1862 | 5.77 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1863 | 6.08 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1864 | 6.49 tonnes per person | +6.7% |
| 1865 | 6.82 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1866 | 6.97 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1867 | 7.1 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1868 | 6.91 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 1869 | 7.18 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1870 | 7.27 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1871 | 7.63 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1872 | 7.96 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1873 | 8.18 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1874 | 7.87 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 1875 | 8.23 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1876 | 8.14 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 1877 | 8.2 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1878 | 7.98 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 1879 | 7.95 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1880 | 8.58 tonnes per person | +8.0% |
| 1881 | 8.94 tonnes per person | +4.1% |
| 1882 | 8.94 tonnes per person | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 9.23 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1884 | 8.92 tonnes per person | -3.3% |
| 1885 | 8.73 tonnes per person | -2.1% |
| 1886 | 8.59 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 1887 | 8.74 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1888 | 9.01 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1889 | 9.25 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1890 | 9.39 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 1891 | 9.49 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1892 | 9.21 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 1893 | 8.16 tonnes per person | -11.4% |
| 1894 | 9.27 tonnes per person | +13.5% |
| 1895 | 9.26 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
| 1896 | 9.44 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1897 | 9.6 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1898 | 9.52 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 1899 | 10.11 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1900 | 10.14 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1901 | 9.83 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 1902 | 10.12 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 1903 | 10.11 tonnes per person | -0.1% |
| 1904 | 10.06 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1905 | 10.11 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1906 | 10.38 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1907 | 10.76 tonnes per person | +3.6% |
| 1908 | 10.39 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 1909 | 10.4 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1910 | 10.41 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1911 | 10.6 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1912 | 9.97 tonnes per person | -5.9% |
| 1913 | 10.85 tonnes per person | +8.8% |
| 1914 | 10.43 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1915 | 10.54 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 10.91 tonnes per person | +3.6% |
| 1917 | 10.64 tonnes per person | -2.5% |
| 1918 | 9.73 tonnes per person | -8.6% |
| 1919 | 9.63 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1920 | 10.11 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1921 | 6.84 tonnes per person | -32.3% |
| 1922 | 9.16 tonnes per person | +33.9% |
| 1923 | 9.74 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1924 | 10.19 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1925 | 9.62 tonnes per person | -5.5% |
| 1926 | 5.23 tonnes per person | -45.6% |
| 1927 | 9.99 tonnes per person | +91.0% |
| 1928 | 9.38 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1929 | 9.9 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1930 | 9.46 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 1931 | 8.82 tonnes per person | -6.7% |
| 1932 | 8.45 tonnes per person | -4.2% |
| 1933 | 8.32 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 1934 | 8.92 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 1935 | 8.99 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 9.46 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1937 | 9.71 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1938 | 9.23 tonnes per person | -4.9% |
| 1939 | 9.34 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1940 | 9.79 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1941 | 9.58 tonnes per person | -2.1% |
| 1942 | 9.55 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1943 | 9.23 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 1944 | 8.95 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 1945 | 8.41 tonnes per person | -6.0% |
| 1946 | 8.67 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1947 | 9.14 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1948 | 9.22 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1949 | 9.29 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 9.03 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 1951 | 9.63 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1952 | 9.28 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1953 | 9.41 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 9.48 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 9.75 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 9.62 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1957 | 9.33 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 1958 | 8.83 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1959 | 8.14 tonnes per person | -7.8% |
| 1960 | 8.53 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 8.37 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 8.21 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 1963 | 8.19 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 7.89 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1965 | 7.77 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 7.38 tonnes per person | -5.0% |
| 1967 | 6.7 tonnes per person | -9.1% |
| 1968 | 6.7 tonnes per person | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 6.63 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 6.34 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 1971 | 6.11 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1972 | 5.23 tonnes per person | -14.4% |
| 1973 | 5.27 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 4.68 tonnes per person | -11.0% |
| 1975 | 4.91 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 4.89 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 4.83 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 4.61 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 5.01 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 1980 | 4.63 tonnes per person | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 4.64 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 4.35 tonnes per person | -6.4% |
| 1983 | 4.39 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 3.15 tonnes per person | -28.3% |
| 1985 | 4.14 tonnes per person | +31.6% |
| 1986 | 4.38 tonnes per person | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 4.56 tonnes per person | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 4.38 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 4.3 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 4.4 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 4.41 tonnes per person | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 4.12 tonnes per person | -6.5% |
| 1993 | 3.59 tonnes per person | -12.9% |
| 1994 | 3.37 tonnes per person | -6.2% |
| 1995 | 3.12 tonnes per person | -7.2% |
| 1996 | 2.97 tonnes per person | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 2.65 tonnes per person | -10.8% |
| 1998 | 2.63 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 2.35 tonnes per person | -10.6% |
| 2000 | 2.45 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 2.59 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 2.38 tonnes per person | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 2.56 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 2.45 tonnes per person | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 2.44 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 2.63 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 2.45 tonnes per person | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 2.24 tonnes per person | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 1.82 tonnes per person | -18.9% |
| 2010 | 1.87 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.84 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 2.31 tonnes per person | +25.4% |
| 2013 | 2.21 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 1.78 tonnes per person | -19.6% |
| 2015 | 1.4 tonnes per person | -21.3% |
| 2016 | 0.7258 tonnes per person | -48.2% |
| 2017 | 0.5897 tonnes per person | -18.8% |
| 2018 | 0.4986 tonnes per person | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 0.3653 tonnes per person | -26.7% |
| 2020 | 0.3387 tonnes per person | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 0.3511 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 0.293 tonnes per person | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 0.2608 tonnes per person | -11.0% |
| 2024 | 0.2451 tonnes per person | -6.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.2451 tonnes per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.2688 tonnes per person, 91% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.2451 tonnes per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.418 tonnes per person, 59% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +91.0% | 5.23 tonnes per person | 9.99 tonnes per person |
| 1800 | +64.6% | 1.77 tonnes per person | 2.92 tonnes per person |
| 2016 | -48.2% | 1.4 tonnes per person | 0.7258 tonnes per person |
| 1926 | -45.6% | 9.62 tonnes per person | 5.23 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1 tonnes per person | 1 tonnes per person | 1 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.07 tonnes per person | 1.07 tonnes per person | 1.07 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.26 tonnes per person | 1.26 tonnes per person | 1.26 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.45 tonnes per person | 1.45 tonnes per person | 1.45 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.77 tonnes per person | 1.77 tonnes per person | 1.77 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.74 tonnes per person | 2.48 tonnes per person | 2.92 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1810s | 2.51 tonnes per person | 2.17 tonnes per person | 2.87 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1820s | 2.15 tonnes per person | 2.04 tonnes per person | 2.24 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1830s | 2.76 tonnes per person | 2.49 tonnes per person | 3.06 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1840s | 3.54 tonnes per person | 3.04 tonnes per person | 4.32 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1850s | 4.65 tonnes per person | 4.17 tonnes per person | 5.21 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.51 tonnes per person | 5.77 tonnes per person | 7.18 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 7.94 tonnes per person | 7.27 tonnes per person | 8.23 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 8.89 tonnes per person | 8.58 tonnes per person | 9.25 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 9.35 tonnes per person | 8.16 tonnes per person | 10.11 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 10.23 tonnes per person | 9.83 tonnes per person | 10.76 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 10.37 tonnes per person | 9.63 tonnes per person | 10.91 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.02 tonnes per person | 5.23 tonnes per person | 10.19 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.07 tonnes per person | 8.32 tonnes per person | 9.71 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 9.18 tonnes per person | 8.41 tonnes per person | 9.79 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 9.25 tonnes per person | 8.14 tonnes per person | 9.75 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.64 tonnes per person | 6.63 tonnes per person | 8.53 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.19 tonnes per person | 4.61 tonnes per person | 6.34 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.29 tonnes per person | 3.15 tonnes per person | 4.64 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.36 tonnes per person | 2.35 tonnes per person | 4.41 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4 tonnes per person | 1.82 tonnes per person | 2.63 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.36 tonnes per person | 0.3653 tonnes per person | 2.31 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2978 tonnes per person | 0.2451 tonnes per person | 0.3511 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by source in United Kingdom was 0.2451 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 10.91 tonnes per person in 1916.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by source recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2451 tonnes per person in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for per capita co₂ emissions by source?
- United Kingdom ranks 71st out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by source rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 86.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 230 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.