Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia
Australia: Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal was 5.34 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.34 tonnes per person
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
8th
of 179 countries
All-time high
10.09 tonnes per person
in 2004
All-time low
0.001 tonnes per person
in 1805
Years of data
220
1805–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia, 1805–2024
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
In 2024, per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Australia stood at 5.34 tonnes per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Australia peaked at 10.09 tonnes per person in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.001 tonnes per person, in 1805.
Australia ranks 8th 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.
Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1805 | 0.001 tonnes per person | — |
| 1806 | 0.0028 tonnes per person | +173.0% |
| 1807 | 0.0026 tonnes per person | -7.2% |
| 1808 | 0.0032 tonnes per person | +22.0% |
| 1809 | 0.005 tonnes per person | +55.9% |
| 1810 | 0.0049 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 1811 | 0.0083 tonnes per person | +70.6% |
| 1812 | 0.0081 tonnes per person | -2.5% |
| 1813 | 0.0101 tonnes per person | +25.3% |
| 1814 | 0.012 tonnes per person | +18.8% |
| 1815 | 0.0094 tonnes per person | -22.2% |
| 1816 | 0.0076 tonnes per person | -19.2% |
| 1817 | 0.0066 tonnes per person | -12.6% |
| 1818 | 0.0059 tonnes per person | -10.0% |
| 1819 | 0.0109 tonnes per person | +83.8% |
| 1820 | 0.0187 tonnes per person | +71.5% |
| 1821 | 0.0095 tonnes per person | -49.4% |
| 1822 | 0.0118 tonnes per person | +24.5% |
| 1823 | 0.0142 tonnes per person | +20.1% |
| 1824 | 0.0142 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 0.0086 tonnes per person | -39.1% |
| 1826 | 0.0192 tonnes per person | +121.9% |
| 1827 | 0.0178 tonnes per person | -7.1% |
| 1828 | 0.0114 tonnes per person | -35.8% |
| 1829 | 0.0182 tonnes per person | +58.7% |
| 1830 | 0.0172 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 1831 | 0.0042 tonnes per person | -75.6% |
| 1832 | 0.0324 tonnes per person | +675.8% |
| 1833 | 0.0302 tonnes per person | -6.9% |
| 1834 | 0.0367 tonnes per person | +21.7% |
| 1835 | 0.0523 tonnes per person | +42.5% |
| 1836 | 0.0521 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1837 | 0.0647 tonnes per person | +24.1% |
| 1838 | 0.0677 tonnes per person | +4.5% |
| 1839 | 0.0814 tonnes per person | +20.3% |
| 1840 | 0.1124 tonnes per person | +38.1% |
| 1841 | 0.1254 tonnes per person | +11.6% |
| 1842 | 0.1388 tonnes per person | +10.7% |
| 1843 | 0.0867 tonnes per person | -37.5% |
| 1844 | 0.0747 tonnes per person | -13.8% |
| 1845 | 0.0696 tonnes per person | -6.9% |
| 1846 | 0.1171 tonnes per person | +68.3% |
| 1847 | 0.118 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 0.127 tonnes per person | +7.6% |
| 1849 | 0.1295 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1850 | 0.18 tonnes per person | +39.0% |
| 1851 | 0.1604 tonnes per person | -10.9% |
| 1852 | 0.149 tonnes per person | -7.1% |
| 1853 | 0.1979 tonnes per person | +32.8% |
| 1854 | 0.2205 tonnes per person | +11.4% |
| 1855 | 0.2396 tonnes per person | +8.7% |
| 1856 | 0.307 tonnes per person | +28.2% |
| 1857 | 0.3145 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 0.2991 tonnes per person | -4.9% |
| 1859 | 0.3984 tonnes per person | +33.2% |
| 1860 | 0.4655 tonnes per person | +16.8% |
| 1861 | 0.415 tonnes per person | -10.8% |
| 1862 | 0.5614 tonnes per person | +35.3% |
| 1863 | 0.4989 tonnes per person | -11.1% |
| 1864 | 0.6075 tonnes per person | +21.8% |
| 1865 | 0.6362 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1866 | 0.8126 tonnes per person | +27.7% |
| 1867 | 0.7647 tonnes per person | -5.9% |
| 1868 | 0.9181 tonnes per person | +20.1% |
| 1869 | 0.8539 tonnes per person | -7.0% |
| 1870 | 0.7969 tonnes per person | -6.7% |
| 1871 | 0.7993 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 0.8875 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1873 | 1.03 tonnes per person | +15.5% |
| 1874 | 1.11 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1875 | 1.09 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1876 | 1.08 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1877 | 1.16 tonnes per person | +7.6% |
| 1878 | 1.22 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1879 | 1.2 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 1880 | 1.1 tonnes per person | -8.7% |
| 1881 | 1.28 tonnes per person | +16.7% |
| 1882 | 1.47 tonnes per person | +15.0% |
| 1883 | 1.71 tonnes per person | +16.1% |
| 1884 | 1.81 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1885 | 1.88 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 1886 | 1.8 tonnes per person | -4.2% |
| 1887 | 1.81 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 1.95 tonnes per person | +7.9% |
| 1889 | 2.11 tonnes per person | +8.0% |
| 1890 | 1.79 tonnes per person | -15.2% |
| 1891 | 2.2 tonnes per person | +23.2% |
| 1892 | 2.02 tonnes per person | -8.2% |
| 1893 | 1.77 tonnes per person | -12.3% |
| 1894 | 1.97 tonnes per person | +10.9% |
| 1895 | 2 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 2.08 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1897 | 2.26 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 1898 | 2.39 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1899 | 2.36 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1900 | 2.72 tonnes per person | +15.2% |
| 1901 | 2.98 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1902 | 2.96 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 1903 | 2.85 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1904 | 2.89 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1905 | 2.97 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1906 | 3.49 tonnes per person | +17.7% |
| 1907 | 3.7 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 1908 | 3.96 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1909 | 3.37 tonnes per person | -14.9% |
| 1910 | 4.03 tonnes per person | +19.6% |
| 1911 | 4.36 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 1912 | 4.63 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 1913 | 4.88 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1914 | 5.23 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 1915 | 4.57 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1916 | 3.96 tonnes per person | -13.3% |
| 1917 | 4.18 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1918 | 4.53 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 1919 | 4.2 tonnes per person | -7.1% |
| 1920 | 4.88 tonnes per person | +16.1% |
| 1921 | 4.31 tonnes per person | -11.8% |
| 1922 | 4.44 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1923 | 4.45 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1924 | 4.76 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1925 | 4.87 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1926 | 4.71 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1927 | 4.8 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1928 | 4.22 tonnes per person | -12.0% |
| 1929 | 3.73 tonnes per person | -11.6% |
| 1930 | 3.42 tonnes per person | -8.3% |
| 1931 | 3.02 tonnes per person | -11.9% |
| 1932 | 3.12 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1933 | 3.28 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1934 | 3.41 tonnes per person | +4.1% |
| 1935 | 3.75 tonnes per person | +10.0% |
| 1936 | 3.99 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1937 | 4.21 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1938 | 4.09 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 1939 | 4.62 tonnes per person | +13.0% |
| 1940 | 4.12 tonnes per person | -10.8% |
| 1941 | 4.84 tonnes per person | +17.7% |
| 1942 | 5.06 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1943 | 4.78 tonnes per person | -5.5% |
| 1944 | 4.6 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1945 | 4.3 tonnes per person | -6.4% |
| 1946 | 4.59 tonnes per person | +6.7% |
| 1947 | 4.84 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1948 | 4.81 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1949 | 4.62 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 1950 | 5.38 tonnes per person | +16.3% |
| 1951 | 5.47 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 5.44 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1953 | 5.47 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1954 | 5.68 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 5.56 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 1956 | 5.44 tonnes per person | -2.3% |
| 1957 | 5.36 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 1958 | 5.35 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 5.63 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1960 | 5.73 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1961 | 5.38 tonnes per person | -6.2% |
| 1962 | 5.38 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
| 1963 | 5.39 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 5.55 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1965 | 5.62 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 5.77 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 5.8 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 5.89 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 5.89 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
| 1970 | 5.93 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 5.6 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 5.56 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 5.85 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 5.77 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 6.07 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 6.02 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 6.37 tonnes per person | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 6.49 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 6.52 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 6.92 tonnes per person | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 7.01 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 7.08 tonnes per person | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 6.82 tonnes per person | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 6.98 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 7.53 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 7.39 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 7.73 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 7.86 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 8.37 tonnes per person | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 8.28 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 8.42 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 8.55 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 8.47 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 8.46 tonnes per person | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 8.61 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 8.76 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 9.06 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 9.5 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 9.69 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 9.71 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 9.82 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 9.75 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 9.86 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 10.09 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 9.89 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 9.93 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 9.71 tonnes per person | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 9.58 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 9.46 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 9.06 tonnes per person | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 8.55 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 8.28 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 7.59 tonnes per person | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 7.13 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 7.28 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 7.38 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 7.16 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 6.74 tonnes per person | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 6.47 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 6.08 tonnes per person | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 5.85 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 5.57 tonnes per person | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 5.33 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 2024 | 5.34 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 5.34 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.2688 tonnes per person, 19.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 5.34 tonnes per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.53 tonnes per person, 3.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | +675.8% | 0.0042 tonnes per person | 0.0324 tonnes per person |
| 1806 | +173.0% | 0.001 tonnes per person | 0.0028 tonnes per person |
| 1826 | +121.9% | 0.0086 tonnes per person | 0.0192 tonnes per person |
| 1819 | +83.8% | 0.0059 tonnes per person | 0.0109 tonnes per person |
| 1831 | -75.6% | 0.0172 tonnes per person | 0.0042 tonnes per person |
| 1820 | +71.5% | 0.0109 tonnes per person | 0.0187 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 0.0029 tonnes per person | 0.001 tonnes per person | 0.005 tonnes per person | 5 |
| 1810s | 0.0084 tonnes per person | 0.0049 tonnes per person | 0.012 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.0144 tonnes per person | 0.0086 tonnes per person | 0.0192 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.0439 tonnes per person | 0.0042 tonnes per person | 0.0814 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.1099 tonnes per person | 0.0696 tonnes per person | 0.1388 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.2466 tonnes per person | 0.149 tonnes per person | 0.3984 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.6534 tonnes per person | 0.415 tonnes per person | 0.9181 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.04 tonnes per person | 0.7969 tonnes per person | 1.22 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.69 tonnes per person | 1.1 tonnes per person | 2.11 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.08 tonnes per person | 1.77 tonnes per person | 2.39 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.19 tonnes per person | 2.72 tonnes per person | 3.96 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.46 tonnes per person | 3.96 tonnes per person | 5.23 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.52 tonnes per person | 3.73 tonnes per person | 4.88 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.69 tonnes per person | 3.02 tonnes per person | 4.62 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.66 tonnes per person | 4.12 tonnes per person | 5.06 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.48 tonnes per person | 5.35 tonnes per person | 5.68 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.64 tonnes per person | 5.38 tonnes per person | 5.89 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.02 tonnes per person | 5.56 tonnes per person | 6.52 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.37 tonnes per person | 6.82 tonnes per person | 8.37 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.78 tonnes per person | 8.28 tonnes per person | 9.69 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.78 tonnes per person | 9.46 tonnes per person | 10.09 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.56 tonnes per person | 6.47 tonnes per person | 9.06 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.63 tonnes per person | 5.33 tonnes per person | 6.08 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 5 China 6.26 tonnes per person compare
- 6 Taiwan 6.08 tonnes per person compare
- 7 South Africa 5.8 tonnes per person compare
- 9 South Korea 4.78 tonnes per person compare
- 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.38 tonnes per person compare
- 11 Serbia 3.67 tonnes per person compare
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Australia?
- Per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Australia was 5.34 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 from coal recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.09 tonnes per person in 2004.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.001 tonnes per person in 1805.
- How does Australia rank for per capita co₂ emissions from coal?
- Australia ranks 8th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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 from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 220 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.