Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type in South Korea
South Korea: Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type was 3.41 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.41 tonnes per person
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
46th
of 213 countries
All-time high
5.36 tonnes per person
in 1997
All-time low
0 tonnes per person
in 1905
Years of data
115
1905–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type 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
In 2024, per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in South Korea stood at 3.41 tonnes per person.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in South Korea peaked at 5.36 tonnes per person in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1905.
That places South Korea 46th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1909 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1910 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1911 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1912 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1913 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1914 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1915 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1916 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1918 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1919 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1920 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1921 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1922 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1923 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1924 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1925 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1926 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1927 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1928 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1929 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1930 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1931 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1932 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1933 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1934 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1935 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1936 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1937 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1938 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1939 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1940 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1941 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1942 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1943 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1944 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1946 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1947 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1948 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1949 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1950 | 0.0252 tonnes per person | — |
| 1951 | 0.028 tonnes per person | +11.3% |
| 1952 | 0.0328 tonnes per person | +17.0% |
| 1953 | 0.0485 tonnes per person | +48.1% |
| 1954 | 0.0496 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1955 | 0.0507 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 0.0628 tonnes per person | +23.9% |
| 1957 | 0.0621 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1958 | 0.069 tonnes per person | +11.2% |
| 1959 | 0.085 tonnes per person | +23.1% |
| 1960 | 0.0799 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1961 | 0.0853 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 0.1074 tonnes per person | +25.9% |
| 1963 | 0.1395 tonnes per person | +30.0% |
| 1964 | 0.113 tonnes per person | -19.0% |
| 1965 | 0.1553 tonnes per person | +37.4% |
| 1966 | 0.2186 tonnes per person | +40.8% |
| 1967 | 0.3441 tonnes per person | +57.4% |
| 1968 | 0.4935 tonnes per person | +43.4% |
| 1969 | 0.6294 tonnes per person | +27.5% |
| 1970 | 0.8468 tonnes per person | +34.5% |
| 1971 | 0.9507 tonnes per person | +12.3% |
| 1972 | 0.9588 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 1.16 tonnes per person | +21.1% |
| 1974 | 1.18 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 1.28 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 1.47 tonnes per person | +14.6% |
| 1977 | 1.67 tonnes per person | +13.5% |
| 1978 | 1.86 tonnes per person | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 2.09 tonnes per person | +12.4% |
| 1980 | 2.03 tonnes per person | -2.8% |
| 1981 | 1.86 tonnes per person | -8.3% |
| 1982 | 1.82 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.86 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 1.81 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 1.73 tonnes per person | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 1.77 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 1.81 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 2.15 tonnes per person | +19.4% |
| 1989 | 2.47 tonnes per person | +14.6% |
| 1990 | 2.97 tonnes per person | +20.3% |
| 1991 | 3.41 tonnes per person | +14.9% |
| 1992 | 3.9 tonnes per person | +14.2% |
| 1993 | 4.22 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 4.58 tonnes per person | +8.5% |
| 1995 | 4.98 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 5.25 tonnes per person | +5.3% |
| 1997 | 5.36 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 3.97 tonnes per person | -25.9% |
| 1999 | 4.31 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 4.41 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 4.38 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 4.38 tonnes per person | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 4.32 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 4.11 tonnes per person | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 4.08 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 3.96 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 3.89 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 3.54 tonnes per person | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 3.56 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 3.61 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 3.49 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 3.44 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 3.37 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 3.2 tonnes per person | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 3.35 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 3.59 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 3.48 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 3.44 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.4 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 3.18 tonnes per person | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 3.31 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 3.35 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 3.29 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 3.41 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 3.41 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.3 tonnes per person, 1.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 3.41 tonnes per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.36 tonnes per person, 2.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 2 |
| 1910s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 9 |
| 1920s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 9 |
| 1950s | 0.0514 tonnes per person | 0.0252 tonnes per person | 0.085 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.2366 tonnes per person | 0.0799 tonnes per person | 0.6294 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.35 tonnes per person | 0.8468 tonnes per person | 2.09 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.93 tonnes per person | 1.73 tonnes per person | 2.47 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.29 tonnes per person | 2.97 tonnes per person | 5.36 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.06 tonnes per person | 3.54 tonnes per person | 4.41 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.44 tonnes per person | 3.2 tonnes per person | 3.61 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.31 tonnes per person | 3.18 tonnes per person | 3.41 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in South Korea?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in South Korea was 3.41 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 fuel type recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5.36 tonnes per person in 1997.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1905.
- How does South Korea rank for per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type?
- South Korea ranks 46th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. 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 fuel type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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 oil, measured in tonnes per person.