Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type was 2.31 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.31 tonnes per person
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
78th
of 213 countries
All-time high
5.2 tonnes per person
in 1973
All-time low
0 tonnes per person
in 1750
Years of data
230
1750–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type 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 fuel type in United Kingdom is 2.31 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in United Kingdom peaked at 5.2 tonnes per person in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1750.
United Kingdom ranks 78th of 213 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 fuel type in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1760 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1770 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1780 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1790 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1800 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1801 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1802 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1803 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1804 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1805 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1806 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1807 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1808 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1809 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1810 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1811 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1812 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1813 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1814 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1815 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1816 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1817 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1818 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1819 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1820 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1821 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1822 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1823 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1824 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1825 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1826 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1827 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1828 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1829 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1830 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1831 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1832 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1833 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1834 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1835 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1836 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1837 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1838 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1839 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1840 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1841 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1842 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1843 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1844 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1845 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1846 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1847 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1848 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1849 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1850 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1851 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1852 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1853 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1854 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1855 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1856 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1857 | 0.0003 tonnes per person | — |
| 1858 | 0.0004 tonnes per person | +49.1% |
| 1859 | 0.0001 tonnes per person | -66.9% |
| 1860 | 0 tonnes per person | -100.0% |
| 1861 | 0.0001 tonnes per person | — |
| 1862 | 0.0021 tonnes per person | +1586.7% |
| 1863 | 0.003 tonnes per person | +40.0% |
| 1864 | 0.0017 tonnes per person | -42.1% |
| 1865 | 0.0012 tonnes per person | -29.2% |
| 1866 | 0.0025 tonnes per person | +108.3% |
| 1867 | 0.0018 tonnes per person | -29.2% |
| 1868 | 0.0017 tonnes per person | -7.4% |
| 1869 | 0.0021 tonnes per person | +27.5% |
| 1870 | 0.0027 tonnes per person | +26.6% |
| 1871 | 0.0034 tonnes per person | +24.9% |
| 1872 | 0.0024 tonnes per person | -28.3% |
| 1873 | 0.0061 tonnes per person | +154.6% |
| 1874 | 0.0079 tonnes per person | +28.4% |
| 1875 | 0.0071 tonnes per person | -9.5% |
| 1876 | 0.009 tonnes per person | +26.9% |
| 1877 | 0.0121 tonnes per person | +34.1% |
| 1878 | 0.0107 tonnes per person | -11.7% |
| 1879 | 0.0151 tonnes per person | +41.1% |
| 1880 | 0.0135 tonnes per person | -10.7% |
| 1881 | 0.0203 tonnes per person | +50.7% |
| 1882 | 0.0203 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1883 | 0.0238 tonnes per person | +17.0% |
| 1884 | 0.0178 tonnes per person | -25.4% |
| 1885 | 0.0246 tonnes per person | +38.8% |
| 1886 | 0.0235 tonnes per person | -4.5% |
| 1887 | 0.0253 tonnes per person | +7.7% |
| 1888 | 0.0307 tonnes per person | +21.2% |
| 1889 | 0.0332 tonnes per person | +8.2% |
| 1890 | 0.0336 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1891 | 0.0414 tonnes per person | +23.0% |
| 1892 | 0.0409 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1893 | 0.0482 tonnes per person | +17.9% |
| 1894 | 0.0502 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1895 | 0.0541 tonnes per person | +7.6% |
| 1896 | 0.0575 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1897 | 0.0556 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1898 | 0.0652 tonnes per person | +17.2% |
| 1899 | 0.0706 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 1900 | 0.0744 tonnes per person | +5.3% |
| 1901 | 0.0734 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1902 | 0.0816 tonnes per person | +11.3% |
| 1903 | 0.0812 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1904 | 0.0851 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1905 | 0.0837 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1906 | 0.0828 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1907 | 0.0834 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1908 | 0.0934 tonnes per person | +12.0% |
| 1909 | 0.0966 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1910 | 0.0926 tonnes per person | -4.2% |
| 1911 | 0.0974 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 1912 | 0.1098 tonnes per person | +12.7% |
| 1913 | 0.1289 tonnes per person | +17.4% |
| 1914 | 0.17 tonnes per person | +31.9% |
| 1915 | 0.1541 tonnes per person | -9.4% |
| 1916 | 0.1177 tonnes per person | -23.6% |
| 1917 | 0.2146 tonnes per person | +82.3% |
| 1918 | 0.3424 tonnes per person | +59.5% |
| 1919 | 0.184 tonnes per person | -46.3% |
| 1920 | 0.2088 tonnes per person | +13.5% |
| 1921 | 0.2859 tonnes per person | +36.9% |
| 1922 | 0.2796 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1923 | 0.2984 tonnes per person | +6.7% |
| 1924 | 0.3474 tonnes per person | +16.4% |
| 1925 | 0.3407 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1926 | 0.4231 tonnes per person | +24.2% |
| 1927 | 0.455 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 1928 | 0.4586 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1929 | 0.4601 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1930 | 0.5096 tonnes per person | +10.8% |
| 1931 | 0.4658 tonnes per person | -8.6% |
| 1932 | 0.4684 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 0.5037 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 1934 | 0.5578 tonnes per person | +10.7% |
| 1935 | 0.5523 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1936 | 0.5729 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1937 | 0.5858 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 0.6095 tonnes per person | +4.1% |
| 1939 | 0.5625 tonnes per person | -7.7% |
| 1940 | 0.6067 tonnes per person | +7.9% |
| 1941 | 0.6854 tonnes per person | +13.0% |
| 1942 | 0.5356 tonnes per person | -21.8% |
| 1943 | 0.7653 tonnes per person | +42.9% |
| 1944 | 1.02 tonnes per person | +33.2% |
| 1945 | 0.7764 tonnes per person | -23.8% |
| 1946 | 0.6898 tonnes per person | -11.1% |
| 1947 | 0.6028 tonnes per person | -12.6% |
| 1948 | 0.8354 tonnes per person | +38.6% |
| 1949 | 0.7999 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1950 | 0.8373 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1951 | 1.07 tonnes per person | +28.2% |
| 1952 | 1.06 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1953 | 1.11 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 1.24 tonnes per person | +11.7% |
| 1955 | 1.38 tonnes per person | +11.7% |
| 1956 | 1.42 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 1.59 tonnes per person | +11.9% |
| 1958 | 1.76 tonnes per person | +10.9% |
| 1959 | 2.19 tonnes per person | +24.6% |
| 1960 | 2.46 tonnes per person | +12.0% |
| 1961 | 2.62 tonnes per person | +6.5% |
| 1962 | 2.78 tonnes per person | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 2.92 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1964 | 3.2 tonnes per person | +9.4% |
| 1965 | 3.49 tonnes per person | +9.2% |
| 1966 | 3.75 tonnes per person | +7.3% |
| 1967 | 3.86 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 4 tonnes per person | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 4.29 tonnes per person | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 4.76 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1971 | 4.82 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 5.16 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1973 | 5.2 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 4.83 tonnes per person | -7.1% |
| 1975 | 4.29 tonnes per person | -11.1% |
| 1976 | 4.2 tonnes per person | -2.3% |
| 1977 | 4.28 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 4.41 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 4.5 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 3.81 tonnes per person | -15.4% |
| 1981 | 3.47 tonnes per person | -9.0% |
| 1982 | 3.49 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 3.32 tonnes per person | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 4.23 tonnes per person | +27.2% |
| 1985 | 3.63 tonnes per person | -14.1% |
| 1986 | 3.55 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 3.41 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 3.62 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1989 | 3.89 tonnes per person | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 3.8 tonnes per person | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 3.79 tonnes per person | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 3.78 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 3.79 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 3.72 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 3.64 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 3.72 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 3.55 tonnes per person | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 3.5 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.43 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 3.36 tonnes per person | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 3.35 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 3.29 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 3.25 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 3.29 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 3.31 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 3.23 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.19 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.04 tonnes per person | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 2.88 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 2.85 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 2.71 tonnes per person | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 2.66 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 2.57 tonnes per person | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.57 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 2.61 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 2.64 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 2.64 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 2.59 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.52 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 2.14 tonnes per person | -15.1% |
| 2021 | 2.21 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.15 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 2.25 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 2.31 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 2.31 tonnes per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.3 tonnes per person, 70% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 2.31 tonnes per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.34 tonnes per person, 99% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1862 | +1586.7% | 0.0001 tonnes per person | 0.0021 tonnes per person |
| 1873 | +154.6% | 0.0024 tonnes per person | 0.0061 tonnes per person |
| 1866 | +108.3% | 0.0012 tonnes per person | 0.0025 tonnes per person |
| 1860 | -100.0% | 0.0001 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person |
| 1917 | +82.3% | 0.1177 tonnes per person | 0.2146 tonnes per person |
| 1859 | -66.9% | 0.0004 tonnes per person | 0.0001 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1760s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1770s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1780s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1790s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 1 |
| 1800s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1810s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1820s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1830s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1840s | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.0001 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0.0004 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.0016 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0.003 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0076 tonnes per person | 0.0024 tonnes per person | 0.0151 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.0233 tonnes per person | 0.0135 tonnes per person | 0.0332 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0517 tonnes per person | 0.0336 tonnes per person | 0.0706 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0836 tonnes per person | 0.0734 tonnes per person | 0.0966 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.1611 tonnes per person | 0.0926 tonnes per person | 0.3424 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.3558 tonnes per person | 0.2088 tonnes per person | 0.4601 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.5388 tonnes per person | 0.4658 tonnes per person | 0.6095 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.7316 tonnes per person | 0.5356 tonnes per person | 1.02 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.37 tonnes per person | 0.8373 tonnes per person | 2.19 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.34 tonnes per person | 2.46 tonnes per person | 4.29 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.64 tonnes per person | 4.2 tonnes per person | 5.2 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.64 tonnes per person | 3.32 tonnes per person | 4.23 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.67 tonnes per person | 3.43 tonnes per person | 3.8 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.22 tonnes per person | 2.88 tonnes per person | 3.36 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.64 tonnes per person | 2.52 tonnes per person | 2.85 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.21 tonnes per person | 2.14 tonnes per person | 2.31 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 fuel type in United Kingdom?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in United Kingdom was 2.31 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 5.2 tonnes per person in 1973.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1750.
- How does United Kingdom rank for per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type?
- United Kingdom ranks 78th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. 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 fuel type. 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 oil, measured in tonnes per person.