Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type in United States
United States: Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type was 6.34 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.34 tonnes per person
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
20th
of 213 countries
All-time high
11.1 tonnes per person
in 1978
All-time low
0 tonnes per person
in 1800
Years of data
225
1800–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type in United States, 1800–2024
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
United States recorded 6.34 tonnes per person for per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in 2024.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in United States peaked at 11.1 tonnes per person in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1800.
That places United States 20th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
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 States, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 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 tonnes per person | — |
| 1858 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1859 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1860 | 0.0064 tonnes per person | — |
| 1861 | 0.0266 tonnes per person | +316.5% |
| 1862 | 0.0376 tonnes per person | +41.6% |
| 1863 | 0.0314 tonnes per person | -16.6% |
| 1864 | 0.0249 tonnes per person | -20.7% |
| 1865 | 0.0287 tonnes per person | +15.5% |
| 1866 | 0.0403 tonnes per person | +40.5% |
| 1867 | 0.0367 tonnes per person | -9.1% |
| 1868 | 0.0391 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1869 | 0.0442 tonnes per person | +13.1% |
| 1870 | 0.0513 tonnes per person | +16.0% |
| 1871 | 0.0495 tonnes per person | -3.6% |
| 1872 | 0.0578 tonnes per person | +16.8% |
| 1873 | 0.0902 tonnes per person | +56.2% |
| 1874 | 0.0991 tonnes per person | +9.8% |
| 1875 | 0.0769 tonnes per person | -22.4% |
| 1876 | 0.0764 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 1877 | 0.111 tonnes per person | +45.3% |
| 1878 | 0.127 tonnes per person | +14.4% |
| 1879 | 0.1613 tonnes per person | +27.0% |
| 1880 | 0.2083 tonnes per person | +29.2% |
| 1881 | 0.2142 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 0.2296 tonnes per person | +7.2% |
| 1883 | 0.169 tonnes per person | -26.4% |
| 1884 | 0.1673 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1885 | 0.146 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1886 | 0.1883 tonnes per person | +28.9% |
| 1887 | 0.1849 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1888 | 0.1768 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 1889 | 0.2225 tonnes per person | +25.9% |
| 1890 | 0.2864 tonnes per person | +28.7% |
| 1891 | 0.3354 tonnes per person | +17.1% |
| 1892 | 0.3039 tonnes per person | -9.4% |
| 1893 | 0.2843 tonnes per person | -6.5% |
| 1894 | 0.2832 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1895 | 0.3009 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1896 | 0.343 tonnes per person | +14.0% |
| 1897 | 0.3324 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 1898 | 0.2983 tonnes per person | -10.3% |
| 1899 | 0.302 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 0.3294 tonnes per person | +9.1% |
| 1901 | 0.3558 tonnes per person | +8.0% |
| 1902 | 0.4488 tonnes per person | +26.2% |
| 1903 | 0.5031 tonnes per person | +12.1% |
| 1904 | 0.5797 tonnes per person | +15.2% |
| 1905 | 0.6547 tonnes per person | +12.9% |
| 1906 | 0.5997 tonnes per person | -8.4% |
| 1907 | 0.7806 tonnes per person | +30.2% |
| 1908 | 0.8217 tonnes per person | +5.3% |
| 1909 | 0.8262 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1910 | 0.931 tonnes per person | +12.7% |
| 1911 | 0.9627 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1912 | 0.961 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1913 | 1.14 tonnes per person | +18.2% |
| 1914 | 1.2 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1915 | 1.25 tonnes per person | +4.1% |
| 1916 | 1.36 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 1917 | 1.49 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1918 | 1.58 tonnes per person | +6.1% |
| 1919 | 1.75 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1920 | 2.22 tonnes per person | +26.9% |
| 1921 | 2.34 tonnes per person | +5.3% |
| 1922 | 2.64 tonnes per person | +13.0% |
| 1923 | 3.08 tonnes per person | +16.7% |
| 1924 | 2.96 tonnes per person | -4.1% |
| 1925 | 3.05 tonnes per person | +3.3% |
| 1926 | 3.05 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1927 | 3.44 tonnes per person | +13.1% |
| 1928 | 3.46 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1929 | 3.77 tonnes per person | +8.8% |
| 1930 | 3.29 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1931 | 3.03 tonnes per person | -7.7% |
| 1932 | 2.77 tonnes per person | -8.7% |
| 1933 | 3.05 tonnes per person | +9.9% |
| 1934 | 3.03 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1935 | 3.26 tonnes per person | +7.3% |
| 1936 | 3.58 tonnes per person | +9.9% |
| 1937 | 4.07 tonnes per person | +13.8% |
| 1938 | 3.79 tonnes per person | -6.8% |
| 1939 | 3.97 tonnes per person | +4.5% |
| 1940 | 4.31 tonnes per person | +8.7% |
| 1941 | 4.5 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1942 | 4.27 tonnes per person | -5.1% |
| 1943 | 4.56 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1944 | 5.14 tonnes per person | +12.7% |
| 1945 | 5.27 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 1946 | 5.26 tonnes per person | -0.1% |
| 1947 | 5.57 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1948 | 6.07 tonnes per person | +9.0% |
| 1949 | 5.57 tonnes per person | -8.3% |
| 1950 | 5.82 tonnes per person | +4.4% |
| 1951 | 6.14 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1952 | 6.3 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 6.52 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 6.5 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1955 | 6.91 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1956 | 7.13 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 6.96 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 7 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 7.1 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 7.11 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 7.07 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 7.15 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 7.16 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 7.23 tonnes per person | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 7.49 tonnes per person | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 7.72 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 7.92 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 8.32 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1969 | 8.68 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1970 | 9.81 tonnes per person | +13.0% |
| 1971 | 9.97 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 10.66 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1973 | 10.8 tonnes per person | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 10.23 tonnes per person | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 9.85 tonnes per person | -3.7% |
| 1976 | 10.34 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 10.78 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 11.1 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 10.51 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 9.6 tonnes per person | -8.7% |
| 1981 | 8.77 tonnes per person | -8.7% |
| 1982 | 8.24 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 8.19 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 8.16 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 8.09 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 8.35 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 8.46 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 8.75 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 8.63 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 8.44 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 8.12 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 8.21 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 8.16 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 8.22 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 8.11 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 8.33 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 8.31 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 8.4 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 8.52 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 8.67 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 8.61 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 8.51 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 8.64 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 8.78 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 8.74 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 8.54 tonnes per person | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 8.41 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 7.77 tonnes per person | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 7.28 tonnes per person | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 7.26 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 7.04 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 6.79 tonnes per person | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 6.81 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 6.84 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 6.86 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 6.84 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 6.8 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 6.88 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 6.81 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.87 tonnes per person | -13.8% |
| 2021 | 6.42 tonnes per person | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 6.44 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 6.4 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 6.34 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 6.34 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.3 tonnes per person, 1.9× the median. (74 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions by fuel type in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | +316.5% | 0.0064 tonnes per person | 0.0266 tonnes per person |
| 1873 | +56.2% | 0.0578 tonnes per person | 0.0902 tonnes per person |
| 1877 | +45.3% | 0.0764 tonnes per person | 0.111 tonnes per person |
| 1862 | +41.6% | 0.0266 tonnes per person | 0.0376 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.0316 tonnes per person | 0.0064 tonnes per person | 0.0442 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0901 tonnes per person | 0.0495 tonnes per person | 0.1613 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.1907 tonnes per person | 0.146 tonnes per person | 0.2296 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.307 tonnes per person | 0.2832 tonnes per person | 0.343 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.59 tonnes per person | 0.3294 tonnes per person | 0.8262 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.26 tonnes per person | 0.931 tonnes per person | 1.75 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 3 tonnes per person | 2.22 tonnes per person | 3.77 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.38 tonnes per person | 2.77 tonnes per person | 4.07 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.05 tonnes per person | 4.27 tonnes per person | 6.07 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.64 tonnes per person | 5.82 tonnes per person | 7.13 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.58 tonnes per person | 7.07 tonnes per person | 8.68 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.4 tonnes per person | 9.81 tonnes per person | 11.1 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.52 tonnes per person | 8.09 tonnes per person | 9.6 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.28 tonnes per person | 8.11 tonnes per person | 8.52 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.4 tonnes per person | 7.28 tonnes per person | 8.78 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.89 tonnes per person | 6.79 tonnes per person | 7.26 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.29 tonnes per person | 5.87 tonnes per person | 6.44 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 17 Antigua and Barbuda 7.09 tonnes per person compare
- 18 Iceland 6.98 tonnes per person compare
- 19 Qatar 6.35 tonnes per person compare
- 21 Canada 6.15 tonnes per person compare
- 22 Montserrat 6.02 tonnes per person compare
- 23 United Arab Emirates 5.95 tonnes per person compare
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in United States?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type in United States was 6.34 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 by fuel type recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 11.1 tonnes per person in 1978.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1800.
- How does United States rank for per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type?
- United States ranks 20th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by fuel type rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 225 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.