Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector was 51.38 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
In 2023, per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan stood at 51.38 kilograms per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan peaked at 74.93 kilograms per person in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8.68 kilograms per person, in 2008.
Afghanistan ranks 137th of 187 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 sector in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.45 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 13.07 kilograms per person | +5.0% |
| 1992 | 13.56 kilograms per person | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 12.71 kilograms per person | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 12.31 kilograms per person | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 11.72 kilograms per person | -4.8% |
| 1996 | 11.82 kilograms per person | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 10.84 kilograms per person | -8.3% |
| 1998 | 10.44 kilograms per person | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 10.56 kilograms per person | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 9.94 kilograms per person | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 10.35 kilograms per person | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 9.82 kilograms per person | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 9.68 kilograms per person | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 10.61 kilograms per person | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 11.88 kilograms per person | +12.0% |
| 2006 | 11.01 kilograms per person | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 10.81 kilograms per person | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 8.68 kilograms per person | -19.6% |
| 2009 | 14.2 kilograms per person | +63.5% |
| 2010 | 17.68 kilograms per person | +24.5% |
| 2011 | 27.94 kilograms per person | +58.1% |
| 2012 | 27.49 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 42.37 kilograms per person | +54.2% |
| 2014 | 52.76 kilograms per person | +24.5% |
| 2015 | 73.6 kilograms per person | +39.5% |
| 2016 | 74.93 kilograms per person | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 62.2 kilograms per person | -17.0% |
| 2018 | 59.33 kilograms per person | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 62.61 kilograms per person | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 60.92 kilograms per person | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 54 kilograms per person | -11.4% |
| 2022 | 52.24 kilograms per person | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 51.38 kilograms per person | -1.7% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 51.38 kilograms per person is above the median for low income countries, which is 5.1 kilograms per person, 10.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 51.38 kilograms per person is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 206.18 kilograms per person, 25% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +63.5% | 8.68 kilograms per person | 14.2 kilograms per person |
| 2011 | +58.1% | 17.68 kilograms per person | 27.94 kilograms per person |
| 2013 | +54.2% | 27.49 kilograms per person | 42.37 kilograms per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.95 kilograms per person | 10.44 kilograms per person | 13.56 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.7 kilograms per person | 8.68 kilograms per person | 14.2 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.09 kilograms per person | 17.68 kilograms per person | 74.93 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.64 kilograms per person | 51.38 kilograms per person | 60.92 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More climate change data for Afghanistan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 79.22 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23,854 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,965 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 17,889 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 22.51 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 638.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,345 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,090 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,255 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.11 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Afghanistan was 51.38 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 74.93 kilograms per person in 2016.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.68 kilograms per person in 2008.
- How does Afghanistan rank for per capita co₂ emissions by sector?
- Afghanistan ranks 137th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by sector rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in kilograms per person.