Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport in Australia
Australia: Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport was 3,655 kilograms per person in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
3,655 kilograms per person
Change on year
up 7.4%
World rank
8th
of 191 countries
All-time high
3,993 kilograms per person
in 2011
All-time low
3,372 kilograms per person
in 2021
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport in Australia, 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
The most recent figure for per capita co₂ emissions from transport in Australia is 3,655 kilograms per person, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 7.4% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions from transport in Australia peaked at 3,993 kilograms per person in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3,372 kilograms per person, in 2021.
Australia ranks 8th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport in Australia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,622 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 3,492 kilograms per person | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 3,537 kilograms per person | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 3,565 kilograms per person | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 3,622 kilograms per person | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 3,732 kilograms per person | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 3,825 kilograms per person | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 3,858 kilograms per person | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 3,817 kilograms per person | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 3,848 kilograms per person | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 3,921 kilograms per person | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 3,843 kilograms per person | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 3,885 kilograms per person | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 3,855 kilograms per person | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 3,950 kilograms per person | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 3,909 kilograms per person | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 3,946 kilograms per person | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 3,989 kilograms per person | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 3,991 kilograms per person | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 3,899 kilograms per person | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 3,958 kilograms per person | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 3,993 kilograms per person | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 3,957 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 3,952 kilograms per person | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 3,900 kilograms per person | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 3,838 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 3,834 kilograms per person | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 3,836 kilograms per person | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3,872 kilograms per person | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 3,808 kilograms per person | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 3,515 kilograms per person | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 3,372 kilograms per person | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 3,404 kilograms per person | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 3,655 kilograms per person | +7.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 3,655 kilograms per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,818 kilograms per person, 2.0× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Australia's 3,655 kilograms per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 742.98 kilograms per person, 4.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,692 kilograms per person | 3,492 kilograms per person | 3,858 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,919 kilograms per person | 3,843 kilograms per person | 3,991 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,895 kilograms per person | 3,808 kilograms per person | 3,993 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,487 kilograms per person | 3,372 kilograms per person | 3,655 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 5 Cook Islands 4,212 kilograms per person compare
- 6 Canada 4,186 kilograms per person compare
- 7 Qatar 3,911 kilograms per person compare
- 9 United Arab Emirates 3,572 kilograms per person compare
- 10 Kuwait 3,522 kilograms per person compare
- 11 New Zealand 2,857 kilograms 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 transport in Australia?
- Per capita co₂ emissions from transport in Australia was 3,655 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 from transport recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 3,993 kilograms per person in 2011.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions from transport recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,372 kilograms per person in 2021.
- How does Australia rank for per capita co₂ emissions from transport?
- Australia ranks 8th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions from transport rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia 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 from transport. 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.