Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport in China
China: Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport was 736.95 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions from transport in China, 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
China recorded 736.95 kilograms per person for per capita co₂ emissions from transport in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions from transport in China peaked at 770.7 kilograms per person in 2021 and was at its lowest, 81.62 kilograms per person, in 1990.
China ranks 105th of 191 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 105.97 kilograms per person | 81.62 kilograms per person | 137.98 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 288.82 kilograms per person | 195.72 kilograms per person | 385.15 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 567.9 kilograms per person | 420.83 kilograms per person | 713.52 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 732.65 kilograms per person | 697.41 kilograms per person | 770.7 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 102 Dominica 751.53 kilograms per person compare
- 103 Vanuatu 749.01 kilograms per person compare
- 104 Colombia 747.31 kilograms per person compare
- 106 Dominican Republic 722.78 kilograms per person compare
- 107 Moldova 714.04 kilograms per person compare
- 108 Micronesia (country) 710.19 kilograms per person compare
More climate change data for China
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 6.2% (2100)
- Population growth -0.2% (2025)
- Population, total 1.41 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Urban population 933.17 million (2025)
- Urban population 66.3% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 285.09 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions from transport in China?
- Per capita co₂ emissions from transport in China was 736.95 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 770.7 kilograms per person in 2021.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions from transport recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.62 kilograms per person in 1990.
- How does China rank for per capita co₂ emissions from transport?
- China ranks 105th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions from transport rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.
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About this data
Emissions are measured in kilograms per person.