How does Costa Rica rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?

Costa Rica ranks 139th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.

Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in Costa Rica?

Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Costa Rica 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 relative to the global average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Costa Rica

Name: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Costa Rica
Creator: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Costa Rica: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average was 1.71 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)

1.71 tonnes per person

Change on year

up 2.9%

World rank

139th

of 213 countries

All-time high

1.81 tonnes per person

in 2007

All-time low

0 tonnes per person

in 1870

Years of data

155

1870–2024

Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Costa Rica, 1870–2024

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 relative to the global average in Costa Rica is 1.71 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in Costa Rica peaked at 1.81 tonnes per person in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1870.

That places Costa Rica 139th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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
1870s	0.001 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0.0051 tonnes per person	10
1880s	0.0064 tonnes per person	0.0004 tonnes per person	0.0223 tonnes per person	10
1890s	0.091 tonnes per person	0.0466 tonnes per person	0.1335 tonnes per person	10
1900s	0.1301 tonnes per person	0.0671 tonnes per person	0.2393 tonnes per person	10
1910s	0.1756 tonnes per person	0.0094 tonnes per person	0.2783 tonnes per person	10
1920s	0.0232 tonnes per person	0.003 tonnes per person	0.0783 tonnes per person	10
1930s	0.0073 tonnes per person	0.0006 tonnes per person	0.0206 tonnes per person	10
1940s	0.0027 tonnes per person	0.0004 tonnes per person	0.0086 tonnes per person	10
1950s	0.3621 tonnes per person	0.3009 tonnes per person	0.4228 tonnes per person	10
1960s	0.4849 tonnes per person	0.3563 tonnes per person	0.6406 tonnes per person	10
1970s	0.9963 tonnes per person	0.679 tonnes per person	1.29 tonnes per person	10
1980s	0.8912 tonnes per person	0.7419 tonnes per person	1.02 tonnes per person	10
1990s	1.25 tonnes per person	0.9319 tonnes per person	1.5 tonnes per person	10
2000s	1.6 tonnes per person	1.36 tonnes per person	1.81 tonnes per person	10
2010s	1.59 tonnes per person	1.53 tonnes per person	1.64 tonnes per person	10
2020s	1.56 tonnes per person	1.34 tonnes per person	1.71 tonnes per person	5

Countries ranked near Costa Rica

136 Morocco 1.81 tonnes per person compare
137 Moldova 1.76 tonnes per person compare
138 Colombia 1.75 tonnes per person compare
140 Kyrgyzstan 1.64 tonnes per person compare
141 Albania 1.59 tonnes per person compare
142 Fiji 1.56 tonnes per person compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More climate change data for Costa Rica

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.0% (2100)
Population growth 0.4% (2025)
Population, total 5.15 million (2025)
Urban population growth 1.0% (2025)
Urban population 4.11 million (2025)
Urban population 79.7% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 1.71 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 285.80 million tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 1.71 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 1.71 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Costa Rica →

Frequently asked questions

What is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in Costa Rica?: Per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in Costa Rica was 1.71 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 relative to the global average recorded in Costa Rica?: The highest recorded value was 1.81 tonnes per person in 2007.
What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average recorded in Costa Rica?: The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1870.
How does Costa Rica rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?: Costa Rica ranks 139th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in Costa Rica?: Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Costa Rica 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 relative to the global average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 155 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average
Unit: tonnes per person
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 213 places, 22,945 data points, 1750–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from burning fossil fuels and industrial processes. This includes emissions from transport, electricity generation, and heating, but not land-use change.