Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in South Korea
South Korea: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average was 11.29 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in South Korea, 1905–2024
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 South Korea is 11.29 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in South Korea peaked at 12.98 tonnes per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 tonnes per person, in 1905.
South Korea ranks 21st of 213 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0.0005 tonnes per person | 0.0001 tonnes per person | 0.0008 tonnes per person | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.0021 tonnes per person | 0.0011 tonnes per person | 0.003 tonnes per person | 9 |
| 1920s | 0.0061 tonnes per person | 0.0035 tonnes per person | 0.0099 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.0201 tonnes per person | 0.0092 tonnes per person | 0.0414 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.0562 tonnes per person | 0.0002 tonnes per person | 0.1109 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.2676 tonnes per person | 0.1105 tonnes per person | 0.4436 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.8702 tonnes per person | 0.4802 tonnes per person | 1.33 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.37 tonnes per person | 1.65 tonnes per person | 3.52 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.12 tonnes per person | 3.53 tonnes per person | 5.14 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.82 tonnes per person | 5.68 tonnes per person | 9.69 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.35 tonnes per person | 9.41 tonnes per person | 11.08 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.57 tonnes per person | 12.19 tonnes per person | 12.98 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.56 tonnes per person | 11.29 tonnes per person | 11.88 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 51.68 million (2025)
- Urban population growth -0.1% (2025)
- Urban population 41.95 million (2025)
- Urban population 81.2% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 20.71 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 11.29 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in South Korea?
- Per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in South Korea was 11.29 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 12.98 tonnes per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 tonnes per person in 1905.
- How does South Korea rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?
- South Korea ranks 21st out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
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CSV · JSON — 116 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.