How does New Zealand rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?

New Zealand ranks 48th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.

Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in New Zealand?

Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand

Name: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand
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)

New Zealand: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average was 6.23 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)

6.23 tonnes per person

Change on year

up 2.1%

World rank

48th

of 213 countries

All-time high

9.05 tonnes per person

in 2005

All-time low

0 tonnes per person

in 1750

Years of data

230

1750–2024

Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand, 1750–2024

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

In 2024, per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand stood at 6.23 tonnes per person.

That represents a change of up 2.1% on the previous year and down 20.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand peaked at 9.05 tonnes per person in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1750.

New Zealand ranks 48th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1750s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	1
1760s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	1
1770s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	1
1780s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	1
1790s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	1
1800s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1810s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1820s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1830s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1840s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1850s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1860s	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	10
1870s	0.1802 tonnes per person	0 tonnes per person	1.04 tonnes per person	10
1880s	1.78 tonnes per person	1.29 tonnes per person	2.15 tonnes per person	10
1890s	2.34 tonnes per person	2.15 tonnes per person	2.75 tonnes per person	10
1900s	3.8 tonnes per person	3.02 tonnes per person	4.23 tonnes per person	10
1910s	4.18 tonnes per person	3.39 tonnes per person	4.72 tonnes per person	10
1920s	3.03 tonnes per person	2.77 tonnes per person	3.35 tonnes per person	10
1930s	2.68 tonnes per person	2.32 tonnes per person	3.28 tonnes per person	10
1940s	3.05 tonnes per person	2.9 tonnes per person	3.19 tonnes per person	10
1950s	4.41 tonnes per person	4.18 tonnes per person	4.67 tonnes per person	10
1960s	4.95 tonnes per person	4.51 tonnes per person	5.22 tonnes per person	10
1970s	5.76 tonnes per person	5.02 tonnes per person	6.47 tonnes per person	10
1980s	6.44 tonnes per person	5.24 tonnes per person	7.67 tonnes per person	10
1990s	7.82 tonnes per person	7.5 tonnes per person	8.28 tonnes per person	10
2000s	8.71 tonnes per person	8.04 tonnes per person	9.05 tonnes per person	10
2010s	7.67 tonnes per person	7.24 tonnes per person	8.14 tonnes per person	10
2020s	6.41 tonnes per person	6.1 tonnes per person	6.77 tonnes per person	5

Countries ranked near New Zealand

45 Ireland 6.34 tonnes per person compare
46 Netherlands 6.3 tonnes per person compare
47 Serbia 6.24 tonnes per person compare
49 Austria 6.18 tonnes per person compare
50 Belarus 6.16 tonnes per person compare
51 Bosnia and Herzegovina 6.14 tonnes per person compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More climate change data for New Zealand

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.1% (2100)
Population growth 0.7% (2025)
Population, total 5.32 million (2025)
Urban population growth 0.7% (2025)
Urban population 4.47 million (2025)
Urban population 84.0% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 6.23 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 2.01 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 6.23 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 6.23 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand?: Per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand was 6.23 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 New Zealand?: The highest recorded value was 9.05 tonnes per person in 2005.
What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average recorded in New Zealand?: The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1750.
How does New Zealand rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?: New Zealand ranks 48th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in New Zealand?: Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand 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 — 230 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.