Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand
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.
Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1760 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1770 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1780 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1790 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1800 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1801 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1802 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1803 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1804 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1805 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1806 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1807 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1808 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1809 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1810 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1811 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1812 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1813 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1814 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1815 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1816 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1817 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1818 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1819 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1820 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1821 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1822 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1823 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1824 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1825 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1826 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1827 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1828 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1829 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1830 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1831 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1832 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1833 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1834 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1835 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1836 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1837 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1838 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1839 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1840 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1841 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1842 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1843 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1844 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1845 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1846 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1847 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1848 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1849 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1850 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1851 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1852 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1853 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1854 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1855 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1856 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1857 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1858 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1859 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1860 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1861 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1862 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1863 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1864 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1865 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1866 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1867 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1868 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1869 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1870 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1871 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1872 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1873 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1874 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1875 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1876 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1877 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1878 | 0.7658 tonnes per person | — |
| 1879 | 1.04 tonnes per person | +35.2% |
| 1880 | 1.29 tonnes per person | +24.2% |
| 1881 | 1.39 tonnes per person | +8.2% |
| 1882 | 1.52 tonnes per person | +9.0% |
| 1883 | 1.66 tonnes per person | +9.2% |
| 1884 | 1.85 tonnes per person | +11.5% |
| 1885 | 1.92 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1886 | 1.96 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1887 | 2.01 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1888 | 2.15 tonnes per person | +7.4% |
| 1889 | 2.03 tonnes per person | -6.0% |
| 1890 | 2.15 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 1891 | 2.2 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1892 | 2.18 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1893 | 2.19 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1894 | 2.24 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1895 | 2.22 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1896 | 2.37 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1897 | 2.47 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1898 | 2.61 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1899 | 2.75 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1900 | 3.02 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1901 | 3.31 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1902 | 3.58 tonnes per person | +8.3% |
| 1903 | 3.64 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 3.84 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1905 | 3.86 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1906 | 4.1 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1907 | 4.23 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1908 | 4.19 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1909 | 4.2 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1910 | 4.72 tonnes per person | +12.4% |
| 1911 | 4.35 tonnes per person | -7.9% |
| 1912 | 4.5 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1913 | 3.84 tonnes per person | -14.8% |
| 1914 | 4.55 tonnes per person | +18.6% |
| 1915 | 4.34 tonnes per person | -4.6% |
| 1916 | 4.36 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1917 | 3.93 tonnes per person | -9.9% |
| 1918 | 3.8 tonnes per person | -3.3% |
| 1919 | 3.39 tonnes per person | -10.7% |
| 1920 | 2.87 tonnes per person | -15.4% |
| 1921 | 2.77 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 1922 | 2.77 tonnes per person | -0.1% |
| 1923 | 2.93 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1924 | 2.99 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 3.01 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1926 | 3.09 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 3.19 tonnes per person | +3.3% |
| 1928 | 3.28 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1929 | 3.35 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 3.28 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 1931 | 2.82 tonnes per person | -14.0% |
| 1932 | 2.33 tonnes per person | -17.4% |
| 1933 | 2.32 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1934 | 2.58 tonnes per person | +11.3% |
| 1935 | 2.66 tonnes per person | +3.3% |
| 1936 | 2.65 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1937 | 2.76 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1938 | 2.65 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1939 | 2.76 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1940 | 2.9 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1941 | 3.01 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1942 | 3.03 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1943 | 3.14 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1944 | 3.15 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1945 | 3.19 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1946 | 3.09 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 1947 | 3 tonnes per person | -3.0% |
| 1948 | 2.98 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 1949 | 2.99 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 4.48 tonnes per person | +50.1% |
| 1951 | 4.19 tonnes per person | -6.6% |
| 1952 | 4.67 tonnes per person | +11.4% |
| 1953 | 4.18 tonnes per person | -10.5% |
| 1954 | 4.33 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1955 | 4.39 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 4.43 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 4.61 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 4.46 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 1959 | 4.42 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1960 | 4.85 tonnes per person | +9.6% |
| 1961 | 4.84 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 4.51 tonnes per person | -6.8% |
| 1963 | 4.81 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 1964 | 5.06 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 5.19 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 5.22 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 5 tonnes per person | -4.1% |
| 1968 | 4.89 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 5.12 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1970 | 5.02 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 5.25 tonnes per person | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 5.55 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 6.11 tonnes per person | +10.2% |
| 1974 | 6.17 tonnes per person | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 5.91 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 6.16 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 6.47 tonnes per person | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 5.74 tonnes per person | -11.3% |
| 1979 | 5.25 tonnes per person | -8.5% |
| 1980 | 5.56 tonnes per person | +5.8% |
| 1981 | 5.24 tonnes per person | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 5.74 tonnes per person | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 5.59 tonnes per person | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 5.95 tonnes per person | +6.4% |
| 1985 | 6.69 tonnes per person | +12.4% |
| 1986 | 6.99 tonnes per person | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 7.32 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 7.67 tonnes per person | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 7.63 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 7.5 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 7.52 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 7.97 tonnes per person | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 7.76 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 7.7 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 7.62 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 7.85 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 8.28 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 7.83 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 8.2 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 8.35 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 8.83 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 8.74 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 9 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 8.77 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 9.05 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 8.92 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 8.61 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 8.8 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 8.04 tonnes per person | -8.6% |
| 2010 | 8 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 7.81 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 8.14 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 7.91 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 7.83 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 7.76 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 7.24 tonnes per person | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 7.41 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 7.28 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 7.36 tonnes per person | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 6.73 tonnes per person | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 6.77 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 6.23 tonnes per person | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 6.1 tonnes per person | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 6.23 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 6.23 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.14 tonnes per person, 1.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 6.23 tonnes per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.21 tonnes per person, 1.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +50.1% | 2.99 tonnes per person | 4.48 tonnes per person |
| 1879 | +35.2% | 0.7658 tonnes per person | 1.04 tonnes per person |
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
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
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
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.