Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland
Switzerland: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average was 3.59 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.59 tonnes per person
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
99th
of 213 countries
All-time high
7.33 tonnes per person
in 1973
All-time low
0.059 tonnes per person
in 1858
Years of data
167
1858–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland, 1858–2024
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
Switzerland recorded 3.59 tonnes per person for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland peaked at 7.33 tonnes per person in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0.059 tonnes per person, in 1858.
That places Switzerland 99th 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.
Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1858 | 0.059 tonnes per person | — |
| 1859 | 0.0822 tonnes per person | +39.2% |
| 1860 | 0.1212 tonnes per person | +47.4% |
| 1861 | 0.1684 tonnes per person | +39.0% |
| 1862 | 0.1848 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1863 | 0.1838 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 1864 | 0.2228 tonnes per person | +21.2% |
| 1865 | 0.2698 tonnes per person | +21.1% |
| 1866 | 0.2655 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1867 | 0.2584 tonnes per person | -2.7% |
| 1868 | 0.2932 tonnes per person | +13.5% |
| 1869 | 0.2818 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1870 | 0.3381 tonnes per person | +20.0% |
| 1871 | 0.4155 tonnes per person | +22.9% |
| 1872 | 0.4742 tonnes per person | +14.1% |
| 1873 | 0.4575 tonnes per person | -3.5% |
| 1874 | 0.4289 tonnes per person | -6.2% |
| 1875 | 0.4661 tonnes per person | +8.7% |
| 1876 | 0.5413 tonnes per person | +16.1% |
| 1877 | 0.51 tonnes per person | -5.8% |
| 1878 | 0.4844 tonnes per person | -5.0% |
| 1879 | 0.514 tonnes per person | +6.1% |
| 1880 | 0.5901 tonnes per person | +14.8% |
| 1881 | 0.5498 tonnes per person | -6.8% |
| 1882 | 0.6051 tonnes per person | +10.1% |
| 1883 | 0.6666 tonnes per person | +10.2% |
| 1884 | 0.6819 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1885 | 0.7071 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1886 | 0.7183 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 0.7747 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1888 | 0.788 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1889 | 0.8648 tonnes per person | +9.7% |
| 1890 | 0.9716 tonnes per person | +12.3% |
| 1891 | 1.18 tonnes per person | +21.4% |
| 1892 | 1.15 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1893 | 0.9437 tonnes per person | -18.0% |
| 1894 | 1.16 tonnes per person | +23.2% |
| 1895 | 1.23 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1896 | 1.34 tonnes per person | +8.2% |
| 1897 | 1.39 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1898 | 1.47 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1899 | 1.57 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1900 | 1.72 tonnes per person | +9.5% |
| 1901 | 1.55 tonnes per person | -9.7% |
| 1902 | 1.55 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1903 | 1.66 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1904 | 1.72 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1905 | 1.78 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1906 | 1.94 tonnes per person | +9.2% |
| 1907 | 2.23 tonnes per person | +14.6% |
| 1908 | 2.2 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1909 | 2.19 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1910 | 2.1 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1911 | 2.31 tonnes per person | +9.8% |
| 1912 | 2.33 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1913 | 2.45 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 1914 | 2.23 tonnes per person | -9.2% |
| 1915 | 2.35 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1916 | 2.23 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 1917 | 1.6 tonnes per person | -28.3% |
| 1918 | 1.5 tonnes per person | -6.3% |
| 1919 | 1.19 tonnes per person | -20.1% |
| 1920 | 1.87 tonnes per person | +56.4% |
| 1921 | 1.15 tonnes per person | -38.5% |
| 1922 | 1.58 tonnes per person | +37.1% |
| 1923 | 1.96 tonnes per person | +24.1% |
| 1924 | 1.84 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1925 | 1.91 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1926 | 1.88 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 1927 | 2.15 tonnes per person | +14.8% |
| 1928 | 2.24 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1929 | 2.55 tonnes per person | +14.0% |
| 1930 | 2.36 tonnes per person | -7.3% |
| 1931 | 2.49 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 1932 | 2.51 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 2.34 tonnes per person | -6.8% |
| 1934 | 2.32 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1935 | 2.29 tonnes per person | -1.3% |
| 1936 | 2.39 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1937 | 2.51 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1938 | 2.5 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1939 | 2.82 tonnes per person | +12.8% |
| 1940 | 1.96 tonnes per person | -30.4% |
| 1941 | 1.55 tonnes per person | -20.9% |
| 1942 | 1.36 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1943 | 1.42 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1944 | 1.01 tonnes per person | -28.7% |
| 1945 | 0.3648 tonnes per person | -63.9% |
| 1946 | 1.28 tonnes per person | +251.8% |
| 1947 | 2.08 tonnes per person | +62.2% |
| 1948 | 2.23 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1949 | 1.84 tonnes per person | -17.4% |
| 1950 | 2.18 tonnes per person | +18.8% |
| 1951 | 2.59 tonnes per person | +18.8% |
| 1952 | 2.34 tonnes per person | -10.0% |
| 1953 | 2.12 tonnes per person | -9.1% |
| 1954 | 2.55 tonnes per person | +20.3% |
| 1955 | 2.73 tonnes per person | +6.7% |
| 1956 | 3.37 tonnes per person | +23.7% |
| 1957 | 3.45 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 3.14 tonnes per person | -9.1% |
| 1959 | 3.16 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 3.66 tonnes per person | +16.0% |
| 1961 | 3.75 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 4.33 tonnes per person | +15.5% |
| 1963 | 5.11 tonnes per person | +18.0% |
| 1964 | 4.86 tonnes per person | -4.8% |
| 1965 | 5.18 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1966 | 5.32 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 5.43 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 5.93 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 1969 | 6.2 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1970 | 6.51 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 6.74 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 6.85 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 7.33 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 6.53 tonnes per person | -10.8% |
| 1975 | 6.16 tonnes per person | -5.7% |
| 1976 | 6.42 tonnes per person | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 6.53 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 6.71 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 6.33 tonnes per person | -5.7% |
| 1980 | 6.41 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 6.11 tonnes per person | -4.7% |
| 1982 | 5.72 tonnes per person | -6.3% |
| 1983 | 6.23 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 6.07 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 6.14 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 6.49 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 6.14 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 6.16 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 5.93 tonnes per person | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 6.58 tonnes per person | +11.0% |
| 1991 | 6.79 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 6.69 tonnes per person | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 6.29 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 6.1 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 6.17 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 6.24 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 6.07 tonnes per person | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 6.28 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 6.22 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 6.07 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 6.24 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 5.97 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 6.09 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 6.13 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 6.16 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 6.07 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 5.75 tonnes per person | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 5.85 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 5.63 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 5.75 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 5.18 tonnes per person | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 5.28 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 5.34 tonnes per person | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 4.79 tonnes per person | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 4.68 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 4.68 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 4.52 tonnes per person | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 4.34 tonnes per person | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 4.29 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 3.97 tonnes per person | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 4.12 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 3.75 tonnes per person | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 3.6 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 3.59 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 3.59 tonnes per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.14 tonnes per person, 59% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 3.59 tonnes per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.13 tonnes per person, 70% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +251.8% | 0.3648 tonnes per person | 1.28 tonnes per person |
| 1945 | -63.9% | 1.01 tonnes per person | 0.3648 tonnes per person |
| 1947 | +62.2% | 1.28 tonnes per person | 2.08 tonnes per person |
| 1920 | +56.4% | 1.19 tonnes per person | 1.87 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.0706 tonnes per person | 0.059 tonnes per person | 0.0822 tonnes per person | 2 |
| 1860s | 0.225 tonnes per person | 0.1212 tonnes per person | 0.2932 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.463 tonnes per person | 0.3381 tonnes per person | 0.5413 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.6946 tonnes per person | 0.5498 tonnes per person | 0.8648 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.24 tonnes per person | 0.9437 tonnes per person | 1.57 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.86 tonnes per person | 1.55 tonnes per person | 2.23 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.03 tonnes per person | 1.19 tonnes per person | 2.45 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.91 tonnes per person | 1.15 tonnes per person | 2.55 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.45 tonnes per person | 2.29 tonnes per person | 2.82 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.51 tonnes per person | 0.3648 tonnes per person | 2.23 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.76 tonnes per person | 2.12 tonnes per person | 3.45 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.98 tonnes per person | 3.66 tonnes per person | 6.2 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.61 tonnes per person | 6.16 tonnes per person | 7.33 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.14 tonnes per person | 5.72 tonnes per person | 6.49 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.34 tonnes per person | 6.07 tonnes per person | 6.79 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.99 tonnes per person | 5.63 tonnes per person | 6.24 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.89 tonnes per person | 4.29 tonnes per person | 5.75 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.81 tonnes per person | 3.59 tonnes per person | 4.12 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More climate change data for Switzerland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 72.47 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 6,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,192 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,816 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 4.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 171.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 476.97 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 472.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.78 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland?
- Per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in Switzerland was 3.59 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 7.33 tonnes per person in 1973.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.059 tonnes per person in 1858.
- How does Switzerland rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?
- Switzerland ranks 99th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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 — 167 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.