Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States
United States: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average was 14.2 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.2 tonnes per person
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
12th
of 213 countries
All-time high
22.22 tonnes per person
in 1973
All-time low
0.0421 tonnes per person
in 1800
Years of data
225
1800–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States, 1800–2024
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 United States is 14.2 tonnes per person, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States peaked at 22.22 tonnes per person in 1973 and was at its lowest, 0.0421 tonnes per person, in 1800.
United States ranks 12th 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.
Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 0.0421 tonnes per person | — |
| 1801 | 0.0437 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1802 | 0.0465 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1803 | 0.0468 tonnes per person | +0.6% |
| 1804 | 0.0515 tonnes per person | +10.3% |
| 1805 | 0.0517 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 0.0496 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1807 | 0.0551 tonnes per person | +11.1% |
| 1808 | 0.0562 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1809 | 0.0567 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1810 | 0.0572 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1811 | 0.0596 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1812 | 0.0626 tonnes per person | +5.0% |
| 1813 | 0.0652 tonnes per person | +4.2% |
| 1814 | 0.068 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1815 | 0.0706 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 1816 | 0.0755 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1817 | 0.0791 tonnes per person | +4.9% |
| 1818 | 0.0833 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 1819 | 0.0788 tonnes per person | -5.4% |
| 1820 | 0.0794 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 0.0806 tonnes per person | +1.6% |
| 1822 | 0.0818 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1823 | 0.0829 tonnes per person | +1.3% |
| 1824 | 0.0907 tonnes per person | +9.5% |
| 1825 | 0.0987 tonnes per person | +8.8% |
| 1826 | 0.1111 tonnes per person | +12.6% |
| 1827 | 0.1189 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1828 | 0.1273 tonnes per person | +7.1% |
| 1829 | 0.1394 tonnes per person | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 0.1577 tonnes per person | +13.1% |
| 1831 | 0.1663 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1832 | 0.2159 tonnes per person | +29.8% |
| 1833 | 0.2451 tonnes per person | +13.6% |
| 1834 | 0.2286 tonnes per person | -6.8% |
| 1835 | 0.2838 tonnes per person | +24.2% |
| 1836 | 0.3026 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1837 | 0.3301 tonnes per person | +9.1% |
| 1838 | 0.3045 tonnes per person | -7.8% |
| 1839 | 0.3247 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1840 | 0.3359 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1841 | 0.3452 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1842 | 0.373 tonnes per person | +8.1% |
| 1843 | 0.4062 tonnes per person | +8.9% |
| 1844 | 0.4725 tonnes per person | +16.3% |
| 1845 | 0.552 tonnes per person | +16.8% |
| 1846 | 0.6076 tonnes per person | +10.1% |
| 1847 | 0.699 tonnes per person | +15.0% |
| 1848 | 0.7554 tonnes per person | +8.1% |
| 1849 | 0.7957 tonnes per person | +5.3% |
| 1850 | 0.8387 tonnes per person | +5.4% |
| 1851 | 1.01 tonnes per person | +20.8% |
| 1852 | 1.07 tonnes per person | +5.6% |
| 1853 | 1.17 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 1854 | 1.25 tonnes per person | +6.7% |
| 1855 | 1.39 tonnes per person | +11.7% |
| 1856 | 1.42 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 1.41 tonnes per person | -0.4% |
| 1858 | 1.39 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 1859 | 1.47 tonnes per person | +5.8% |
| 1860 | 1.5 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1861 | 1.41 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1862 | 1.43 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1863 | 1.61 tonnes per person | +12.9% |
| 1864 | 1.69 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1865 | 1.65 tonnes per person | -2.0% |
| 1866 | 1.63 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1867 | 1.96 tonnes per person | +20.2% |
| 1868 | 2.16 tonnes per person | +10.4% |
| 1869 | 2.4 tonnes per person | +11.2% |
| 1870 | 2.47 tonnes per person | +2.9% |
| 1871 | 2.52 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 3.03 tonnes per person | +19.9% |
| 1873 | 3.27 tonnes per person | +8.0% |
| 1874 | 3.08 tonnes per person | -5.8% |
| 1875 | 3.04 tonnes per person | -1.1% |
| 1876 | 2.91 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 1877 | 3.16 tonnes per person | +8.4% |
| 1878 | 3.02 tonnes per person | -4.4% |
| 1879 | 3.6 tonnes per person | +19.3% |
| 1880 | 3.99 tonnes per person | +10.8% |
| 1881 | 4.13 tonnes per person | +3.5% |
| 1882 | 4.52 tonnes per person | +9.5% |
| 1883 | 4.77 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1884 | 4.92 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1885 | 4.89 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1886 | 5.05 tonnes per person | +3.3% |
| 1887 | 5.29 tonnes per person | +4.6% |
| 1888 | 6.29 tonnes per person | +18.9% |
| 1889 | 5.52 tonnes per person | -12.1% |
| 1890 | 6.48 tonnes per person | +17.3% |
| 1891 | 6.76 tonnes per person | +4.3% |
| 1892 | 6.99 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1893 | 6.91 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1894 | 6.35 tonnes per person | -8.1% |
| 1895 | 7.04 tonnes per person | +10.8% |
| 1896 | 6.93 tonnes per person | -1.6% |
| 1897 | 7.08 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1898 | 7.58 tonnes per person | +7.0% |
| 1899 | 8.53 tonnes per person | +12.6% |
| 1900 | 8.88 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1901 | 9.48 tonnes per person | +6.9% |
| 1902 | 9.87 tonnes per person | +4.0% |
| 1903 | 11.33 tonnes per person | +14.8% |
| 1904 | 10.96 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 1905 | 12.04 tonnes per person | +9.8% |
| 1906 | 12.41 tonnes per person | +3.1% |
| 1907 | 14.14 tonnes per person | +14.0% |
| 1908 | 12.14 tonnes per person | -14.1% |
| 1909 | 13.22 tonnes per person | +8.8% |
| 1910 | 14.18 tonnes per person | +7.3% |
| 1911 | 13.82 tonnes per person | -2.5% |
| 1912 | 14.54 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 1913 | 15.4 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1914 | 13.88 tonnes per person | -9.9% |
| 1915 | 14.2 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 1916 | 15.55 tonnes per person | +9.5% |
| 1917 | 16.87 tonnes per person | +8.5% |
| 1918 | 17.37 tonnes per person | +3.0% |
| 1919 | 14.51 tonnes per person | -16.5% |
| 1920 | 16.82 tonnes per person | +15.9% |
| 1921 | 13.59 tonnes per person | -19.2% |
| 1922 | 13.52 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1923 | 17.59 tonnes per person | +30.1% |
| 1924 | 15.54 tonnes per person | -11.6% |
| 1925 | 15.74 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 16.81 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 1927 | 16.19 tonnes per person | -3.7% |
| 1928 | 15.69 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 1929 | 16.6 tonnes per person | +5.9% |
| 1930 | 14.59 tonnes per person | -12.1% |
| 1931 | 12.29 tonnes per person | -15.7% |
| 1932 | 10.32 tonnes per person | -16.0% |
| 1933 | 10.99 tonnes per person | +6.5% |
| 1934 | 11.62 tonnes per person | +5.7% |
| 1935 | 11.99 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1936 | 13.67 tonnes per person | +14.0% |
| 1937 | 14.2 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 1938 | 11.93 tonnes per person | -16.0% |
| 1939 | 13.04 tonnes per person | +9.3% |
| 1940 | 14.49 tonnes per person | +11.1% |
| 1941 | 15.62 tonnes per person | +7.8% |
| 1942 | 16.59 tonnes per person | +6.2% |
| 1943 | 16.91 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 17.95 tonnes per person | +6.1% |
| 1945 | 17.08 tonnes per person | -4.8% |
| 1946 | 16.12 tonnes per person | -5.6% |
| 1947 | 17.51 tonnes per person | +8.6% |
| 1948 | 17.94 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 1949 | 14.82 tonnes per person | -17.4% |
| 1950 | 16.48 tonnes per person | +11.2% |
| 1951 | 16.73 tonnes per person | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 16.07 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 1953 | 16.21 tonnes per person | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 15.21 tonnes per person | -6.2% |
| 1955 | 16.42 tonnes per person | +7.9% |
| 1956 | 16.94 tonnes per person | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 16.54 tonnes per person | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 15.77 tonnes per person | -4.6% |
| 1959 | 15.99 tonnes per person | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 16.07 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 15.73 tonnes per person | -2.1% |
| 1962 | 16.03 tonnes per person | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 16.47 tonnes per person | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 16.93 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 17.38 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 18.01 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 18.46 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 18.92 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 19.65 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 20.88 tonnes per person | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 20.75 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 21.49 tonnes per person | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 22.22 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 21.23 tonnes per person | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 20.15 tonnes per person | -5.1% |
| 1976 | 20.9 tonnes per person | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 21.27 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 21.73 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 21.57 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 20.58 tonnes per person | -4.6% |
| 1981 | 19.57 tonnes per person | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 18.38 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1983 | 18.34 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 18.71 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 18.6 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 18.44 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 19.06 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 19.72 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 19.79 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 20.25 tonnes per person | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 19.79 tonnes per person | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 19.95 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 20.1 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 20.2 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 20.23 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 20.68 tonnes per person | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 20.75 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 20.77 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 20.81 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 21.4 tonnes per person | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 20.77 tonnes per person | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 20.72 tonnes per person | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 20.72 tonnes per person | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 20.87 tonnes per person | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 20.72 tonnes per person | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 20.24 tonnes per person | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 20.28 tonnes per person | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 19.41 tonnes per person | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 17.81 tonnes per person | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 18.23 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 17.63 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 16.81 tonnes per person | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 17.1 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 17.12 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 16.46 tonnes per person | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 15.93 tonnes per person | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 15.64 tonnes per person | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 16 tonnes per person | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 15.5 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 13.82 tonnes per person | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 14.76 tonnes per person | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 14.8 tonnes per person | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 14.32 tonnes per person | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 14.2 tonnes per person | -0.9% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 14.2 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.14 tonnes per person, 2.3× the median. (74 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 0.05 tonnes per person | 0.0421 tonnes per person | 0.0567 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.07 tonnes per person | 0.0572 tonnes per person | 0.0833 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.1011 tonnes per person | 0.0794 tonnes per person | 0.1394 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.2559 tonnes per person | 0.1577 tonnes per person | 0.3301 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.5342 tonnes per person | 0.3359 tonnes per person | 0.7957 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.24 tonnes per person | 0.8387 tonnes per person | 1.47 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.74 tonnes per person | 1.41 tonnes per person | 2.4 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.01 tonnes per person | 2.47 tonnes per person | 3.6 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 4.94 tonnes per person | 3.99 tonnes per person | 6.29 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.07 tonnes per person | 6.35 tonnes per person | 8.53 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 11.45 tonnes per person | 8.88 tonnes per person | 14.14 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 15.03 tonnes per person | 13.82 tonnes per person | 17.37 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 15.81 tonnes per person | 13.52 tonnes per person | 17.59 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 12.46 tonnes per person | 10.32 tonnes per person | 14.59 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 16.5 tonnes per person | 14.49 tonnes per person | 17.95 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 16.24 tonnes per person | 15.21 tonnes per person | 16.94 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.37 tonnes per person | 15.73 tonnes per person | 19.65 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 21.22 tonnes per person | 20.15 tonnes per person | 22.22 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.12 tonnes per person | 18.34 tonnes per person | 20.58 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.35 tonnes per person | 19.79 tonnes per person | 20.81 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.29 tonnes per person | 17.81 tonnes per person | 21.4 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.64 tonnes per person | 15.5 tonnes per person | 18.23 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.38 tonnes per person | 13.82 tonnes per person | 14.8 tonnes per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 9 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 16.55 tonnes per person compare
- 10 Oman 15.65 tonnes per person compare
- 11 Australia 14.48 tonnes per person compare
- 13 Kazakhstan 13.94 tonnes per person compare
- 14 Canada 13.42 tonnes per person compare
- 15 Faroe Islands 13.09 tonnes per person compare
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States?
- Per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States was 14.2 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 22.22 tonnes per person in 1973.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0421 tonnes per person in 1800.
- How does United States rank for per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average?
- United States ranks 12th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions relative to the global average rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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 — 225 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.