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.

Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States

Name: Per capita CO₂ emissions relative to the global average in United States
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)

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.

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

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More climate change data for United States

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.1% (2100)
Population growth 0.5% (2025)
Population, total 341.79 million (2025)
Urban population growth 0.6% (2025)
Urban population 274.08 million (2025)
Urban population 80.2% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 434.87 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for United States →

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

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.