Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada
Canada: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
11th
of 199 countries
All-time high
49.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1913
All-time low
20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2024
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
Canada recorded 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person for per capita greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 175 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada peaked at 49.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1913 and was at its lowest, 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 2024.
That places Canada 11th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 175 years of available data.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 29.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 29.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1852 | 29.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 29.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1854 | 30.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1855 | 31.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1856 | 29.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1857 | 29.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1858 | 29.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1859 | 30.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 31.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1861 | 31.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1862 | 31.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1863 | 32.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1864 | 32.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1865 | 32.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1866 | 33.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 33.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 32.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1869 | 33.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1870 | 32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 1871 | 31.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1872 | 31.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1873 | 30.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1874 | 30.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1875 | 30.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 30.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 30.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1878 | 30.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 30.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1880 | 31.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1881 | 30.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1882 | 31.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1883 | 32.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1884 | 31.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1885 | 31.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1886 | 31.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1887 | 31.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 32.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1889 | 32.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1890 | 30.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1891 | 30.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1892 | 29.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 1893 | 29.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1894 | 28.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1895 | 29.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1896 | 29.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 28.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1898 | 28.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1899 | 28.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 35.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +23.4% |
| 1901 | 38.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.6% |
| 1902 | 39.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1903 | 40.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1904 | 42.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1905 | 43.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1906 | 43.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1907 | 44.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1908 | 44.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1909 | 44.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1910 | 45.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1911 | 47.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 47.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1913 | 49.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1914 | 48.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1915 | 46.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 1916 | 48.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.3% |
| 1917 | 48.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1918 | 49.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1919 | 47.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1920 | 45.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.5% |
| 1921 | 43.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.5% |
| 1922 | 42.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1923 | 42.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1924 | 40.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1925 | 39.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1926 | 40.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 39.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1928 | 39.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1929 | 39.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1930 | 38.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1931 | 36.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1932 | 35.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 1933 | 34.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1934 | 35.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1935 | 34.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1936 | 35.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 35.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1938 | 34.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1939 | 35.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1940 | 34.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1941 | 34.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1942 | 35.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1943 | 34.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1944 | 34.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1945 | 33.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1946 | 33.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1947 | 33.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1948 | 33.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 32.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1950 | 36.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.4% |
| 1951 | 36.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 37.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 37.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1954 | 37.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1955 | 37.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 37.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 38.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 37.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 37.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 35.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.7% |
| 1961 | 33.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.5% |
| 1962 | 31.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1963 | 31.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1964 | 32.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 33.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 30.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.3% |
| 1967 | 31.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 30.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1969 | 32.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1970 | 32.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 32.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 31.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1973 | 31.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1974 | 32.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 31.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 32.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 31.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 31.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 32.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 32.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 31.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 29.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 28.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1984 | 30.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 1985 | 28.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
| 1986 | 28.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 29.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 29.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 29.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 28.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 27.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 28.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 28.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 28.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 29.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 30.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 29.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 29.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 29.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 31.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 30.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 29.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 29.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 29.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 28.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 27.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 27.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 26.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 23.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.7% |
| 2010 | 23.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 24.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 24.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 24.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 24.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 24.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 23.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 23.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 23.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 22.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 20.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 21.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 21.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 20.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 2.6× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 29.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 29.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 31.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 32.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 31.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 33.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 30.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 31.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 32.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 29.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 28.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 41.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 35.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 44.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 47.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 45.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 49.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 41.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 39.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 45.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 35.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 34.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 38.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 33.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 32.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 35.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 37.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 36.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 38.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 32.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 35.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 31.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 32.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 28.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 32.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 27.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 23.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 31.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 22.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 24.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 21.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 8 United Arab Emirates 23.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 9 Australia 22.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 10 Oman 22.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 12 Belize 19.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 13 Russia 18.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 14 Kazakhstan 18.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for Canada
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.27 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 44,359 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,631 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,728 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,240 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,823 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 406.39 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 63.48 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Canada was 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 49.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1913.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024.
- How does Canada rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Canada ranks 11th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita greenhouse gas emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.