Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands
Cook Islands: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
up 7.5%
World rank
70th
of 199 countries
All-time high
6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2024
All-time low
0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1850
Years of data
85
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands, 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
Cook Islands recorded 6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person for per capita greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 85 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands peaked at 6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1850.
Cook Islands ranks 70th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1900 | 0.7343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +204.8% |
| 1902 | 0.823 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.1% |
| 1906 | 0.8305 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 0.8558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1916 | 0.9035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1921 | 0.9036 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.9234 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1936 | 0.9418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1945 | 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.1% |
| 1950 | 1.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.4% |
| 1951 | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 1.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 1.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1957 | 1.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 1.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 1.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1962 | 1.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1963 | 1.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1964 | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.5% |
| 1965 | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.4% |
| 1966 | 1.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -19.9% |
| 1967 | 1.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 0.9787 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 1.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +50.1% |
| 1970 | 1.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.0% |
| 1971 | 1.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.4% |
| 1973 | 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 1.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.9% |
| 1975 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +18.1% |
| 1976 | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +29.6% |
| 1977 | 2.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +38.4% |
| 1978 | 2.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 2.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.8% |
| 1980 | 2.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 4.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +73.4% |
| 1982 | 4.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -17.2% |
| 1983 | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -42.2% |
| 1985 | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 2.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 2.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 3.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +43.2% |
| 1991 | 3.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 3.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 3.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 4.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +15.0% |
| 1997 | 4.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 4.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 4.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 4.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 4.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.3% |
| 2003 | 3.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 4.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.7% |
| 2006 | 5.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 4.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 4.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 4.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 4.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 4.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 5.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 4.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 4.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 5.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 5.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 5.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 4.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -14.9% |
| 2021 | 5.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 5.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 5.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | +204.8% | 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1981 | +73.4% | 2.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1969 | +50.1% | 0.9787 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1984 | -42.2% | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1990 | +43.2% | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1977 | +38.4% | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.7959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8305 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3 |
| 1910s | 0.8796 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.9135 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9036 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9234 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.9418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9787 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cook Islands
- 67 Indonesia 6.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 68 Congo 6.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 69 Andorra 6.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 71 Thailand 6.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 72 Serbia 6.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 73 Saint Kitts and Nevis 6.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for Cook Islands
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 25,902 kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 35.8 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5.43 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 30.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.0205 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.1325 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.1325 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0005 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.1325 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Cook Islands was 6.42 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 Cook Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 6.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Cook Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2409 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850.
- How does Cook Islands rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Cook Islands ranks 70th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Cook Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cook Islands 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 — 85 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.