Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland
Switzerland: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
110th
of 199 countries
All-time high
9.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1973
All-time low
1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1945
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland, 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
In 2024, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland stood at 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland peaked at 9.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1973 and was at its lowest, 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1945.
Switzerland ranks 110th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 2.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1852 | 2.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 2.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1854 | 2.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1855 | 2.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1856 | 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1857 | 2.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1858 | 2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1859 | 2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1860 | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.0% |
| 1861 | 2.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 1862 | 2.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1863 | 2.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1864 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1865 | 2.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1866 | 2.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1867 | 2.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1868 | 2.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1869 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1870 | 2.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1871 | 2.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 2.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1873 | 2.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 2.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1875 | 2.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1876 | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 2.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1878 | 2.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1879 | 2.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1880 | 2.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.2% |
| 1881 | 2.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.3% |
| 1882 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1883 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1884 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1885 | 2.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1886 | 2.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 2.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1888 | 2.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 2.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1890 | 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.3% |
| 1891 | 2.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.5% |
| 1892 | 2.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 2.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.7% |
| 1894 | 2.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.5% |
| 1895 | 3.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.0% |
| 1896 | 3.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1897 | 3.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1898 | 3.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1899 | 3.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 3.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.8% |
| 1901 | 3.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.0% |
| 1902 | 3.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1903 | 3.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1904 | 3.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 3.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.1% |
| 1907 | 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.6% |
| 1908 | 4.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1909 | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1910 | 3.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.1% |
| 1911 | 4.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1912 | 3.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1913 | 4.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1914 | 3.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.3% |
| 1915 | 3.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1916 | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.1% |
| 1917 | 2.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -17.8% |
| 1918 | 2.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.4% |
| 1919 | 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -11.2% |
| 1920 | 3.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +24.4% |
| 1921 | 2.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -21.6% |
| 1922 | 2.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +15.2% |
| 1923 | 3.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.2% |
| 1924 | 3.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1925 | 3.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 3.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1927 | 3.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.9% |
| 1928 | 3.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.6% |
| 1930 | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.4% |
| 1931 | 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.0% |
| 1932 | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1933 | 3.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.7% |
| 1934 | 3.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1935 | 3.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1936 | 3.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1937 | 3.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1938 | 3.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1939 | 3.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.8% |
| 1940 | 3.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -19.9% |
| 1941 | 2.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.3% |
| 1942 | 2.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
| 1943 | 2.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1944 | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.4% |
| 1945 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -26.3% |
| 1946 | 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +56.1% |
| 1947 | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +31.7% |
| 1948 | 3.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1949 | 3.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.0% |
| 1950 | 3.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.1% |
| 1951 | 4.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.4% |
| 1952 | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.0% |
| 1953 | 3.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 1954 | 4.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +11.9% |
| 1955 | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1956 | 5.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +15.1% |
| 1957 | 5.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 5.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 1959 | 5.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 5.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.3% |
| 1961 | 5.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 6.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.4% |
| 1963 | 6.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.9% |
| 1964 | 6.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 6.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 7.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 7.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 7.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 1969 | 7.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1970 | 8.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 8.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 8.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 9.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 8.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.6% |
| 1975 | 7.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 8.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 8.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 8.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 8.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 8.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 7.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 7.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 8.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 7.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 7.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 8.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 7.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 7.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 7.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 8.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.6% |
| 1991 | 8.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 8.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 7.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.5% |
| 1994 | 7.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 7.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 7.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 7.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 7.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 7.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 7.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 7.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 7.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 7.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 7.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 7.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 7.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 6.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 6.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.4% |
| 2010 | 6.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 6.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 6.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 5.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.2% |
| 2015 | 5.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 5.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 5.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 5.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 5.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 4.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 5.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 4.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 58% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 73% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions 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 | +56.1% | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1947 | +31.7% | 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 3.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 8.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 8.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 107 Colombia 4.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 108 Panama 4.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 109 Zambia 4.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 111 North Macedonia 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 112 Peru 4.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 113 Cote d'Ivoire 4.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
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 greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland was 4.5 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 9.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1973.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1945.
- How does Switzerland rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Switzerland ranks 110th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.