Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Australia
Australia: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
10th
of 198 countries
All-time high
22.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2007
All-time low
1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1858
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Australia, 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
Australia recorded 17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person for per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Australia peaked at 22.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1858.
Australia ranks 10th of 198 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 greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 1.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1852 | 1.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1853 | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1854 | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1856 | 1.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1857 | 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1858 | 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 1859 | 1.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1860 | 1.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1861 | 1.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1862 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.9% |
| 1863 | 1.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 1864 | 1.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.7% |
| 1865 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1866 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.6% |
| 1867 | 1.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1868 | 2.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.7% |
| 1869 | 1.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1870 | 1.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1871 | 1.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1872 | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.7% |
| 1873 | 2.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.0% |
| 1874 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1875 | 2.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1876 | 2.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1877 | 2.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.6% |
| 1878 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1879 | 2.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1880 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1881 | 2.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1882 | 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.3% |
| 1883 | 2.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.9% |
| 1884 | 3.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1885 | 3.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1886 | 3.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1887 | 3.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 3.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.5% |
| 1889 | 3.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.0% |
| 1890 | 3.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.5% |
| 1891 | 3.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.5% |
| 1892 | 3.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1893 | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.3% |
| 1894 | 3.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.1% |
| 1895 | 3.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1897 | 3.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.9% |
| 1898 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.6% |
| 1899 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 4.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +17.5% |
| 1901 | 4.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.2% |
| 1902 | 4.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1903 | 4.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 1904 | 4.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1905 | 4.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1906 | 5.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.0% |
| 1907 | 5.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1908 | 5.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.7% |
| 1909 | 5.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.4% |
| 1910 | 6.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +16.0% |
| 1911 | 6.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.1% |
| 1912 | 6.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1913 | 7.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.7% |
| 1914 | 7.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.1% |
| 1915 | 6.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -11.1% |
| 1916 | 5.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -11.2% |
| 1917 | 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.5% |
| 1918 | 6.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.3% |
| 1919 | 6.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.2% |
| 1920 | 7.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.9% |
| 1921 | 6.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.1% |
| 1922 | 6.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1923 | 6.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1924 | 6.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 1925 | 7.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 7.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1927 | 7.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1928 | 6.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.5% |
| 1929 | 6.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.3% |
| 1930 | 5.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.0% |
| 1931 | 5.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -11.8% |
| 1932 | 5.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1933 | 5.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1934 | 5.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1935 | 6.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.3% |
| 1936 | 6.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.7% |
| 1937 | 6.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1938 | 6.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1939 | 7.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.5% |
| 1940 | 6.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.6% |
| 1941 | 7.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.3% |
| 1942 | 8.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.0% |
| 1943 | 7.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1944 | 7.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 1945 | 7.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.1% |
| 1946 | 7.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.6% |
| 1947 | 8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1948 | 8.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1949 | 8.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1950 | 9.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.2% |
| 1951 | 9.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1952 | 9.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 9.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1954 | 10.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1955 | 10.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 10.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 10.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1958 | 10.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 11.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 11.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 11.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1962 | 11.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 11.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1964 | 12.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 13.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.6% |
| 1966 | 13.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1967 | 13.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 14.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 14.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 14.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 14.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 14.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 16.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 15.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1975 | 15.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 15.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1977 | 15.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 16.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 16.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 16.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 17.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 17.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 16.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 17.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 17.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 17.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 17.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 18.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 19.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 19.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 19.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 19.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 19.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 20.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 20.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 20.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 21.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 21.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 21.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 22.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 22.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 22.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 22.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 22.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 22.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 22.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 22.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 22.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 21.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 21.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 21.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 20.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 19.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 20.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 20.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 19.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 19.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 19.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 18.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 17.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 17.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 17.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 2.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 4.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 2.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 6.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 6.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 7.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 8.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 10.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 14.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 14.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 16.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 16.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 18.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 19.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 21.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 21.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 22.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 19.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 21.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 17.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 18.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 7 United Arab Emirates 23.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 8 Oman 21.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 9 Mongolia 19.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 11 Palau 16.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 12 United States 16.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 13 Canada 15.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Australia?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Australia was 17.05 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, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 22.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2007.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1858.
- How does Australia rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- Australia ranks 10th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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, excluding land use and forestry. 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.