Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea
South Korea: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
19th
of 198 countries
All-time high
13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2018
All-time low
0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1950
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea, 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, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea stood at 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea peaked at 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1950.
South Korea ranks 19th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 0.6765 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 0.6771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 0.6776 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 0.678 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 0.6784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 0.6788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 0.6792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 0.6796 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 0.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 0.6803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 0.6807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 0.681 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 0.6814 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 0.6817 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.682 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.6824 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.6827 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.6831 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.6834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.6838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 0.6843 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 0.6845 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.6848 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 0.6853 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 0.6859 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 0.6866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 0.6872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 0.6879 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 0.6884 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 0.6889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 0.6893 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 0.6899 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 0.6905 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 0.6911 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 0.6917 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 0.6923 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 0.6929 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 0.6934 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 0.694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 0.6946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 0.6953 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 0.696 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1892 | 0.6966 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 0.6973 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1894 | 0.6979 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1895 | 0.6986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1896 | 0.6993 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 0.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1898 | 0.7007 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1899 | 0.7012 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 0.7015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 0.7023 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1902 | 0.703 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1903 | 0.7035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1904 | 0.704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 0.7046 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1906 | 0.7051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1907 | 0.7056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1908 | 0.7062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 0.7056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1910 | 0.7025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1911 | 0.7054 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1912 | 0.7064 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1913 | 0.7055 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1914 | 0.7086 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1915 | 0.7104 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1916 | 0.7119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1917 | 0.7114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1918 | 0.7155 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 0.7174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1920 | 0.7192 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1921 | 0.722 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 0.7246 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1923 | 0.7276 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 0.7302 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 0.7342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1926 | 0.7341 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.7338 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.7343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1929 | 0.7355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1930 | 0.7357 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.7389 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1932 | 0.7442 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1933 | 0.7502 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 0.7584 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1935 | 0.7652 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 0.7694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 0.7719 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1938 | 0.7809 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 0.7892 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1940 | 0.7967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1941 | 0.8054 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1942 | 0.8112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1943 | 0.8064 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1944 | 0.8066 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.7467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.4% |
| 1946 | 0.779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1947 | 0.7828 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1948 | 0.8013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1949 | 0.803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -21.0% |
| 1951 | 0.6623 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 1952 | 0.6701 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1953 | 0.7119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.2% |
| 1954 | 0.7084 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1955 | 0.7508 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 0.7788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 0.783 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 0.7899 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 0.8649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.5% |
| 1960 | 0.8967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 0.9533 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 1.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.6% |
| 1963 | 1.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.5% |
| 1964 | 1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 1.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.5% |
| 1967 | 1.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.8% |
| 1968 | 1.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 2.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +22.5% |
| 1971 | 2.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1972 | 2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 2.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +17.0% |
| 1974 | 2.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 2.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.0% |
| 1977 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 3.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 4.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 4.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 4.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 4.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 4.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 4.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 5.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 5.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.9% |
| 1989 | 5.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 6.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.5% |
| 1991 | 6.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.3% |
| 1992 | 7.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.2% |
| 1993 | 7.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.6% |
| 1994 | 8.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 9.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 9.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 10.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 8.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 9.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 10.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 10.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 10.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 10.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 10.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 10.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 11.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 11.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 11.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 11.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 12.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 13.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 13.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 13.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 12.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 12.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 13.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 13.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 12.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 12.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 12.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 12.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 1.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 3.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.6785 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6765 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.6822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.6864 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6843 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.692 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6893 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.6983 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6953 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7012 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.7041 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.7095 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.7296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7192 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.7604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7357 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7892 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.7939 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.7354 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 16 Turkmenistan 13.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 17 Libya 12.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 18 Taiwan 12.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 20 Luxembourg 10.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 21 Singapore 10.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 22 Iceland 10.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea was 12.01 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 13.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- South Korea ranks 19th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.
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About this data
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.