Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China
China: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector was 44.41 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China is 44.41 kilograms per person, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 20.7% on the previous year and up 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China peaked at 49 kilograms per person in 2019 and was at its lowest, 4.93 kilograms per person, in 1990.
That places China 114th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.3 kilograms per person | 4.93 kilograms per person | 10.18 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.96 kilograms per person | 10.96 kilograms per person | 26.97 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.84 kilograms per person | 32.42 kilograms per person | 49 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.09 kilograms per person | 36.78 kilograms per person | 44.41 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 6.2% (2100)
- Population growth -0.2% (2025)
- Population, total 1.41 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Urban population 933.17 million (2025)
- Urban population 66.3% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 285.09 billion tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 8.66 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China was 44.41 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 49 kilograms per person in 2019.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.93 kilograms per person in 1990.
- How does China rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- China ranks 114th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide-equivalents per person.