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
Latest (2023)
44.41 kilograms per person
Change on year
up 20.7%
World rank
114th
of 191 countries
All-time high
49 kilograms per person
in 2019
All-time low
4.93 kilograms per person
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
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.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in China, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.93 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 6.26 kilograms per person | +26.9% |
| 1992 | 9.61 kilograms per person | +53.4% |
| 1993 | 8.27 kilograms per person | -13.9% |
| 1994 | 9.04 kilograms per person | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 9.24 kilograms per person | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 10.18 kilograms per person | +10.1% |
| 1997 | 8.23 kilograms per person | -19.1% |
| 1998 | 8.58 kilograms per person | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 8.69 kilograms per person | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 10.96 kilograms per person | +26.2% |
| 2001 | 12.25 kilograms per person | +11.7% |
| 2002 | 13.63 kilograms per person | +11.3% |
| 2003 | 13.27 kilograms per person | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 17.59 kilograms per person | +32.5% |
| 2005 | 20.31 kilograms per person | +15.5% |
| 2006 | 23.5 kilograms per person | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 25.91 kilograms per person | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 25.18 kilograms per person | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 26.97 kilograms per person | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 32.45 kilograms per person | +20.3% |
| 2011 | 34.83 kilograms per person | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 34.75 kilograms per person | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 32.68 kilograms per person | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 32.42 kilograms per person | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 38.43 kilograms per person | +18.5% |
| 2016 | 41 kilograms per person | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 43.94 kilograms per person | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 48.9 kilograms per person | +11.3% |
| 2019 | 49 kilograms per person | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 38.56 kilograms per person | -21.3% |
| 2021 | 40.59 kilograms per person | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 36.78 kilograms per person | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 44.41 kilograms per person | +20.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 44.41 kilograms per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.67 kilograms per person, 46% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 44.41 kilograms per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 72.17 kilograms per person, 62% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
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
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
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.
Download this data
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.