Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector was 555.01 kilograms per person in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
555.01 kilograms per person
Change on year
up 12.1%
World rank
37th
of 191 countries
All-time high
749.51 kilograms per person
in 2008
All-time low
296.3 kilograms per person
in 2021
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom, 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
In 2023, per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom stood at 555.01 kilograms per person.
The figure is up 12.1% on the previous year and down 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom peaked at 749.51 kilograms per person in 2008 and was at its lowest, 296.3 kilograms per person, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom 37th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 473.96 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 448.96 kilograms per person | -5.3% |
| 1992 | 475.75 kilograms per person | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 492.9 kilograms per person | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 491.52 kilograms per person | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 517.24 kilograms per person | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 546.33 kilograms per person | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 578.64 kilograms per person | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 624.63 kilograms per person | +7.9% |
| 1999 | 616.94 kilograms per person | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 644.29 kilograms per person | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 639.76 kilograms per person | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 616.05 kilograms per person | -3.7% |
| 2003 | 617.18 kilograms per person | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 670.93 kilograms per person | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 705.66 kilograms per person | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 722.35 kilograms per person | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 716.49 kilograms per person | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 749.51 kilograms per person | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 703.61 kilograms per person | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 653.9 kilograms per person | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 685.57 kilograms per person | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 642.12 kilograms per person | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 636.28 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 632.54 kilograms per person | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 621.42 kilograms per person | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 624.04 kilograms per person | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 636.43 kilograms per person | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 646.27 kilograms per person | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 636.56 kilograms per person | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 306.6 kilograms per person | -51.8% |
| 2021 | 296.3 kilograms per person | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 495.02 kilograms per person | +67.1% |
| 2023 | 555.01 kilograms per person | +12.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 555.01 kilograms per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 559.34 kilograms per person, 99% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 555.01 kilograms per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 174.27 kilograms per person, 3.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +67.1% | 296.3 kilograms per person | 495.02 kilograms per person |
| 2020 | -51.8% | 636.56 kilograms per person | 306.6 kilograms per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 526.69 kilograms per person | 448.96 kilograms per person | 624.63 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 678.58 kilograms per person | 616.05 kilograms per person | 749.51 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 641.51 kilograms per person | 621.42 kilograms per person | 685.57 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 413.23 kilograms per person | 296.3 kilograms per person | 555.01 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 34 Maldives 608.36 kilograms per person compare
- 35 Switzerland 563.66 kilograms per person compare
- 36 Saint Lucia 557.75 kilograms per person compare
- 38 Finland 496.32 kilograms per person compare
- 39 Israel 480.75 kilograms per person compare
- 40 Cape Verde 478.62 kilograms per person compare
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector in United Kingdom was 555.01 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 749.51 kilograms per person in 2008.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 296.3 kilograms per person in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- United Kingdom ranks 37th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions by sector rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.