Per capita methane emissions in New Zealand
New Zealand: Per capita methane emissions was 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
6th
of 199 countries
All-time high
37.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1850
All-time low
6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2024
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita methane emissions in New Zealand, 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
The most recent figure for per capita methane emissions in New Zealand is 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita methane emissions in New Zealand peaked at 37.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850 and was at its lowest, 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 2024.
That places New Zealand 6th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita methane emissions in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 37.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 37.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1852 | 36.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1853 | 35.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1854 | 34.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1855 | 34.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1856 | 33.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1857 | 32.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1858 | 31.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1859 | 30.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1860 | 29.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1861 | 28.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 1862 | 26.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.4% |
| 1863 | 24.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.1% |
| 1864 | 23.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.1% |
| 1865 | 22.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.1% |
| 1866 | 20.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.1% |
| 1867 | 19.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.2% |
| 1868 | 18.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.2% |
| 1869 | 17.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
| 1870 | 16.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.3% |
| 1871 | 15.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1872 | 14.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.4% |
| 1873 | 14.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1874 | 13.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1875 | 13.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1876 | 12.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1877 | 11.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1878 | 11.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1879 | 11.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1880 | 10.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 1881 | 10.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1882 | 10.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1883 | 10.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1884 | 10.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1885 | 10.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1886 | 10.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1887 | 10.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1888 | 10.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1889 | 10.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1890 | 10.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1891 | 10.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1892 | 10.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1893 | 10.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1894 | 10.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 10.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1896 | 10.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 10.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1898 | 10.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 10.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1900 | 10.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1901 | 10.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1902 | 10.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1903 | 10.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1904 | 10.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1905 | 10.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1906 | 9.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1907 | 9.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1908 | 9.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1909 | 9.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1910 | 9.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1911 | 9.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1912 | 9.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1913 | 9.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1914 | 9.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 9.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1916 | 9.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1917 | 9.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1918 | 9.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1919 | 9.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1920 | 9.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1921 | 9.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 9.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1923 | 9.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1924 | 9.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1925 | 9.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1926 | 9.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1927 | 9.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1928 | 9.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1929 | 9.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 9.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1931 | 9.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1932 | 9.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 9.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 9.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 9.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 10.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1937 | 10.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1938 | 10.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1939 | 10.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 10.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1941 | 10.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1942 | 10.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1943 | 10.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1944 | 10.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1945 | 10.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1946 | 10.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1947 | 11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1948 | 11.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1949 | 11.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1950 | 11.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1951 | 11.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1952 | 11.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 11.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1954 | 11.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1955 | 11.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 11.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 11.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 11.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1959 | 11.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 11.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1961 | 11.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 11.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 11.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 11.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 11.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 11.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 12.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 12.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 12.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 12.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1971 | 11.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.8% |
| 1972 | 12.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 11.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 11.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 11.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1976 | 11.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 11.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 11.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 11.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 11.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 11.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 11.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 11.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 11.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 11.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 11.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 11.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 11.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 10.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 10.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 10.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 10.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 9.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 10.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 10.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 9.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 9.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 9.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 9.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 9.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 9.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 9.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 9.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 9.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 9.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 9.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 8.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 8.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 8.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 8.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 8.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 8.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 8.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 8.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 7.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 7.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 7.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 7.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 7.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 7.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 6.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 6.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 6.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 6.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 8.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 34.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 37.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 23.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 17.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 29.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 13.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 16.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 10.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 10.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 10.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 9.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 10.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 11.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 11.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 10 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 8.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 8.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 3 Kuwait 8.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 4 Qatar 7.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 5 Uruguay 7.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 7 Oman 6.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 8 Gabon 5.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 9 Australia 5.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita methane emissions in New Zealand?
- Per capita methane emissions in New Zealand was 6.64 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 methane emissions recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 37.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850.
- What is the lowest per capita methane emissions recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for per capita methane emissions?
- New Zealand ranks 6th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita methane emissions rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 methane emissions. 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
Measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.