Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions was 583.68 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
583.68 million tonnes
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
9th
of 215 countries
All-time high
670.17 million tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
771 tonnes
in 1905
Years of data
116
1905–2024
Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in South Korea, 1905–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in South Korea is 583.68 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in South Korea peaked at 670.17 million tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 771 tonnes, in 1905.
South Korea ranks 9th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 771 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 8,292 tonnes | +975.5% |
| 1910 | 10,413 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1911 | 12,342 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1912 | 15,427 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1913 | 17,934 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1914 | 25,648 tonnes | +43.0% |
| 1915 | 32,012 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1916 | 26,612 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1918 | 26,227 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1919 | 31,048 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1920 | 40,304 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1921 | 43,389 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1922 | 44,354 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 53,032 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1924 | 55,731 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1925 | 88,900 tonnes | +59.5% |
| 1926 | 95,457 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1927 | 98,928 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1928 | 113,970 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1929 | 130,940 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1930 | 123,419 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1931 | 130,747 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1932 | 154,081 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1933 | 181,657 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1934 | 241,584 tonnes | +33.0% |
| 1935 | 284,151 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1936 | 333,496 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1937 | 356,810 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1938 | 477,477 tonnes | +33.8% |
| 1939 | 623,204 tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1940 | 801,645 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1941 | 893,930 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1942 | 986,907 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1943 | 956,392 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1944 | 1.01 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1945 | 3,634 tonnes | -99.6% |
| 1946 | 487,282 tonnes | +13309.0% |
| 1947 | 897,620 tonnes | +84.2% |
| 1948 | 1.67 million tonnes | +86.1% |
| 1949 | 2.18 million tonnes | +30.3% |
| 1950 | 2.18 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1951 | 2.92 million tonnes | +33.9% |
| 1952 | 3.46 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1953 | 4.69 million tonnes | +35.6% |
| 1954 | 5.16 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1955 | 6.44 million tonnes | +24.9% |
| 1956 | 7.55 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1957 | 8.21 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1958 | 9.01 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1959 | 11.22 million tonnes | +24.6% |
| 1960 | 12.54 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1961 | 14.45 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1962 | 17.26 million tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1963 | 21.08 million tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1964 | 22.20 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 24.98 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 29.98 million tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1967 | 35.11 million tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1968 | 37.20 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1969 | 42.47 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1970 | 53.72 million tonnes | +26.5% |
| 1971 | 58.53 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1972 | 60.25 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 72.97 million tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1974 | 75.55 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 81.67 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 93.10 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1977 | 105.46 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1978 | 113.12 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1979 | 132.87 million tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1980 | 134.52 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 139.59 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 140.78 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 149.13 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 160.70 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 168.76 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 176.30 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 185.36 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 210.95 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1989 | 223.51 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 250.51 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1991 | 275.69 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 299.90 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 330.17 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1994 | 355.69 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 383.67 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 421.00 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1997 | 444.97 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 378.04 million tonnes | -15.0% |
| 1999 | 410.52 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 439.98 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 455.63 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 476.06 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 485.21 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 491.39 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 498.69 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 503.48 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 521.71 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 532.65 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 537.82 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 594.34 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 623.44 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 627.94 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 634.58 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 629.37 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 634.18 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 637.91 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 654.54 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 670.17 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 646.10 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 597.63 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 616.08 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 606.88 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 589.18 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 583.68 million tonnes | -0.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 583.68 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.70 million tonnes, 19.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 583.68 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.97 million tonnes, 34.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +13309.0% | 3,634 tonnes | 487,282 tonnes |
| 1909 | +975.5% | 771 tonnes | 8,292 tonnes |
| 1945 | -99.6% | 1.01 million tonnes | 3,634 tonnes |
| 1948 | +86.1% | 897,620 tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes |
| 1947 | +84.2% | 487,282 tonnes | 897,620 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 4,532 tonnes | 771 tonnes | 8,292 tonnes | 2 |
| 1910s | 21,963 tonnes | 10,413 tonnes | 32,012 tonnes | 9 |
| 1920s | 76,500 tonnes | 40,304 tonnes | 130,940 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 290,663 tonnes | 123,419 tonnes | 623,204 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 988,493 tonnes | 3,634 tonnes | 2.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.09 million tonnes | 2.18 million tonnes | 11.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.73 million tonnes | 12.54 million tonnes | 42.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 84.72 million tonnes | 53.72 million tonnes | 132.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 168.96 million tonnes | 134.52 million tonnes | 223.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 355.02 million tonnes | 250.51 million tonnes | 444.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 494.26 million tonnes | 439.98 million tonnes | 537.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 635.26 million tonnes | 594.34 million tonnes | 670.17 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 598.69 million tonnes | 583.68 million tonnes | 616.08 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in South Korea?
- Territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in South Korea was 583.68 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 670.17 million tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 771 tonnes in 1905.
- How does South Korea rank for territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions?
- South Korea ranks 9th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 116 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.