Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North Korea
North Korea: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
52nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
236.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1989
All-time low
4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1952
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North Korea, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North Korea peaked at 236.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1989 and was at its lowest, 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1952.
North Korea ranks 52nd of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 8.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 8.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 8.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 8.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 8.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 8.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 8.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 8.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 8.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1873 | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1874 | 8.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 8.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1876 | 8.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 8.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1878 | 8.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 8.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 8.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 8.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1882 | 8.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1883 | 8.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1884 | 8.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1885 | 8.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1886 | 8.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1887 | 8.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1888 | 8.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1889 | 8.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1890 | 8.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1891 | 8.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1892 | 8.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1893 | 8.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1894 | 8.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1895 | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1896 | 8.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1897 | 8.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1898 | 8.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1899 | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1900 | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1901 | 8.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1902 | 8.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1903 | 8.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1904 | 8.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1905 | 8.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1906 | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1907 | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1908 | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1909 | 8.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 8.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 8.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1912 | 8.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1913 | 8.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1914 | 8.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1915 | 9.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1916 | 9.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1917 | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1918 | 9.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1919 | 9.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1920 | 9.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1921 | 9.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1922 | 9.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1923 | 10.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1924 | 10.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1925 | 11.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1926 | 11.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1927 | 11.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1928 | 11.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1929 | 12.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 12.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1931 | 12.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1932 | 13.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1933 | 13.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1934 | 14.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1935 | 15.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1936 | 16.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1937 | 17.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1938 | 19.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1939 | 22.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.0% |
| 1940 | 25.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.0% |
| 1941 | 26.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1942 | 26.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1943 | 25.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1944 | 26.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1945 | 7.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -71.3% |
| 1946 | 7.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1947 | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.7% |
| 1948 | 7.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 1949 | 7.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1950 | 5.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.3% |
| 1951 | 5.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1952 | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1953 | 5.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.7% |
| 1954 | 8.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +57.5% |
| 1955 | 11.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.0% |
| 1956 | 13.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.5% |
| 1957 | 16.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.3% |
| 1958 | 21.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.8% |
| 1959 | 25.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.4% |
| 1960 | 30.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.1% |
| 1961 | 33.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1962 | 38.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.3% |
| 1963 | 40.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 43.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1965 | 53.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.0% |
| 1966 | 57.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1967 | 62.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1968 | 70.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.2% |
| 1969 | 75.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 87.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.8% |
| 1971 | 122.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +39.0% |
| 1972 | 104.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.4% |
| 1973 | 112.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 117.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1975 | 123.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 126.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 131.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 128.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 132.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 137.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 138.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 142.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 151.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 162.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 173.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 185.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 203.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1988 | 227.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.6% |
| 1989 | 236.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 144.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -39.1% |
| 1991 | 138.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 122.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.5% |
| 1993 | 112.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 103.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 97.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 87.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.7% |
| 1997 | 84.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 77.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 83.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 89.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 92.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 89.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 90.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 93.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 97.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 99.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 84.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 92.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 2009 | 89.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 86.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 68.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.1% |
| 2012 | 67.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 56.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.4% |
| 2014 | 60.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 51.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.7% |
| 2016 | 56.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 2017 | 91.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +61.0% |
| 2018 | 81.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 89.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.4% |
| 2020 | 85.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 71.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.5% |
| 2022 | 73.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 79.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for low income countries, which is 10.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 7.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | -71.3% | 26.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2017 | +61.0% | 56.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 91.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1954 | +57.5% | 5.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1990 | -39.1% | 236.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 144.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1971 | +39.0% | 87.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 122.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1955 | +32.0% | 8.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 8.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 10.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 15.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 16.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 11.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 50.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 75.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 118.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 87.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 132.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 175.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 137.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 236.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 105.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 77.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 144.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 84.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 99.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 91.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 71.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 49 Czechia 88.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 50 Romania 85.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 51 Peru 83.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 53 Mongolia 67.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 54 Belarus 66.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 55 Bahrain 62.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for North Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.29 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.3103 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -2.22 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.2725 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.6419 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 27.14 % change on previous year (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9637 °C (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North Korea?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in North Korea was 78.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 236.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1989.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1952.
- How does North Korea rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- North Korea ranks 52nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry. 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.