Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea
South Korea: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
11th
of 198 countries
All-time high
700.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2018
All-time low
6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea stood at 621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea peaked at 700.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018 and was at its lowest, 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places South Korea 11th out of 198 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.
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 6.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 6.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 6.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 6.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 6.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 6.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 6.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 6.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 6.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 6.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 6.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 6.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 6.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 6.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 6.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 6.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 6.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 6.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 6.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 6.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 6.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 6.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 6.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 6.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 6.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 6.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 6.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 6.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 6.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 6.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 6.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 6.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 6.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 6.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 6.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1892 | 6.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 6.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1894 | 6.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1895 | 6.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1896 | 6.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 6.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1898 | 6.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1899 | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 6.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1901 | 6.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1902 | 6.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1903 | 6.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1904 | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1905 | 6.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1906 | 6.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1907 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1908 | 6.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1909 | 6.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1910 | 6.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1911 | 7.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1912 | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1913 | 7.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1914 | 7.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 7.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1917 | 7.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1918 | 7.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1919 | 8.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1920 | 8.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1921 | 8.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1922 | 8.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1923 | 8.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 8.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1925 | 9.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1926 | 9.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1927 | 9.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1928 | 9.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1929 | 9.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 9.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 10.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1932 | 10.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 10.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 10.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1935 | 10.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1936 | 11.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1937 | 11.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1938 | 11.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1939 | 11.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1940 | 12.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1941 | 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1942 | 13.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1943 | 13.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1944 | 13.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 13.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1946 | 14.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1947 | 14.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1948 | 15.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1949 | 15.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1950 | 12.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.5% |
| 1951 | 13.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1952 | 13.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 14.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1954 | 15.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 16.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.5% |
| 1956 | 17.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1957 | 18.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 19.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1959 | 21.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.2% |
| 1960 | 23.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1961 | 25.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1962 | 28.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.3% |
| 1963 | 33.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.1% |
| 1964 | 34.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 37.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1966 | 42.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.7% |
| 1967 | 47.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.2% |
| 1968 | 48.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 52.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1970 | 66.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.1% |
| 1971 | 71.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 73.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 87.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.4% |
| 1974 | 91.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 98.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 109.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.5% |
| 1977 | 123.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.3% |
| 1978 | 131.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 152.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1980 | 154.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 161.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 162.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 171.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 184.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 193.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 202.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 212.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 238.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 1989 | 250.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 277.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.9% |
| 1991 | 305.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 329.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 1993 | 356.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 382.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 410.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 450.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1997 | 478.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 407.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.7% |
| 1999 | 440.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 471.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 487.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 502.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 511.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 518.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 525.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 530.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 548.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 556.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 561.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 619.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 649.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 654.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 661.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 656.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 661.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 666.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 684.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 700.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 676.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 629.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 651.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 642.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 624.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 15.9× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 28.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 22.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +25.1% | 52.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 66.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 6.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 6.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 7.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 10.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 13.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 16.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 37.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 52.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 100.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 66.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 152.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 193.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 154.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 250.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 383.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 277.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 478.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 521.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 471.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 561.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 662.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 619.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 700.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 633.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 621.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 651.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 8 Saudi Arabia 806.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 9 Brazil 681.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 10 Canada 632.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 12 Turkey 609.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 13 Germany 608.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 14 Mexico 551.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
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 total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in South Korea was 621.36 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 700.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does South Korea rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- South Korea ranks 11th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.