Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in United States
United States: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 5.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
2nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
6.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2007
All-time low
76.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in United States, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in United States is 5.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in United States peaked at 6.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2007 and was at its lowest, 76.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
United States ranks 2nd of 198 countries on this measure, 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 United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 76.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 83.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1852 | 86.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1853 | 91.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1854 | 96.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1855 | 102.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1856 | 106.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1857 | 108.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1858 | 110.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 115.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1860 | 118.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1861 | 117.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1862 | 120.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1863 | 128.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1864 | 133.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1865 | 134.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 135.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1867 | 151.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.6% |
| 1868 | 162.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1869 | 175.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1870 | 181.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1871 | 187.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 213.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.0% |
| 1873 | 228.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1874 | 222.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1875 | 225.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 222.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1877 | 238.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1878 | 235.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1879 | 270.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.0% |
| 1880 | 296.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1881 | 309.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1882 | 336.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1883 | 357.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1884 | 371.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1885 | 376.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1886 | 392.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1887 | 414.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1888 | 487.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.7% |
| 1889 | 444.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 1890 | 518.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.6% |
| 1891 | 547.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1892 | 572.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1893 | 576.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1894 | 543.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1895 | 604.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.2% |
| 1896 | 604.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 626.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1898 | 675.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1899 | 764.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1900 | 805.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1901 | 870.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1902 | 918.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1903 | 1.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1904 | 1.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1905 | 1.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.1% |
| 1906 | 1.22 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1907 | 1.41 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.3% |
| 1908 | 1.24 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.9% |
| 1909 | 1.37 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1910 | 1.49 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1911 | 1.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1912 | 1.57 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1913 | 1.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1914 | 1.54 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.2% |
| 1915 | 1.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1916 | 1.76 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.5% |
| 1917 | 1.93 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1918 | 2.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 1.72 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.8% |
| 1920 | 2.00 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.8% |
| 1921 | 1.66 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.4% |
| 1922 | 1.67 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1923 | 2.18 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.7% |
| 1924 | 1.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 1925 | 2.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 2.18 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1927 | 2.13 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1928 | 2.09 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1929 | 2.24 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1930 | 2.00 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.8% |
| 1931 | 1.71 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.4% |
| 1932 | 1.46 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.7% |
| 1933 | 1.56 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1934 | 1.66 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1935 | 1.72 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1936 | 1.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 1937 | 2.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1938 | 1.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.9% |
| 1939 | 1.91 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1940 | 2.14 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 1941 | 2.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1942 | 2.51 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1943 | 2.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1944 | 2.79 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1945 | 2.70 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1946 | 2.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1947 | 2.85 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1948 | 2.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1949 | 2.51 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.3% |
| 1950 | 2.92 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.6% |
| 1951 | 3.02 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1952 | 2.95 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1953 | 3.03 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 2.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1955 | 3.18 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1956 | 3.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 3.32 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1958 | 3.24 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1959 | 3.34 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 3.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1961 | 3.44 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 3.57 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 3.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1964 | 3.91 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 4.07 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1966 | 4.28 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1967 | 4.45 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 4.62 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 4.85 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 5.14 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1971 | 5.16 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 5.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 5.60 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1974 | 5.41 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 5.20 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1976 | 5.42 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 5.54 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 5.69 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 5.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 5.54 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1981 | 5.34 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 5.10 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 5.12 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 5.26 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 5.27 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 5.27 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 5.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 5.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 5.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 5.89 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 5.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 5.93 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 6.03 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 6.12 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 6.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 6.34 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 6.41 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 6.45 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 6.51 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 6.72 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 6.58 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 6.60 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 6.66 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 6.77 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 6.79 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 6.72 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 6.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 6.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 6.14 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 6.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 6.19 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 5.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 6.11 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 6.18 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 6.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 5.85 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 5.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 6.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 5.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 5.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 5.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 2022 | 5.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 5.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 5.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 5.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 142.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 97.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 76.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 115.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 137.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 117.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 175.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 222.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 181.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 270.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 378.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 296.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 487.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 603.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 518.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 764.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.11 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 805.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.41 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.66 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.24 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.78 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.46 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.60 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.14 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.12 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.34 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.04 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.85 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.14 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.38 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.10 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.51 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.64 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.14 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.03 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.58 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in United States?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in United States was 5.59 billion 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 6.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2007.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does United States rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.