Greenhouse gas emissions in Australia
Australia: Greenhouse gas emissions was 609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
16th
of 199 countries
All-time high
908.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2010
All-time low
43.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, 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 greenhouse gas emissions in Australia is 609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Australia peaked at 908.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2010 and was at its lowest, 43.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Australia 16th 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.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 43.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 43.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1852 | 44.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1853 | 46.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1854 | 46.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1855 | 47.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1856 | 48.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1857 | 48.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1858 | 50.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1859 | 51.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1860 | 53.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1861 | 54.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1862 | 56.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1863 | 57.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1864 | 58.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1865 | 61.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1866 | 63.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1867 | 64.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1868 | 66.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1869 | 67.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 71.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1871 | 76.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1872 | 78.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1873 | 80.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1874 | 83.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1875 | 84.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1876 | 88.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1877 | 90.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1878 | 90.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 92.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1880 | 92.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1881 | 93.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1882 | 93.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1883 | 95.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1884 | 97.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1885 | 97.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1886 | 97.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 99.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1888 | 101.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1889 | 102.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1890 | 110.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1891 | 113.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 114.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 115.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1894 | 116.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1895 | 118.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 118.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1897 | 122.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1898 | 123.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1899 | 124.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1900 | 126.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1901 | 129.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1902 | 128.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1903 | 131.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 133.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1905 | 133.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1906 | 139.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1907 | 143.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1908 | 144.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1909 | 142.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 147.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1911 | 147.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1912 | 151.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1913 | 153.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1914 | 155.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 153.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1916 | 151.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1917 | 152.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 154.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1919 | 152.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1920 | 190.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.6% |
| 1921 | 200.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1922 | 209.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1923 | 213.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 220.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1925 | 225.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 227.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1927 | 231.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 230.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1929 | 228.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1930 | 198.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.9% |
| 1931 | 179.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.7% |
| 1932 | 174.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1933 | 172.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1934 | 169.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1935 | 170.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1936 | 170.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1937 | 171.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1938 | 170.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1939 | 174.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 172.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1941 | 180.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1942 | 188.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1943 | 186.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1944 | 188.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1945 | 192.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1946 | 197.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1947 | 204.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1948 | 210.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1949 | 214.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1950 | 256.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.9% |
| 1951 | 277.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1952 | 289.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1953 | 299.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1954 | 312.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 326.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1956 | 338.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 346.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 357.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 367.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 358.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 382.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 351.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1963 | 390.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.9% |
| 1964 | 423.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 1965 | 461.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 1966 | 431.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.5% |
| 1967 | 572.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.6% |
| 1968 | 452.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.0% |
| 1969 | 414.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 1970 | 379.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 1971 | 398.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1972 | 397.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 401.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 391.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 458.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.1% |
| 1976 | 484.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 554.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.5% |
| 1978 | 505.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 524.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 533.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 529.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 523.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 574.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 518.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.8% |
| 1985 | 541.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 476.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.0% |
| 1987 | 447.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 453.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 478.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 538.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 522.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 568.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 580.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 554.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 672.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.4% |
| 1996 | 677.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 649.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 705.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1999 | 710.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 771.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 736.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 700.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 734.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 761.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 637.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.3% |
| 2006 | 662.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 697.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 797.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.3% |
| 2009 | 709.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.0% |
| 2010 | 908.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.0% |
| 2011 | 868.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 796.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 693.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.9% |
| 2014 | 671.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 637.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 677.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 716.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 681.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 645.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 637.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 625.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 609.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 611.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 12.8× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 609.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 10.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +32.6% | 431.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 572.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2010 | +28.0% | 709.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 908.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 47.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 60.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 53.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 83.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 71.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 92.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 97.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 92.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 102.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 117.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 110.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 124.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 135.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 126.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 144.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 152.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 147.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 155.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 217.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 190.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 231.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 175.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 169.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 198.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 193.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 172.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 214.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 317.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 256.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 367.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 423.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 351.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 572.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 449.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 379.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 554.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 507.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 447.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 574.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 618.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 522.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 710.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 720.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 637.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 797.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 729.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 637.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 908.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 618.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 609.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 637.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 13 Germany 659.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 14 Mexico 635.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 15 South Korea 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 17 Vietnam 583.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 18 South Africa 542.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 19 Pakistan 473.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Australia?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Australia was 609.92 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 greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 908.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2010.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Australia rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Australia ranks 16th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Greenhouse gas 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.