Greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Greenhouse gas emissions was 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
15th
of 199 countries
All-time high
709.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2018
All-time low
6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1895
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions 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, greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea stood at 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea peaked at 709.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018 and was at its lowest, 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1895.
That places South Korea 15th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 9.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 9.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1852 | 9.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1853 | 9.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1854 | 9.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1855 | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.9% |
| 1856 | 9.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.8% |
| 1857 | 8.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.8% |
| 1858 | 9.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 1859 | 9.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1860 | 8.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.0% |
| 1861 | 8.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1862 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1863 | 7.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.6% |
| 1864 | 9.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.2% |
| 1865 | 8.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 1866 | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1867 | 8.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1868 | 8.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 8.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1870 | 8.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1871 | 7.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1872 | 8.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1873 | 8.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1874 | 7.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1875 | 10.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.8% |
| 1876 | 8.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.2% |
| 1877 | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.3% |
| 1878 | 8.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1879 | 7.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1880 | 7.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1881 | 7.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1882 | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1883 | 7.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1884 | 6.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.6% |
| 1885 | 7.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.3% |
| 1886 | 7.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1887 | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1888 | 7.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1889 | 7.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.4% |
| 1891 | 8.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.3% |
| 1892 | 8.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1893 | 8.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1894 | 6.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -23.3% |
| 1895 | 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1896 | 7.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.5% |
| 1897 | 7.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 1898 | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1899 | 7.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1900 | 7.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1901 | 7.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1902 | 8.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.5% |
| 1903 | 7.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1904 | 10.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +35.2% |
| 1905 | 7.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -25.1% |
| 1906 | 7.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 1907 | 7.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1908 | 7.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1909 | 7.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1910 | 11.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +44.3% |
| 1911 | 9.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.2% |
| 1912 | 11.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.4% |
| 1913 | 13.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.1% |
| 1914 | 13.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1915 | 14.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1916 | 15.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1917 | 17.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1918 | 17.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1919 | 18.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1920 | 18.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1921 | 19.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1922 | 19.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1923 | 19.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1924 | 23.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.9% |
| 1925 | 21.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.4% |
| 1926 | 21.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1927 | 24.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.1% |
| 1928 | 22.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.6% |
| 1929 | 23.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1930 | 22.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.1% |
| 1931 | 18.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.7% |
| 1932 | 21.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.9% |
| 1933 | 19.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.9% |
| 1934 | 21.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.6% |
| 1935 | 21.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 21.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1937 | 21.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1938 | 22.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1939 | 23.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1940 | 23.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1941 | 25.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1942 | 26.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1943 | 27.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1944 | 28.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1945 | 29.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1946 | 30.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1947 | 30.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1948 | 30.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1949 | 34.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1950 | 29.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.0% |
| 1951 | 29.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1952 | 28.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1953 | 30.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1954 | 30.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 29.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 31.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1957 | 31.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 31.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1959 | 30.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1960 | 32.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 33.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1962 | 39.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.9% |
| 1963 | 52.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +34.9% |
| 1964 | 57.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1965 | 56.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1966 | 60.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 65.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1968 | 63.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1969 | 68.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1970 | 81.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.0% |
| 1971 | 84.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 88.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1973 | 103.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.2% |
| 1974 | 109.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1975 | 115.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1976 | 124.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1977 | 137.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.6% |
| 1978 | 146.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 168.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 169.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 175.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 175.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 185.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 198.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 208.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 217.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 225.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 251.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.5% |
| 1989 | 263.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 288.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1991 | 313.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1992 | 340.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1993 | 366.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 392.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 418.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1996 | 459.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1997 | 487.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 416.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.6% |
| 1999 | 451.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 480.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 494.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 509.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 518.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 526.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 533.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 537.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 556.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 564.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 570.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 627.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 661.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 661.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 667.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 665.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 671.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 674.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 691.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 709.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 683.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 636.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 657.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 651.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 632.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 13.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 10.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | +44.3% | 7.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 9.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 8.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 7.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 14.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 21.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 21.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 28.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 34.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 30.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 31.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 53.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 32.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 68.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 115.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 81.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 168.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 206.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 169.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 263.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 393.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 288.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 487.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 529.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 480.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 570.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 671.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 627.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 709.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 641.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 630.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 657.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 12 Turkey 680.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 13 Germany 659.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 14 Mexico 635.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 16 Australia 609.92 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
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 greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea was 630.57 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 709.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1895.
- How does South Korea rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- South Korea ranks 15th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. 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 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.