Greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Greenhouse gas emissions was 390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
23rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
858.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1971
All-time low
183.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1853
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom peaked at 858.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1971 and was at its lowest, 183.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1853.
United Kingdom ranks 23rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 195.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 186.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1852 | 184.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1853 | 183.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1854 | 212.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1855 | 200.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1856 | 209.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1857 | 206.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1858 | 202.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1859 | 218.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1860 | 244.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.0% |
| 1861 | 255.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1862 | 253.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1863 | 270.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1864 | 288.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1865 | 303.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1866 | 313.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1867 | 322.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1868 | 319.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1869 | 330.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1870 | 338.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1871 | 351.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1872 | 364.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1873 | 377.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1874 | 371.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1875 | 387.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1876 | 384.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1877 | 390.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1878 | 384.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1879 | 385.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 418.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 1881 | 431.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1882 | 437.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1883 | 453.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1884 | 442.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1885 | 436.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1886 | 433.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1887 | 444.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1888 | 459.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1889 | 471.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1890 | 483.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1891 | 491.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 481.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1893 | 440.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 1894 | 497.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.9% |
| 1895 | 500.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 511.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 523.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1898 | 524.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1899 | 556.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1900 | 567.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1901 | 555.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1902 | 572.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1903 | 575.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1904 | 580.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1905 | 589.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1906 | 606.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1907 | 628.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1908 | 615.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1909 | 620.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1910 | 624.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1911 | 640.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1912 | 606.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.4% |
| 1913 | 656.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1914 | 639.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1915 | 646.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 665.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1917 | 658.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1918 | 616.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1919 | 603.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1920 | 628.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1921 | 456.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -27.4% |
| 1922 | 580.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.2% |
| 1923 | 613.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1924 | 638.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1925 | 607.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1926 | 372.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -38.7% |
| 1927 | 630.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +69.1% |
| 1928 | 599.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1929 | 628.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1930 | 606.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1931 | 570.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1932 | 553.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1933 | 552.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1934 | 590.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1935 | 597.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1936 | 626.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1937 | 645.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1938 | 623.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1939 | 626.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1940 | 657.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1941 | 659.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1942 | 655.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1943 | 653.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1944 | 654.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1945 | 616.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1946 | 633.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1947 | 662.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1948 | 685.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1949 | 694.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1950 | 684.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1951 | 735.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1952 | 719.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1953 | 734.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 749.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1955 | 779.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1956 | 778.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1957 | 775.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1958 | 758.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1959 | 750.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1960 | 789.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 812.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 819.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 819.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 819.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 833.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 826.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 795.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 808.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 827.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 850.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 858.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 834.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 854.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 807.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 803.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 798.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 799.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1978 | 798.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 844.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 775.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 1981 | 756.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1982 | 742.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 739.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 696.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1985 | 740.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 758.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 766.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 754.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 761.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 784.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 792.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 762.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1993 | 745.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 736.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 741.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 764.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 731.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 722.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 706.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 710.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 715.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 693.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 701.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 701.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 714.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 695.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 677.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 652.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 595.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 608.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 565.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 584.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 571.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 530.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 518.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 494.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 477.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 475.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 453.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 411.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 425.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 392.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 386.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 8.2× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 7.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +69.1% | 372.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 630.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1926 | -38.7% | 607.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 372.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1921 | -27.4% | 628.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 456.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1922 | +27.2% | 456.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 580.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 199.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 183.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 218.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 290.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 244.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 330.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 373.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 338.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 390.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 442.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 418.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 471.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 501.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 440.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 556.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 591.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 555.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 628.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 635.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 603.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 665.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 575.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 372.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 638.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 599.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 552.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 645.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 657.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 616.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 694.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 746.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 684.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 779.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 815.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 789.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 833.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 825.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 798.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 858.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 749.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 696.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 775.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 748.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 706.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 792.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 685.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 595.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 715.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 528.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 453.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 608.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 401.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 386.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 425.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 20 Thailand 456.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 21 Argentina 416.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 22 Iraq 398.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 24 Malaysia 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 25 Nigeria 384.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 26 Kazakhstan 372.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in United Kingdom was 390.27 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 858.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1971.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 183.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1853.
- How does United Kingdom rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- United Kingdom ranks 23rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.