Greenhouse gas emissions in United States
United States: Greenhouse gas emissions was 6.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
2nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
7.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2005
All-time low
774.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions 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
United States recorded 6.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in United States peaked at 7.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2005 and was at its lowest, 774.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
United States ranks 2nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Greenhouse gas emissions in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 774.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 832.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1852 | 858.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1853 | 901.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1854 | 929.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1855 | 948.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1856 | 967.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1857 | 990.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 1.02 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1859 | 1.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1860 | 986.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 1861 | 916.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.1% |
| 1862 | 914.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1863 | 924.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 907.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1865 | 883.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1866 | 872.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1867 | 893.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1868 | 891.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1869 | 883.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1870 | 1.13 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.7% |
| 1871 | 1.24 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1872 | 1.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1873 | 1.42 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1874 | 1.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1875 | 1.51 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1876 | 1.55 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1877 | 1.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1878 | 1.66 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1879 | 1.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1880 | 1.67 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1881 | 1.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1882 | 1.65 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1883 | 1.69 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1884 | 1.70 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 1.69 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1886 | 1.71 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 1.75 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1888 | 1.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1889 | 1.75 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1890 | 1.91 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1891 | 1.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1892 | 1.98 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 2.02 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1894 | 1.99 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1895 | 2.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1896 | 2.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1897 | 2.10 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1898 | 2.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1899 | 2.28 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1900 | 2.27 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1901 | 2.30 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 2.34 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1903 | 2.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1904 | 2.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1905 | 2.58 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1906 | 2.63 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1907 | 2.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1908 | 2.65 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1909 | 2.79 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1910 | 2.86 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1911 | 2.83 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1912 | 2.86 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1913 | 2.97 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1914 | 2.83 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1915 | 2.86 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1916 | 3.00 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1917 | 3.16 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1918 | 3.25 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1919 | 2.93 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 1920 | 3.22 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1921 | 2.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 1922 | 2.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1923 | 3.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.0% |
| 1924 | 3.15 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1925 | 3.22 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 3.35 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1927 | 3.28 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1928 | 3.23 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1929 | 3.35 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1930 | 3.04 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.4% |
| 1931 | 2.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.3% |
| 1932 | 2.42 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.3% |
| 1933 | 2.49 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1934 | 2.57 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1935 | 2.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1936 | 2.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1937 | 2.88 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1938 | 2.55 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.3% |
| 1939 | 2.70 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1940 | 2.97 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1941 | 3.18 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1942 | 3.37 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1943 | 3.46 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1944 | 3.67 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1945 | 3.59 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1946 | 3.49 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1947 | 3.76 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1948 | 3.88 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1949 | 3.41 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.2% |
| 1950 | 3.75 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1951 | 3.79 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 3.69 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1953 | 3.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1954 | 3.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1955 | 3.86 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1956 | 4.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 3.97 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1958 | 3.86 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1959 | 3.92 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 4.00 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 3.92 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1962 | 4.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 4.25 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 4.40 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 4.54 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 4.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 5.25 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 5.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1969 | 5.63 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 5.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 5.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1972 | 6.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 6.20 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 6.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 5.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 6.03 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 6.23 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 6.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 6.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 6.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 5.97 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 5.72 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1983 | 5.73 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 5.89 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 5.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 5.84 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 6.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 6.27 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 6.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 6.49 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 6.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 6.46 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 6.55 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 6.69 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 6.64 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 6.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 6.89 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 6.93 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 7.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.22 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 6.98 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 7.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 7.25 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 7.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 7.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 7.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 7.18 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 7.07 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 6.58 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 6.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 6.52 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 6.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 6.49 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 6.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 6.41 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 6.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 6.32 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 6.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 6.36 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 5.76 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 6.13 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 6.20 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 6.08 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 6.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 6.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 127.4× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | +27.7% | 883.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.13 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 927.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 774.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 907.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 872.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 986.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.13 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.74 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.70 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.91 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.28 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.53 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.27 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.96 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.83 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.25 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.20 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.42 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.04 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.48 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.97 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.88 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.61 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.66 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.92 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.68 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.06 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.81 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.98 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.72 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.33 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.69 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.39 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.11 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.58 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.47 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.31 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.82 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.04 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.76 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.20 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 greenhouse gas emissions in United States?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in United States was 6.05 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 greenhouse gas emissions recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 7.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2005.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 774.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does United States rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.4%. 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 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.