Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry totaled 37.01 billion metric tons (GtCO₂) in 2023. Emissions are projected to have risen 1.08 percent in 2024 to reach a record high of 37.41 GtCO₂. Since 1990, global CO₂ emissions have increased by more than 60 percent. Who are the biggest emitters? The biggest contributor to global GHG emissions is China, followed by the United States. China wasn't always the world's biggest emitter, but rapid economic growth and industrialization in recent decades have seen emissions there soar. Since 1990, CO₂ emissions in China have increased by almost 450 percent. By comparison, U.S. CO₂ emissions have fallen by 6.1 percent. Nevertheless, the North American country remains the biggest carbon polluter in history. Global events cause emissions to drop The outbreak of COVID-19 caused global CO₂ emissions to plummet some 5.5 percent in 2020 as a result of lockdowns and other restrictions. However, this wasn't the only time in recent history when a major global event caused emissions reductions. For example, the global recession resulted in CO₂ levels to fall by almost two percent in 2009, while the recession in the early 1980s also had a notable impact on emissions. On a percentage basis, the largest annual reduction was at the end of the Second World War in 1945, when emissions decreased by 17 percent.

In 2023, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes reached a record high of 37.8 billion metric tons (GtCO₂). Global CO₂ emissions are projected to have reached record levels in 2024. The world has pumped more than 1,800 GtCO₂ into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution began, though almost 45 percent has been produced since 2000. What is carbon dioxide? CO₂ is a colorless, naturally occurring gas that is released after people and animals inhale oxygen. It is a greenhouse gas, meaning it absorbs and releases thermal radiation which in turn creates the “greenhouse effect”. In addition to other greenhouse gases, CO₂ is also a major contributor to the ability of the Earth to maintain a habitable temperature. Without CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be too cold to live on. However, while CO₂ alone is not a harmful gas, the abundance of it is what causes climate change. The increased use of electricity, transportation, and deforestation in human society have resulted in the increased emissions of CO₂, which in turn has seen a rise in earth’s temperature. In fact, around 70 percent of global warming since 1851 is attributable to CO₂ emissions from human activities. Who are the largest emitters worldwide? China is the biggest carbon polluter worldwide, having released almost 12 GtCO₂ in 2023. This was more than the combined emissions of the United States and India, the second and third-largest emitters that year, respectively.

CO2 Emissions in China decreased to 12667430 KT in 2022 from 12717660 KT in 2021. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for China CO2 Emissions.

Energy consumption in the United States produced 4.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) in 2024 - a decrease of 0.4 percent from the previous year. U.S. CO₂ emissions from energy consumption have fallen by approximately 20 percent since 2005. Sources of emissions in the U.S. The main source of CO₂ emissions in the U.S. is the transportation sector. For many years, the power sector was the country’s biggest contributor to CO₂ emissions, but the transition towards cleaner energy sources and a shift away from coal-fired power generation – the most carbon intensive fossil fuel – have slashed emissions from this sector. Meanwhile, transportation emissions have continued to rise, except for an unprecedented drop in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19. U.S. transportation emissions The U.S. is the biggest contributor to global transportation emissions by far. The states with the largest transportation-related emissions in the U.S. are Texas and California, which combined account for almost one quarter of total U.S. transportation emissions.

Graph and download economic data for Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions From All Sectors, All Fuels for California (EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOCAA) from 1970 to 2021 about carbon dioxide emissions, fuels, sector, CA, and USA.

In 2023, China was the biggest carbon polluter in the world by far, having released 11.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). Although the U.S. was the second-biggest emitter, with 4.9 GtCO₂ in 2023, its CO₂ emissions have declined by 13 percent since 2010. By comparison, China’s CO₂ emissions have increased by more than 38 percent in the same period. Cumulative emissions Although China is currently the world's largest carbon polluter, the U.S. has released far more historical carbon dioxide emissions, at more than 400 GtCO₂ since 1750. The wide gap between the two countries is because China's emissions have mostly been produced in the past two decades. Combined, the U.S. and China account for roughly 40 percent of cumulative CO₂ emissions since the Industrial Revolution began. Sources of emissions One of the largest sources of global CO₂ emissions is the power sector, with electricity produced by coal-fired power plants a significant contributor. In China, emissions from coal-fired electricity generation have soared since the turn of the century, and reached 5.2 GtCO₂ in 2023.

United States US: CO2 Emissions data was reported at 5,254,279.285 kt in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,159,160.972 kt for 2013. United States US: CO2 Emissions data is updated yearly, averaging 4,823,403.118 kt from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2014, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,789,727.291 kt in 2005 and a record low of 2,880,505.507 kt in 1961. United States US: CO2 Emissions data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Environment: Pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions are those stemming from the burning of fossil fuels and the manufacture of cement. They include carbon dioxide produced during consumption of solid, liquid, and gas fuels and gas flaring.; ; Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, United States.; Gap-filled total;

Graph and download economic data for Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions From All Sectors, All Fuels for Virginia (EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOVAA) from 1970 to 2021 about carbon dioxide emissions, fuels, sector, VA, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions From All Sectors, All Fuels for Ohio (EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOOHA) from 1970 to 2021 about carbon dioxide emissions, fuels, sector, OH, and USA.

CO2 Emissions in Vietnam decreased to 327910 KT in 2022 from 337690 KT in 2021. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Vietnam CO2 Emissions.

CO2 emissions of dwellings in England and Wales, by property type, tenure, property age and whether new or existing.

Graph and download economic data for Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions From All Sectors, All Fuels for Michigan (EMISSCO2TOTVTTTOMIA) from 1970 to 2021 about carbon dioxide emissions, fuels, sector, MI, and USA.

CO2 Emissions in Thailand increased to 282450 KT in 2022 from 276290 KT in 2021. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Thailand CO2 Emissions.

The average American was responsible for emitting 13.8 metric tons of carbon dioxide (tCO₂) in 2023. U.S. per capita fossil CO₂ emissions have fallen by more than 30 percent since 1990. Global per capita emission comparisons Despite per capita emissions in the U.S. falling notably in recent decades, they remain roughly three times above global average per capita CO₂ emissions. In fact, the average American emits more CO₂ in one day than the average Somalian does throughout the entire year. Additionally, while China is now the world’s biggest emitter, the average Chinese citizen’s annual carbon footprint is roughly half the average American’s. Which U.S. state has the largest carbon footprint? Per capita energy-related CO₂ emissions in the U.S. vary greatly by state. Wyoming was the biggest CO₂ emitter per capita in 2022, with 97 tCO₂ per person. The least-populated state’s high per capita emissions are mainly due to its heavily polluting coal industry. In contrast, New Yorkers had the one of the smallest carbon footprints in 2022, at less than nine tCO₂ per person.

Graph and download economic data for Industrial Carbon Dioxide Emissions, All Fuels for Alaska (EMISSCO2TOTVICTOAKA) from 1970 to 2021 about carbon dioxide emissions, AK, fuels, industry, and USA.

India: Carbon dioxide emissions, million metric tons of CO2 equivalent: The latest value from 2023 is 2955 Mt CO2 eq, an increase from 2741 Mt CO2 eq in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 198 Mt CO2 eq, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for India from 1970 to 2023 is 1102 Mt CO2 eq. The minimum value, 214 Mt CO2 eq, was reached in 1970 while the maximum of 2955 Mt CO2 eq was recorded in 2023.

CO2 Emissions in Kazakhstan increased to 245890 KT in 2022 from 235220 KT in 2021. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Kazakhstan CO2 Emissions.

CO2 Emissions in Nigeria decreased to 122750 KT in 2022 from 123180 KT in 2021. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Nigeria CO2 Emissions.

The USA: Carbon dioxide emissions, million metric tons of CO2 equivalent: The latest value from 2023 is 4682 Mt CO2 eq, a decline from 4787 Mt CO2 eq in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 198 Mt CO2 eq, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1970 to 2023 is 5114 Mt CO2 eq. The minimum value, 4449 Mt CO2 eq, was reached in 1983 while the maximum of 5929 Mt CO2 eq was recorded in 2000.

El Salvador: Carbon dioxide emissions, million metric tons of CO2 equivalent: The latest value from 2023 is 8 Mt CO2 eq, unchanged from 8 Mt CO2 eq in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 198 Mt CO2 eq, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for El Salvador from 1970 to 2023 is 5 Mt CO2 eq. The minimum value, 2 Mt CO2 eq, was reached in 1970 while the maximum of 8 Mt CO2 eq was recorded in 2007.