Live estimate

Belgium CO₂ Emissions

Belgium emitted 85.5 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 0.2% of the world total, the 43rd most of 213 countries. That is 7.3 tonnes per person, 1.5× the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by Belgium in 2026 so far

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 3 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

85.5 Mt

85.5 million tonnes

World rank

#43

of 213 countries

Share of world

0.2%

world total 38.6 Gt

Per person

7.3 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+0.9%

2023: 84.7 Mt

Historical share

0.7%

#23 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 0.9% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are down 32%. Emissions peaked in 1979 at 139.8 million tonnes and are now 39% lower.

50100150

Million tonnes of CO₂ a year

Show yearly data (million tonnes)

Year	CO₂ (Mt)
2024	85.5
2023	84.7
2022	88.9
2021	94.9
2020	91.3
2019	99.8
2018	100.3
2017	99.3
2016	99.8
2015	101.3
2014	97.1
2013	102.8
2012	102.5
2011	105.2
2010	114.6
2009	107.8
2008	120.2
2007	120.5
2006	123.9
2005	125.7
2004	128.8
2003	128.3
2002	126.9
2001	126.1
2000	126.8

Where it comes from

Oil is the largest source of Belgium’s CO₂, at 49%.

Coal13%11.5 Mt
Oil49%42.0 Mt
Gas33%28.1 Mt
Cement3%2.2 Mt
Flaring0%0.1 Mt
Other industry2%1.7 Mt

Belgium in context

0.14% vs 0.22%

Share of people vs share of CO₂

Belgium is home to 0.14% of the world’s population and produces 0.22% of its fossil CO₂, so its share of emissions is larger than its share of people.

−29%

Change since 1990

Emissions in 2024 were 29% lower than in 1990, the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol (120.3 Mt then). World emissions rose 70% over the same period.

197 Mt

Consumption-based CO₂ (2023)

Counting the CO₂ in goods it imports and exports, Belgium was responsible for 196.6 Mt in 2023, 132% more than the 84.7 Mt produced at home: it is a net importer of emissions.

133 g

CO₂ per kWh of energy

Each kilowatt-hour of primary energy used in Belgium came with about 133 g of CO₂ in 2024 (world: 218 g), pointing to a much cleaner energy mix than the world average.

0.18 kg

CO₂ per dollar of GDP

Its economy emitted 0.18 kg of CO₂ for each dollar of output in 2022 (adjusted for purchasing power), 37% below the world average of 0.29 kg.

Figures from Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Project; latest year available for each measure.

How Belgium compares

Rank	Country	CO₂ 2024	Share	Per person
41	Bangladesh	108.3 Mt	0.3%	0.6 t
42	Colombia	92.7 Mt	0.2%	1.8 t
43	Belgium	85.5 Mt	0.2%	7.3 t
44	Oman	82.7 Mt	0.2%	15.7 t
45	Turkmenistan	81.0 Mt	0.2%	10.8 t

See all 213 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does Belgium emit?

Belgium emitted 85.5 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.2% of global emissions. That is about 3 tonnes every second.

What are Belgium’s CO₂ emissions per person?

Belgium emits 7.3 tonnes per person, 1.5× the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (11.7 million people in 2024).

Are Belgium’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 0.9% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are down 32%. Emissions peaked in 1979 at 139.8 million tonnes and are now 39% lower.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in Belgium?

Oil is the largest source, at 49% of Belgium’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (42.0 million tonnes).

What are Belgium’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions?

About 196.6 million tonnes in 2023, 132% more than the 84.7 million tonnes emitted within its borders, because it imports more carbon-intensive goods than it exports. Consumption-based accounting adds the emissions embodied in imports and subtracts those in exports.

How much has Belgium contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, Belgium has emitted about 13 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 0.7% of the world total, the 23rd largest historical contribution.