Live estimate

China CO₂ Emissions

China emitted 12.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 31.8% of the world total, the most of any country. That is 8.7 tonnes per person, 1.8× the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by China in 2026 so far

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 390 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

12.29 Gt

12.29 billion tonnes

World rank

of 213 countries

Share of world

31.8%

world total 38.6 Gt

Per person

8.7 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+1.0%

2023: 12.17 Gt

Historical share

15.4%

#2 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 1.0% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 109%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

5,00010,00015,000

Million tonnes of CO₂ a year

Show yearly data (million tonnes)

Year	CO₂ (Mt)
2024	12,289.0
2023	12,172.0
2022	11,711.8
2021	11,284.4
2020	10,896.5
2019	10,713.5
2018	10,346.8
2017	10,000.0
2016	9,748.2
2015	9,858.0
2014	9,976.0
2013	9,942.4
2012	9,767.3
2011	9,520.2
2010	8,610.0
2009	7,881.5
2008	7,492.4
2007	6,974.7
2006	6,486.2
2005	5,882.0
2004	5,211.0
2003	4,835.3
2002	4,098.2
2001	3,724.1
2000	3,643.8

Where it comes from

Coal is the largest source of China’s CO₂, at 72%.

Coal72%8,886 Mt
Oil14%1,705 Mt
Gas7%889 Mt
Cement5%618 Mt
Flaring0%4.0 Mt
Other industry2%186 Mt

China in context

17.4% vs 31.8%

Share of people vs share of CO₂

China is home to 17.4% of the world’s population and produces 31.8% of its fossil CO₂, so its share of emissions is larger than its share of people.

+395%

Change since 1990

Emissions in 2024 were 395% higher than in 1990, the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol (2,483.5 Mt then). World emissions rose 70% over the same period.

10,857 Mt

Consumption-based CO₂ (2023)

Counting the CO₂ in goods it imports and exports, China was responsible for 10,857.0 Mt in 2023, 11% less than the 12,172.0 Mt produced at home: part of its output is consumed elsewhere.

251 g

CO₂ per kWh of energy

Each kilowatt-hour of primary energy used in China came with about 251 g of CO₂ in 2024 (world: 218 g), pointing to a more fossil-heavy energy mix than the world average.

0.43 kg

CO₂ per dollar of GDP

Its economy emitted 0.43 kg of CO₂ for each dollar of output in 2022 (adjusted for purchasing power), 1.5× 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 China compares

Rank	Country	CO₂ 2024	Share	Per person
1	China	12.29 Gt	31.8%	8.7 t
2	United States	4.90 Gt	12.7%	14.2 t
3	India	3.19 Gt	8.3%	2.2 t

See all 213 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does China emit?

China emitted 12.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 31.8% of global emissions. That is about 390 tonnes every second.

What are China’s CO₂ emissions per person?

China emits 8.7 tonnes per person, 1.8× the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (1,419.3 million people in 2024).

Are China’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 1.0% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 109%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in China?

Coal is the largest source, at 72% of China’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (8.89 billion tonnes).

What are China’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions?

About 10,857.0 million tonnes in 2023, 11% less than the 12,172.0 million tonnes emitted within its borders, because part of what it produces is exported and consumed in other countries. Consumption-based accounting adds the emissions embodied in imports and subtracts those in exports.

How much has China contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, China has emitted about 285 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 15.4% of the world total, the 2nd largest historical contribution.