Live estimate

Malaysia CO₂ Emissions

Malaysia emitted 290.2 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 0.8% of the world total, the 20th most of 213 countries. That is 8.2 tonnes per person, 1.7× the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by Malaysia in 2026 so far

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 9 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

290.2 Mt

290.2 million tonnes

World rank

#20

of 213 countries

Share of world

0.8%

world total 38.6 Gt

Per person

8.2 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+5.0%

2023: 276.3 Mt

Historical share

0.4%

#33 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 5.0% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 71%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

100200300400

Million tonnes of CO₂ a year

Show yearly data (million tonnes)

Year	CO₂ (Mt)
2024	290.2
2023	276.3
2022	281.9
2021	273.3
2020	262.2
2019	277.7
2018	262.6
2017	244.5
2016	237.3
2015	235.9
2014	245.1
2013	241.7
2012	213.0
2011	203.5
2010	199.3
2009	192.1
2008	192.8
2007	175.5
2006	170.2
2005	170.0
2004	169.7
2003	153.4
2002	132.0
2001	130.9
2000	122.9

Where it comes from

Coal is the largest source of Malaysia’s CO₂, at 34%.

Coal34%97.6 Mt
Oil27%79.1 Mt
Gas33%95.3 Mt
Cement5%15.4 Mt
Flaring1%2.9 Mt

Malaysia in context

0.44% vs 0.75%

Share of people vs share of CO₂

Malaysia is home to 0.44% of the world’s population and produces 0.75% of its fossil CO₂, so its share of emissions is larger than its share of people.

+434%

Change since 1990

Emissions in 2024 were 434% higher than in 1990, the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol (54.3 Mt then). World emissions rose 70% over the same period.

286 Mt

Consumption-based CO₂ (2023)

Counting the CO₂ in goods it imports and exports, Malaysia was responsible for 286.5 Mt in 2023, 4% more than the 276.3 Mt produced at home: it is a net importer of emissions.

210 g

CO₂ per kWh of energy

Each kilowatt-hour of primary energy used in Malaysia came with about 210 g of CO₂ in 2024 (world: 218 g), pointing to an energy mix close to the world average.

0.32 kg

CO₂ per dollar of GDP

Its economy emitted 0.32 kg of CO₂ for each dollar of output in 2022 (adjusted for purchasing power), 1.1× 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 Malaysia compares

Rank	Country	CO₂ 2024	Share	Per person
18	United Kingdom	312.9 Mt	0.8%	4.5 t
19	Italy	301.9 Mt	0.8%	5.1 t
20	Malaysia	290.2 Mt	0.8%	8.2 t
21	Kazakhstan	287.0 Mt	0.7%	13.9 t
22	Poland	272.9 Mt	0.7%	7.1 t

See all 213 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does Malaysia emit?

Malaysia emitted 290.2 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.8% of global emissions. That is about 9 tonnes every second.

What are Malaysia’s CO₂ emissions per person?

Malaysia emits 8.2 tonnes per person, 1.7× the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (35.6 million people in 2024).

Are Malaysia’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 5.0% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 71%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in Malaysia?

Coal is the largest source, at 34% of Malaysia’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (97.6 million tonnes).

What are Malaysia’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions?

About 286.5 million tonnes in 2023, 4% more than the 276.3 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 Malaysia contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, Malaysia has emitted about 7 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 0.4% of the world total, the 33rd largest historical contribution.