China — CO2 per capita
CO2 Emissions per Capita for China, 1970–2024.
CO2 per capita for China was 9.32 in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 55 years, from 1970 to 2024. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 1.09 in 1971 (about 8.6× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 4.01% per year.
China ranks 22 of 203 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 11%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 2.50, so China sits above it. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved up 17%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 7 of 37 economies; Malaysia (8.32) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 15% in 2003. That is 10% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1970 level: doubled by 1992. Doubling roughly every 18 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 105th of 203 in 1970 → 102nd of 203 in 1980 → 96th of 203 in 1990 → 86th of 203 in 2000 → 49th of 203 in 2010 → 25th of 203 in 2020 → 22nd of 203 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1970 to 2024
| Year | metric tons per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9.32 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 9.23 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 8.86 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 8.89 | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 8.48 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 8.39 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 8.22 | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 7.88 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 7.76 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 7.79 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 7.93 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 7.89 | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 7.58 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 7.4 | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 6.81 | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 6.25 | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 5.85 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 5.71 | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 5.28 | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 4.78 | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 4.24 | +14.5% |
| 2003 | 3.7 | +14.8% |
| 2002 | 3.23 | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 3.01 | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 2.89 | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 2.75 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 2.84 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 2.79 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 2.74 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 2.79 | +9.3% |
| 1994 | 2.56 | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 2.45 | +7.0% |
| 1992 | 2.29 | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 2.22 | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 2.13 | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.12 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 2.08 | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 1.97 | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 1.87 | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 1.79 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.79 | +7.5% |
| 1983 | 1.67 | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 1.61 | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 1.56 | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 1.59 | -3.4% |
| 1979 | 1.65 | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 1.63 | +11.2% |
| 1977 | 1.47 | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 1.32 | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 1.29 | +12.7% |
| 1974 | 1.15 | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 1.15 | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 1.13 | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 1.09 | -2.3% |
| 1970 | 1.11 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was China’s CO2 per capita in 1971?
1.09 (1971). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are China’s CO2 per capita figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — metric tons per capita — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is China’s CO2 per capita growing or shrinking?
Between 1970 and 2024 the series was growing overall: +736.3% in total — about 4.0% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 9.32; 2023: 9.23; 2022: 8.86; 2021: 8.89; 2020: 8.48. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 — CO2 Emissions per Capita. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.