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China vs India CO2 per capita
China has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1970 India stood at roughly 35% of China’s CO2 per capita; today the figure is about 23%, and the pair was closest in 1971 (35%).
| Year | China | India | India as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.11 | 0.39 | 35% |
| 1970 | 1.11 | 0.39 | 35% |
| 1980 | 1.59 | 0.44 | 28% |
| 1990 | 2.13 | 0.69 | 33% |
| 2000 | 2.89 | 0.94 | 33% |
| 2010 | 6.81 | 1.39 | 20% |
| 2020 | 8.48 | 1.68 | 20% |
| 2024 | 9.32 | 2.17 | 23% |
Frequently asked questions
When did China pass India in CO2 per capita?
It has not come to that. China has posted the larger CO2 per capita in every published year (1970–2024).
How do China and India compare today?
China is ahead: 9.32 against 2.17 — the trailing economy stands at about 23% of the leader.
Are these CO2 per capita figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — metric tons per capita — with no interpolation or estimation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: