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UK vs Netherlands CO2 per capita
Netherlands overtook United Kingdom in 1980. In 1970 United Kingdom stood at roughly 118% of Netherlands’s CO2 per capita; today the figure is about 64%, and the pair was closest in 1986 (100%).
| Year | United Kingdom | Netherlands | Netherlands as % of UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10.29 | 12.1 | 118% |
| 1970 | 10.29 | 12.1 | 118% |
| 1980 | 10.96 | 10.81 | 99% |
| 1990 | 11.02 | 10.18 | 92% |
| 2000 | 11.11 | 9.37 | 84% |
| 2010 | 11.2 | 7.98 | 71% |
| 2020 | 8.15 | 4.79 | 59% |
| 2024 | 6.6 | 4.22 | 64% |
Frequently asked questions
When did Netherlands pass United Kingdom in CO2 per capita?
In 1980. Netherlands’s published CO2 per capita rose above United Kingdom’s that year and the lead has held since.
How do United Kingdom and Netherlands compare today?
Netherlands is ahead: 6.6 against 4.22 — the trailing economy stands at about 64% 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: