CO2 per capita ranking 1978 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by CO2 Emissions per Capita in 1978, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: Palau (160.35). A total of 203 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, Palau, stood at 160.35. The twentieth economy, Ukraine, reported 13.08 — a 12× spread inside the top 20 alone. Of 203 economies reporting that year, these twenty are the ones usually quoted.
| # | Country | metric tons per capita (1978) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palau | 160.35 |
| 2 | Qatar | 77.75 |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | 65.01 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 42.74 |
| 5 | Oman | 26.39 |
| 6 | Estonia | 25.68 |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 24.62 |
| 8 | Kuwait | 23.15 |
| 9 | United States | 22.33 |
| 10 | Bahrain | 22 |
| 11 | Brunei Darussalam | 19.96 |
| 12 | Czechia | 18.63 |
| 13 | Canada | 17.99 |
| 14 | Kazakhstan | 17 |
| 15 | Puerto Rico (US) | 15.16 |
| 16 | Germany | 14.58 |
| 17 | Australia | 14.37 |
| 18 | Belgium | 14.17 |
| 19 | Russia | 13.34 |
| 20 | Ukraine | 13.08 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1978 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1978 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| Palau | #1 | #1 |
| Qatar | #2 | #2 |
| United Arab Emirates | #9 | #9 |
| Luxembourg | #19 | #19 |
| Oman | #7 | #7 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest CO2 per capita in 1978?
Palau, with 160.35 (metric tons per capita).
How many countries are included?
203 economies reported a value for EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 in 1978. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.