CO2 per capita ranking 1989 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by CO2 Emissions per Capita in 1989, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: Palau (142.75). A total of 203 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, Palau, stood at 142.75. The twentieth economy, Belgium, reported 11.35 — a 13× spread inside the top 20 alone. Of 203 economies reporting that year, these twenty are the ones usually quoted.
| # | Country | metric tons per capita (1989) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palau | 142.75 |
| 2 | Qatar | 41.12 |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | 31.81 |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 31.07 |
| 5 | Kuwait | 29.89 |
| 6 | Bahrain | 22.96 |
| 7 | Estonia | 20.89 |
| 8 | United States | 20.58 |
| 9 | Czechia | 17.67 |
| 10 | Canada | 17.43 |
| 11 | Australia | 16.31 |
| 12 | Brunei Darussalam | 16.1 |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia | 15.85 |
| 14 | Russia | 15.14 |
| 15 | Kazakhstan | 14.17 |
| 16 | Ukraine | 13.71 |
| 17 | Germany | 13.34 |
| 18 | Poland | 11.78 |
| 19 | Slovakia | 11.46 |
| 20 | Belgium | 11.35 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1989 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1989 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| Palau | #1 | #1 |
| Qatar | #2 | #2 |
| United Arab Emirates | #9 | #9 |
| Luxembourg | #19 | #19 |
| Kuwait | #4 | #4 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest CO2 per capita in 1989?
Palau, with 142.75 (metric tons per capita).
How many countries are included?
203 economies reported a value for EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 in 1989. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.