CO2 per capita ranking 1990 — the top 20 economies
The twenty largest economies by CO2 Emissions per Capita in 1990, ranked by the exact World Bank figures. The leader: Palau (141.29). A total of 203 economies reported a value that year.
The leader, Palau, stood at 141.29. The twentieth economy, Slovakia, reported 11.44 — 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 (1990) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palau | 141.29 |
| 2 | Qatar | 38.58 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 31.37 |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 29.97 |
| 5 | Estonia | 25.52 |
| 6 | Bahrain | 23.3 |
| 7 | United States | 19.96 |
| 8 | Kuwait | 19.24 |
| 9 | Brunei Darussalam | 16.84 |
| 10 | Russia | 16.46 |
| 11 | Saudi Arabia | 16.34 |
| 12 | Australia | 16.27 |
| 13 | Czechia | 16.02 |
| 14 | Canada | 15.91 |
| 15 | Ukraine | 15.09 |
| 16 | Kazakhstan | 14.49 |
| 17 | Germany | 12.75 |
| 18 | Turkmenistan | 12.15 |
| 19 | Belgium | 11.62 |
| 20 | Slovakia | 11.44 |
Where are they now?
The top five of 1990 and their rank in the latest published year:
| Country | Rank in 1990 | Rank today |
|---|---|---|
| Palau | #1 | #1 |
| Qatar | #2 | #2 |
| Luxembourg | #19 | #19 |
| United Arab Emirates | #9 | #9 |
| Estonia | #29 | #29 |
Other years
Frequently asked questions
Which country had the largest CO2 per capita in 1990?
Palau, with 141.29 (metric tons per capita).
How many countries are included?
203 economies reported a value for EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 in 1990. Coverage widens over time — earlier years include fewer reporting economies.