Live estimate

China CO₂ Emissions

China emitted 12.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 31.8% of the world total, the most of any country. That is 8.7 tonnes per person, 1.8× the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by China in 2026 so far

0

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 390 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

12.29 Gt

12.29 billion tonnes

World rank

#1

of 215 countries

Share of world

31.8%

world total 38.60 Gt

Per person

8.7 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+1.0%

2023: 12.17 Gt

Historical share

15.4%

#2 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 1.0% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 109%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

2000: 3,643.8 Mt2001: 3,724.1 Mt2002: 4,098.2 Mt2003: 4,835.3 Mt2004: 5,211.0 Mt2005: 5,882.0 Mt2006: 6,486.2 Mt2007: 6,974.7 Mt2008: 7,492.4 Mt2009: 7,881.5 Mt2010: 8,610.0 Mt2011: 9,520.2 Mt2012: 9,767.3 Mt2013: 9,942.4 Mt2014: 9,976.0 Mt2015: 9,858.0 Mt2016: 9,748.2 Mt2017: 10,000.0 Mt2018: 10,346.8 Mt2019: 10,713.5 Mt2020: 10,896.5 Mt2021: 11,284.4 Mt2022: 11,711.8 Mt2023: 12,172.0 Mt2024: 12,289.0 Mt200020052010201520202024
Show yearly data (million tonnes)
YearCO₂ (Mt)
202412,289.0
202312,172.0
202211,711.8
202111,284.4
202010,896.5
201910,713.5
201810,346.8
201710,000.0
20169,748.2
20159,858.0
20149,976.0
20139,942.4
20129,767.3
20119,520.2
20108,610.0
20097,881.5
20087,492.4
20076,974.7
20066,486.2
20055,882.0
20045,211.0
20034,835.3
20024,098.2
20013,724.1
20003,643.8

Where it comes from

Coal is the largest source of China’s CO₂, at 72%.

  • Coal72%8.89 Gt
  • Oil14%1.71 Gt
  • Gas7%889.4 Mt
  • Cement5%617.8 Mt
  • Flaring0%4.0 Mt
  • Other industry2%186.5 Mt

How China compares

RankCountryCO₂ 2024SharePer person
1China12.29 Gt31.8%8.7 t
2United States4.90 Gt12.7%14.2 t
3India3.19 Gt8.3%2.2 t

See all 215 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does China emit?

China emitted 12.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 31.8% of global emissions. That is about 390 tonnes every second.

What are China’s CO₂ emissions per person?

China emits 8.7 tonnes per person, 1.8× the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (1,419.3 million people in 2024).

Are China’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 1.0% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 109%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in China?

Coal is the largest source, at 72% of China’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (8.89 billion tonnes).

How much has China contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, China has emitted about 285 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 15.4% of the world total, the 2nd largest historical contribution.

Data: Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Project (Global Carbon Budget 2025), CC BY 4.0. Annual figures are fossil-fuel and industry CO₂ for 2024, the latest complete year. Live counters are estimates that assume 2024 emission rates continue. How the counter works →