Live estimate
North Korea CO₂ Emissions
North Korea emitted 62.5 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 0.2% of the world total, the 52nd most of 213 countries. That is 2.4 tonnes per person, 50% below the world average of 4.7 t.
Estimated CO₂ emitted by North Korea in 2026 so far
0
0 tonnes since you opened this page · 2 t every second
CO₂ in 2024
62.5 Mt
62.5 million tonnes
World rank
#52
of 213 countries
Share of world
0.2%
world total 38.6 Gt
Per person
2.4 t
world average 4.7 t
Change vs 2023
+0.8%
2023: 62.0 Mt
Historical share
0.3%
#39 since 1750
Trend since 2000
Emissions rose 0.8% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are down 17%. Emissions peaked in 1989 at 209.3 million tonnes and are now 70% lower.
Show yearly data (million tonnes)
| Year | CO₂ (Mt) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 62.5 |
| 2023 | 62.0 |
| 2022 | 56.3 |
| 2021 | 54.0 |
| 2020 | 65.6 |
| 2019 | 69.5 |
| 2018 | 62.6 |
| 2017 | 69.7 |
| 2016 | 34.2 |
| 2015 | 31.3 |
| 2014 | 39.8 |
| 2013 | 36.1 |
| 2012 | 46.8 |
| 2011 | 47.9 |
| 2010 | 65.4 |
| 2009 | 67.7 |
| 2008 | 70.3 |
| 2007 | 63.5 |
| 2006 | 76.2 |
| 2005 | 75.0 |
| 2004 | 71.7 |
| 2003 | 70.1 |
| 2002 | 68.6 |
| 2001 | 71.7 |
| 2000 | 69.2 |
Where it comes from
Coal is the largest source of North Korea’s CO₂, at 91%.
- Coal91%57.2 Mt
- Oil4%2.7 Mt
- Cement4%2.7 Mt
How North Korea compares
Questions and answers
How much CO₂ does North Korea emit?
North Korea emitted 62.5 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.2% of global emissions. That is about 2 tonnes every second.
What are North Korea’s CO₂ emissions per person?
North Korea emits 2.4 tonnes per person, 50% below the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (26.5 million people in 2024).
Are North Korea’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?
Emissions rose 0.8% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are down 17%. Emissions peaked in 1989 at 209.3 million tonnes and are now 70% lower.
What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in North Korea?
Coal is the largest source, at 91% of North Korea’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (57.2 million tonnes).
How much has North Korea contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?
Since 1750, North Korea has emitted about 5 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 0.3% of the world total, the 39th largest historical contribution.
Related reading
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 →