Live estimate

United Kingdom CO₂ Emissions

The United Kingdom emitted 312.9 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 0.8% of the world total, the 18th most of 215 countries. That is 4.5 tonnes per person, close to the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by the United Kingdom in 2026 so far

0

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 10 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

312.9 Mt

312.9 million tonnes

World rank

#18

of 215 countries

Share of world

0.8%

world total 38.60 Gt

Per person

4.5 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+1.7%

2023: 307.8 Mt

Historical share

4.3%

#5 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 1.7% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are down 45%. Emissions peaked in 1971 at 660.4 million tonnes and are now 53% lower.

2000: 569.0 Mt2001: 578.0 Mt2002: 560.3 Mt2003: 571.6 Mt2004: 573.4 Mt2005: 570.3 Mt2006: 567.8 Mt2007: 559.6 Mt2008: 544.9 Mt2009: 494.1 Mt2010: 511.9 Mt2011: 469.7 Mt2012: 487.5 Mt2013: 477.6 Mt2014: 438.8 Mt2015: 422.5 Mt2016: 399.4 Mt2017: 387.4 Mt2018: 379.7 Mt2019: 364.8 Mt2020: 326.3 Mt2021: 342.4 Mt2022: 311.1 Mt2023: 307.8 Mt2024: 312.9 Mt200020052010201520202024
Show yearly data (million tonnes)
YearCO₂ (Mt)
2024312.9
2023307.8
2022311.1
2021342.4
2020326.3
2019364.8
2018379.7
2017387.4
2016399.4
2015422.5
2014438.8
2013477.6
2012487.5
2011469.7
2010511.9
2009494.1
2008544.9
2007559.6
2006567.8
2005570.3
2004573.4
2003571.6
2002560.3
2001578.0
2000569.0

Where it comes from

Oil is the largest source of the United Kingdom’s CO₂, at 51%.

  • Coal5%16.9 Mt
  • Oil51%159.6 Mt
  • Gas40%126.6 Mt
  • Cement1%3.6 Mt
  • Flaring1%3.4 Mt
  • Other industry1%2.7 Mt

How the United Kingdom compares

RankCountryCO₂ 2024SharePer person
16Australia386.7 Mt1.0%14.5 t
17Vietnam370.9 Mt1.0%3.7 t
18United Kingdom312.9 Mt0.8%4.5 t
19Italy301.9 Mt0.8%5.1 t
20Malaysia290.2 Mt0.8%8.2 t

See all 215 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does the United Kingdom emit?

The United Kingdom emitted 312.9 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.8% of global emissions. That is about 10 tonnes every second.

What are the United Kingdom’s CO₂ emissions per person?

The United Kingdom emits 4.5 tonnes per person, close to the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (69.1 million people in 2024).

Are the United Kingdom’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 1.7% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are down 45%. Emissions peaked in 1971 at 660.4 million tonnes and are now 53% lower.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in the United Kingdom?

Oil is the largest source, at 51% of the United Kingdom’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (159.6 million tonnes).

How much has the United Kingdom contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, the United Kingdom has emitted about 80 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 4.3% of the world total, the 5th 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 →