Top Emitters
Greenhouse gas emissions have climbed as countries, many without strong carbon-curbing regulations, have grown wealthier. China and India have low per capita emissions compared with such high-consuming nations as the United States. But they’re home to a combined one-third of the world’s population, elevating both into the list of top polluters.
Global population share, 2020
All other nations
China
18.5%
India
17.7%
Four other top
emitters, 13.5%
Annual carbon emissions by country, top six emitters
1
2020
10
Change from 1990 to 2020
China and India rising
An urbanization boom has caused China’s emissions to surge. As the populations of both developing countries moved out of poverty, fossil fuel use increased.
2. United States
4.7 billion
5.1 billion
3.9 bil.
20.3
14.2
9.2
1990
2.5 billion
4. India
2.4 billion
3. EU
2.6 billion
5. Russia†
1.6 billion
2.5 billion
1.8
5.8
2.1
1.2 bil.
6. Japan‡
1.1 billion
17.1
10.8
0.6 billion
9.3
8.7
0.7
0/$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
Gross domestic product per capita*
Russia’s Soviet legacy
Europe’s efforts pay off
Japan evens out
The U.S. keeps emissions in check
Emissions fell when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and Russian industries declined. Country and per capita emissions are still below 1990 levels.
The European Union, through
a mix of policies and low-carbon fuel sources, saw a 24 percent drop inemissions even as its economy grew by 60 percent.
Regulations, as well as a shift from coal toward cleaner energy sources such as natural gas, helped emissions drop 20 percent after they rose in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster led to a spike in fossil fuel use. Emissions remain high but have returned to 1990 levels and stabilized.
*GDP data is based on purchasing power parity in constant 2017 international dollars.
†1990 data is for the Russian Republic of the U.S.S.R.
‡2019 data
Taylor Maggiacomo, NGM Staff
Sources: Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data; The World Bank
Top Emitters
Greenhouse gas emissions have climbed as countries, many without strong carbon-curbing regulations, have grown wealthier. China and India have low per capita emissions compared with such high-consuming nations as the United States. But they’re home to a combined one-third of the world’s population, elevating both into the list of top polluters.
Annual carbon emissions by country, top six emitters
Global population share, 2020
All other nations
1990
2020
China
18.5%
India
17.7%
Four other top
emitters, 13.5%
Metric tons
India
1.8
U.S.
Russia
14.2
Japan‡
China
EU
10.8
8.7
7.4
5.8
China and India rising
An urbanization boom has caused China’s emissions to surge. As the populations of both developing countries moved out of poverty, fossil fuel use increased.
2. United States
4.7 billion
4. India
2.4 billion
3. EU
2.6 billion
5. Russia†
1.6 billion
6. Japan‡
1.1 billion
*GDP data is based on purchasing power parity in constant 2017 international dollars.
†1990 data is FOR the Russian republic of the U.S.S.R.
‡2019 data
$0
$60,000
Gross domestic product per capita*
Taylor Maggiacomo, NGM Staff
Sources: Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data; The World Bank
Top Emitters
Greenhouse gas emissions have climbed as countries, many without strong carbon-curbing regulations, have grown wealthier. China and India have low per capita emissions compared with such high-consuming nations as the United States. But they’re home to a combined one-third of the world’s population, elevating both into the list of top polluters.
Global population share, 2020
All other nations
China
18.5%
India
17.7%
Four other top
emitters, 13.5%
Annual carbon emissions by country, top six emitters
1990
2020
2. United States
4.7 billion
4. India
2.4 billion
3. EU
2.6 billion
5. Russia†
1.6 billion
6. Japan‡
1.1 billion
$0
$60,000
Gross domestic product per capita*
China and India rising
An urbanization boom has caused China’s emissions to surge. As the populations of both developing countries moved out of poverty, fossil fuel use increased.
Metric tons
India
1.8
U.S.
Russia
14.2
Japan‡
China
EU
10.8
8.7
7.4
5.8
*GDP data is based on purchasing power parity in constant 2017 international dollars.
†1990 data is FOR the Russian republic of the U.S.S.R.
‡2019 data
Taylor Maggiacomo, NGM Staff
Sources: Hannah Ritchie, Our World in Data; The World Bank