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