environment
CO₂ emissions per capita
Territorial carbon dioxide emissions per person.
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Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 4.57 tonnes/person in 2024, down 1.3% from 2014. Across the longer period from 2004, the global estimate changed by +0.322 tonnes/person (+7.6%). Latest country observations range from 0.054 tonnes/person in Democratic Republic of Congo (2024) to 41.3 tonnes/person in Qatar (2024), with the middle country observation at 3.22 tonnes/person; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, North America reports 9.96 tonnes/person, while Africa reports 1 tonnes/person. Over roughly a decade, North America changed by -2.01 tonnes/person; Africa changed by -0.156 tonnes/person. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +5.79 tonnes/person in Kuwait, while the largest decrease was -28.8 tonnes/person in Curacao. Coverage includes 210 countries; their latest observation years span 2024-2024, with a median latest year of 2024.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 7.28 tonnes/person in 2024. From 2014 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 1.38 tonnes/person (15.9%). From 2004 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 5.08 tonnes/person (41.1%). The latest decade changed by −1.38 tonnes/person, versus −3.7 tonnes/person in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Europe and world context
This is 0.75 tonnes/person above Europe (2024). This is 2.71 tonnes/person above the world estimate (2024). From 2014 to 2024, Europe decreased by 1.02 tonnes/person (13.5%). The latest decade changed by −1.02 tonnes/person, versus −1.24 tonnes/person in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Belgium has the 38th-highest latest observation among 210 countries and 5th among 42 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2024-2024, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: North America is at 9.96 tonnes/person (2024), compared with 1 tonnes/person in Africa (2024).
- Largest observed decade increase: Kuwait changed by +5.79 tonnes/person.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Curacao changed by -28.8 tonnes/person.
- Coverage: 210 countries; the median latest observation is 2024, with latest country observations spanning 2024-2024.
Source
Our World in Data
Source series co-emissions-per-capita. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.