Countries by CO2 Emissions Per Capita 2025

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by carbon dioxide emissions per person in 2025, measured in tonnes of CO2 per capita according to Global Carbon Project and IEA Greenhouse Gas Emissions data. Qatar records the highest CO2 emissions per capita of any country — a consequence of its extreme climate requiring year-round intensive air conditioning, an energy-intensive liquefied natural gas export industry that constitutes the foundation of its economy, heavily subsidised domestic fuel and electricity prices that eliminate conservation incentives, and a small citizen population relative to the enormous industrial infrastructure required to process and export its hydrocarbon reserves. Gulf states dominate the top of per-capita emissions rankings for these structural reasons, contrasting sharply with their relatively modest contributions to global absolute emissions totals.

✨ AI Insight

The data reveals a significant disparity in CO2 emissions per capita, particularly among Gulf states, which dominate the top rankings. Qatar's emissions are more than double those of Kuwait, the second-highest emitter at 25.1 tonnes. This extreme per capita figure can be attributed to Qatar's reliance on fossil fuels for both its economy and energy needs, compounded by a small citizen population. In contrast, countries like the United States and Canada, with emissions of 14.2 and 13.8 tonnes respectively, reflect larger populations and more diverse economies, suggesting that while they contribute significantly to global emissions, their per capita figures are much lower. This trend underscores the need for targeted climate policies that address the unique circumstances of high-emission countries.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Qatar leads with 33 in 2025.

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Average value in 2025: 20 · median: 17.

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Gap in 2025: Qatar is 2.6× larger than Russia.