Countries by CO2 Per Capita

What CO2 Emissions Per Person Measures

CO2 Emissions Per Person is a comparative indicator tracked across countries by the Our World in Data. It provides a quantitative basis for cross-national comparison, enabling researchers and policymakers to benchmark national performance on this dimension against global peers.

Why This Ranking Matters

Examining CO2 Emissions Per Person across all countries reveals patterns that might not be obvious at the national level. Regional clusters, outlier nations, and historical trajectories all become clearer when the full global picture is assembled in a single ranking.

Global Range

Values range from 0.05 (Congo, Democratic Republic) to 41.271 (Qatar) — a 764-fold difference across 213 countries.

Regional Patterns

Asian countries dominate this ranking, holding 10 of the top 20 positions. This strong regional concentration suggests shared economic, geographic, or policy factors that drive higher values across the continent.

Values are tightly clustered around the median of 3.20, with most countries falling within a narrow range. A few outliers at the extremes account for most of the overall spread.

Notable Outliers

Qatar stands far above the rest, with a value 57% higher than second-place Kuwait. This extraordinary lead suggests unique national circumstances — geographic scale, resource endowment, or policy choices — that set it apart from even its closest competitors. The bottom five countries are all from Africa, pointing to regional challenges that affect co2 emissions per person across the continent.

Continental Leaders

Asia

Qatar

41.271

North America

Trinidad and Tobago

22.932

Oceania

New Caledonia

18.064

Europe

Faroe Islands

13.089

Africa

Libya

8.84

South America

Chile

3.98