Carbon intensity of GDP in China
China: Carbon intensity of GDP was 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
32nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
4.23 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP
in 1978
All-time low
0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP
in 2024
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Carbon intensity of GDP in China, 1970–2024
Source: EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission. Measured in kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity of gdp in China is 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 31.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity of gdp in China peaked at 4.23 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP in 1978 and was at its lowest, 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP, in 2024.
China ranks 32nd of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity of GDP in China, year by year
| Year | kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.88 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | — |
| 1971 | 3.63 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 3.73 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 3.6 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 3.58 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 3.78 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 4 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 4.18 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 4.23 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 4.02 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 3.65 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -9.3% |
| 1981 | 3.44 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.7% |
| 1982 | 3.3 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 3.14 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 2.97 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 2.64 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -10.9% |
| 1986 | 2.58 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -2.5% |
| 1987 | 2.47 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 2.39 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 1989 | 2.37 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 2.32 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 2.24 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 2.05 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 1.95 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 1.82 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -6.8% |
| 1995 | 1.81 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 1.63 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -9.8% |
| 1997 | 1.54 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.8% |
| 1998 | 1.46 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 1.33 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 1.29 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 1.25 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 1.24 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.3 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.36 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 1.38 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 1.36 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 1.29 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 1.22 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 1.19 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 1.18 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 1.18 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.13 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.1 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 1.03 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 0.9529 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 0.8945 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 0.8543 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 0.8387 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 0.8103 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 0.8019 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 0.7749 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 0.7493 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 0.7394 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.86 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 3.58 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 4.23 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.89 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 2.37 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 3.65 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 1.33 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 2.32 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.29 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 1.19 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 1.38 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9968 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 0.8103 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 1.18 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7551 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 0.8019 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 29 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 0.7521 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP compare
- 30 Sudan 0.7494 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP compare
- 31 Saudi Arabia 0.7358 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP compare
- 33 Malaysia 0.7004 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP compare
- 34 Brunei Darussalam 0.6847 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP compare
- 35 Indonesia 0.6559 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Sawnwood — Export quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export quantity, per capita 0.0002 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, annual growth rate 3.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Export value, per capita 0.0001 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Import quantity, annual growth rate -8.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity of gdp in China?
- Carbon intensity of gdp in China was 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP in 2024, according to EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission.
- What is the highest carbon intensity of gdp recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4.23 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP in 1978.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity of gdp recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.71 kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP in 2024.
- How does China rank for carbon intensity of gdp?
- China ranks 32nd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon intensity of gdp rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission, published as part of Carbon intensity of GDP (kg CO2e per constant 2015 US$ of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the six Kyoto greenhouse gases (GHG), from the agriculture, energy, waste, and industrial sectors, excluding LULUCF divided by the GDP in constant 2021 US$.