Carbon Emissions Per Capita by Country 2026
Compare carbon footprints worldwide - from Qatar's 37.6 tons to DR Congo's 0.04 tons per person
World Average
tons CO2/person/year
Highest - Qatar
tons CO2/person/year
Lowest - DR Congo
tons CO2/person/year
| Rank | Country | Region | Emissions/Person | Population (M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇶🇦Qatar | Middle East | 37.6 tons | 2.9M |
| 2 | 🇰🇼Kuwait | Middle East | 25.6 tons | 4.3M |
| 3 | 🇦🇪UAE | Middle East | 25.3 tons | 9.9M |
| 4 | 🇧🇭Bahrain | Middle East | 23.4 tons | 1.5M |
| 5 | 🇸🇦Saudi Arabia | Middle East | 19.3 tons | 36.4M |
| 6 | 🇦🇺Australia | Oceania | 16.8 tons | 26.4M |
| 7 | 🇺🇸USA | North America | 14.9 tons | 341.8M |
| 8 | 🇨🇦Canada | North America | 14.2 tons | 39.7M |
| 9 | 🇷🇺Russia | Europe | 11.4 tons | 144.4M |
| 10 | 🇰🇷S. Korea | Asia | 11.3 tons | 51.7M |
Highest CO2 Emitters Per Capita
Historical Trend: Per Capita Emissions
Quick Facts:
- •Qatar's per capita emissions are 627x higher than DR Congo's
- •If everyone lived like Americans, we'd need 5 Earths
- •Top 10% of global emitters produce 50% of all CO2
- •USA emissions peaked in 2005 at 20.8 tons, now 14.9 tons
- •China's per capita emissions surpassed EU average in 2019
- •Global average has stayed near 4.7 tons since 2010 despite population growth
Understanding Carbon Footprint Per Person
CO2 emissions per capita measures the average carbon dioxide produced per person yearly. World average is 4.7 tons, but ranges from 37.6 (Qatar) to 0.04 (DR Congo). Our carbon data tracksemissions by country, historical trends, and climate progress.
Also known as carbon footprint per person, per capita emissions, and individual carbon output, this metric is closely related to climate change, energy use, and development.
Our emissions statistics covers multiple dimensions including by country, by region, over time, and comparison with population.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Calculate CO2 Per Capita
Our live counters use verified data from Global Carbon Project, converted to real-time estimates using linear interpolation. All calculations are transparent and documented.
Data compiled by: CreatorMeter Research Team
Sources verified: 2025-12-23