Compare countries by CO2 per capita

Compare two countries side by side on CO₂ emissions per capita, consumption-based emissions, electricity carbon intensity, and renewable energy share. Each comparison page shows which country performs better on each metric and links to detailed country pages. Use the picker below or the popular comparisons to get started.

Choose two countries to compare

Why compare CO2 per capita between countries?

CO₂ emissions per capita—the average annual carbon footprint per person in a country—varies enormously across the world. A person in a high-emitting country may produce many times more CO₂ than someone in a lower-emitting one, even when both lead similar lifestyles. Comparing countries helps you understand where different nations stand, how policy choices (energy mix, transport, industry) affect outcomes, and where your own country ranks globally.

Per-capita metrics level the playing field: large countries like China and India have huge total emissions, but when divided by population, their per-person footprint is often lower than many smaller, wealthier countries. Comparisons also reveal regional patterns—for example, European countries with nuclear or heavy renewables often have lower electricity carbon intensity than coal-dependent ones—and help identify best practices and laggards.

What metrics we compare

Each comparison page shows four key sustainability metrics: territorial CO₂ per capita (production-based emissions within the country), consumption-based CO₂ per capita (emissions tied to what people consume, including imports), electricity carbon intensity (grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour of power), and the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix.

Territorial and consumption-based emissions can differ: a country that imports many goods may have lower territorial emissions but higher consumption-based ones. Electricity carbon intensity matters for households and EVs—cleaner grids mean lower footprints from power use. Renewable share indicates how quickly a country is decarbonising its electricity sector.

How to use this tool

Use the country picker above to select two countries and click Compare. You will be taken to a dedicated comparison page with side-by-side bars, global and regional medians, and a summary of which country performs better on each metric. Each country name links to its full profile with more detailed breakdowns and climate policy notes.

You can also jump directly to popular comparisons below—for example, neighbouring countries like Poland vs Germany, or similar economies like the US vs Canada. Data comes from authoritative sources (Our World in Data and others) and is updated periodically. See our methodology and sources pages for definitions and limitations.

Popular comparisons

CO₂ per capita by country · Regions · CO₂ per capita rankings