Average carbon footprint in Ireland

Ireland emits about 6.3 tCO2e per person per year (territorial emissions). That places it around #19 globally, which is considered high on a per-person basis.

This is about 33% above the global median of ~4.7 tCO2e per person. Within Europe, Ireland ranks around #7 and sits about 19% above the regional median of ~5.3.

Population is roughly 5.4 million (2024).

GDP per capita is approximately $112,895 (2024).

Urban population is around 64% (2024).

Electricity renewables share is roughly ~48% of electricity.

Grid carbon intensity is roughly ~256 gCO2/kWh.

Per-capita emissions divide a country's total CO₂ output by its population. That lets us compare nations fairly regardless of size. A large country with high total emissions can still have low per-person emissions if its population is very large.

Globally, the main sectors driving emissions are electricity and heat, transport, industry, buildings, and food. The mix varies by country: colder climates often use more heating; car-dependent societies have higher transport emissions; industrial economies tend to show more industry-related CO₂.

For Ireland, with high per-capita emissions, the gap to global and climate targets is substantial. Decoupling economic activity from emissions—through clean energy, efficiency, and behavior change—is the main pathway to reduction.

With GDP per capita around $112,895 (2024), Ireland is a high-income economy. Higher incomes often correlate with greater energy use, car ownership, and consumption-based emissions. Policy, energy mix, and urban planning can significantly change that relationship.

Around 64% of the population lives in urban areas (2024). Urbanization can affect transport patterns, building density, and heating and cooling demand. Denser cities often support public transit and district heating; sprawl tends to increase car dependency and per-capita emissions.

Electricity mix and carbon intensity affect how much emissions drop when transport and heating electrify. Improving the grid is often a prerequisite for deep decarbonization of other sectors.

Territorial emissions count CO₂ produced within national borders. Consumption-based emissions attribute CO₂ to where goods are consumed. Both perspectives matter for understanding the full carbon footprint.

Territorial emissions count CO₂ produced within a country's borders. Consumption-based emissions attribute CO₂ to the country where goods and services are consumed, including imports. Ireland's per-capita figure above is territorial (~6.3 tCO2e/person/year). Consumption-based data for Ireland is around ~7.9 tCO2e/person/year, indicating imported carbon footprint. Both perspectives matter for understanding the full impact.

Targeted actions depend on the country's starting point. For Ireland, with high per-capita emissions, potential levers include:

• Switching to renewable electricity and heat pumps for heating
• Increasing renewable share in electricity generation
• Improving industrial process efficiency
• Cutting down on air travel and long-haul freight
• Retrofitting older buildings with heat pumps
• Expanding public transit and active mobility
• Shifting diets toward less carbon-intensive foods
• Electrifying industrial heating and process heat
• Phasing out coal and fossil gas in power generation
• Reducing car use and choosing electric vehicles
• Improving building insulation and energy efficiency
• Reducing food waste along the supply chain

• World Bank: SP.POP.TOTL (2024)
• World Bank: NY.GDP.PCAP.CD (2024)
• World Bank: SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS (2024)
• CO₂ per capita, emissions: OWID (2025)
• Electricity intensity & renewables: OWID (2025)