CO2 Per Capita in Europe: Country Ranking

How Europe compares to the global median

The global median CO₂ per capita—the middle value when all countries with data are sorted—sits around 4.7 tonnes per person per year. Europe's median of ~5.3 tCO₂e means that the typical country in this region emits more per person than the global middle. Regional differences reflect energy use, transport patterns, industrial structure, and development levels. North America and Oceania tend to rank above the global median; Africa and parts of Asia often rank below.

Climate targets often aim for per capita emissions of about 2–3 tonnes by 2050. Comparing your region to the global median helps put progress in perspective. Explore the global ranking for the full picture.

Why countries differ within Europe

Even within a single region, per capita emissions vary widely. High-emitting countries often combine fossil-fuel-intensive industry, high car ownership, energy-intensive heating or cooling, and sometimes oil or gas production or refining. Low-emitting countries tend to have lower energy use per person, more public transport, less industrialization, or a larger share of hydropower or renewables.

Small countries with unusual economies—financial hubs, aviation centers, or oil exporters—can show extreme per capita figures. Territorial emissions count what is produced within borders, so cross-border fuel sales or commuters can distort small economies. Consumption-based accounting assigns emissions to the consumer country and can shift the picture for high-import nations. Check our methodology for how data is sourced.

Countries in Europe

All countries we track in Europe: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Türkiye.