CO2 Per Capita in South America: Country Ranking
Per capita CO₂ emissions vary across South America. This page ranks countries by tCO₂e per person per year, shows the regional median, and compares it to the global median. Use it to explore regional patterns and find country profiles.
CO2 per capita in South America: overview
- Median CO₂ per capita
- ~2.3 tCO₂/person/yr
- vs global median
- 52% below global
- Countries with data
- 5
- Range
- 1.8–4.0 tCO₂/person/yr
Based on latest available year per country. Global median ≈ 4.7 tCO₂e/person/yr.
How South America 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. South America's median of ~2.3 tCO₂e means that the typical country in this region emits less 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 South America
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.
Top emitters and low emitters in South America
The table below ranks all countries in South America by CO₂ per capita. The top 10 and bottom 10 highlight the spread within the region.
Top 10 in South America
Countries with the highest per capita emissions in the region often have heavy industry, fossil fuel extraction, or high car and energy use.
Bottom 10 in South America
Lower per capita emissions typically reflect less energy use, fewer cars, or less industry. Low emissions do not automatically mean strong climate policy—they often relate to development levels.
Top emitters (per capita)
Per-capita CO₂, not total emissions.
Per capita ranking (all countries)
All countries with data, sorted by tCO₂e per person.
Share of total regional emissions
Brazil• Largest share
54% share • 483.0 Mt
Top 5 countries by total emissions, plus Others. Based on latest available year.
How to use this ranking
Use this table to sort countries by emissions, explore individual profiles, and compare neighbors. Each country links to a detailed page with more metrics and context. For side-by-side comparison, use the compare tool linked below.
Countries in South America
All countries we track in South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru.
Next steps
- Global CO₂ per capita ranking — full country list and methodology
- Methodology — data sources and calculations
- Compare countries: argentina vs chile, argentina vs brazil, colombia vs peru