Germany CO₂ Emissions
Germany emitted 572 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 1.48% of the global total. That ranks it 10th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 6.77 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Germany emit?
Germany produced 572 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Germany accounts for 1.48% of it.
With a population of about 85 million, that is 6.77 tonnes per person, 1.4 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Germany since 1990
Annual emissions in Germany have fallen by 46% since 1990, from 1.05 billion tonnes to 572 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have fallen by 28%. Emissions peaked in 1979 at 1.12 billion tonnes and are now 49% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Germany, at about 41% of the total, followed by coal at 28% and gas at 28%.
How Germany compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Germany in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | 692.13 | 1.79% | 20.38 |
| 9 | South Korea | 583.68 | 1.51% | 11.29 |
| 10 | Germany | 572.32 | 1.48% | 6.77 |
| 11 | Canada | 533.34 | 1.38% | 13.42 |
| 12 | Turkey | 513.04 | 1.33% | 5.87 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Germany has emitted about 95.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 5.15% of the cumulative global total, compared with 1.48% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Germany emit per year?
Germany emitted 572 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 1.48% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Germany?
About 6.77 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 1.4 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Germany rising or falling?
They have fallen by 28% over the last ten years and fallen by 46% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 1979 at 1.12 billion tonnes and are now 49% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Germany?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 41% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by coal at 28%.
About the data. Figures are annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and from industry, such as cement production. They are counted where the emissions happen and do not include land-use change, other greenhouse gases, or emissions from imported goods.
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025), processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Latest year available: 2024.
From countries to companies. Work out your own business footprint from four figures on your bills.
Open the calculator