Japan CO₂ Emissions
Japan emitted 962 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 2.49% of the global total. That ranks it 5th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 7.77 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Japan emit?
Japan produced 962 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Japan accounts for 2.49% of it.
With a population of about 124 million, that is 7.77 tonnes per person, 1.6 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Japan since 1990
Annual emissions in Japan have fallen by 17% since 1990, from 1.15 billion tonnes to 962 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have fallen by 24%. Emissions peaked in 2013 at 1.31 billion tonnes and are now 27% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Coal is the largest source of CO₂ in Japan, at about 40% of the total, followed by oil at 37% and gas at 20%.
How Japan compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Japan in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | India | 3,193.48 | 8.27% | 2.20 |
| 4 | Russia | 1,780.52 | 4.61% | 12.29 |
| 5 | Japan | 961.87 | 2.49% | 7.77 |
| 6 | Indonesia | 812.22 | 2.10% | 2.87 |
| 7 | Iran | 792.63 | 2.05% | 8.66 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Japan has emitted about 69.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 3.77% of the cumulative global total, compared with 2.49% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Japan emit per year?
Japan emitted 962 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 2.49% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Japan?
About 7.77 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 1.6 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Japan rising or falling?
They have fallen by 24% over the last ten years and fallen by 17% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2013 at 1.31 billion tonnes and are now 27% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Japan?
Coal is the largest source, responsible for about 40% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by oil at 37%.
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.
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