Malaysia CO₂ Emissions
Malaysia emitted 290 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 0.75% of the global total. That ranks it 20th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 8.16 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Malaysia emit?
Malaysia produced 290 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Malaysia accounts for 0.75% of it.
With a population of about 36 million, that is 8.16 tonnes per person, 1.7 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Malaysia since 1990
Annual emissions in Malaysia have risen by 435% since 1990, from 54 million tonnes to 290 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 18%. 2024 is the highest year on record.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Coal is the largest source of CO₂ in Malaysia, at about 34% of the total, followed by gas at 33% and oil at 27%.
How Malaysia compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Malaysia in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | United Kingdom | 312.91 | 0.81% | 4.53 |
| 19 | Italy | 301.93 | 0.78% | 5.09 |
| 20 | Malaysia | 290.22 | 0.75% | 8.16 |
| 21 | Kazakhstan | 287.01 | 0.74% | 13.94 |
| 22 | Poland | 272.86 | 0.71% | 7.08 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Malaysia has emitted about 7.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 0.38% of the cumulative global total, compared with 0.75% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Malaysia emit per year?
Malaysia emitted 290 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 0.75% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Malaysia?
About 8.16 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 1.7 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Malaysia rising or falling?
They have risen by 18% over the last ten years and risen by 435% since 1990. 2024 is the highest year on record.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Malaysia?
Coal is the largest source, responsible for about 34% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by gas at 33%.
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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