Nauru CO₂ Emissions
Nauru emitted 61 thousand tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, less than 0.01% of the global total. That ranks it 207th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 5.13 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Nauru emit?
Nauru produced 61 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Nauru accounts for less than 0.01% of it.
With a population of about 11,968, that is 5.13 tonnes per person, close to the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Nauru since 1990
Annual emissions in Nauru have fallen by 51% since 1990, from 125 thousand tonnes to 61 thousand tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 20%. Emissions peaked in 1986 at 161 thousand tonnes and are now 62% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the only recorded source of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in Nauru.
How Nauru compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Nauru in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | Cook Islands | 0.08 | <0.01% | 5.82 |
| 206 | Kiribati | 0.07 | <0.01% | 0.54 |
| 207 | Nauru | 0.06 | <0.01% | 5.13 |
| 208 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 0.06 | <0.01% | 9.79 |
| 209 | Wallis and Futuna | 0.03 | <0.01% | 2.70 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Nauru has emitted about 5 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is less than 0.01% of the cumulative global total, compared with less than 0.01% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Nauru emit per year?
Nauru emitted 61 thousand tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is less than 0.01% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Nauru?
About 5.13 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is close to the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Nauru rising or falling?
They have risen by 20% over the last ten years and fallen by 51% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 1986 at 161 thousand tonnes and are now 62% below that level.
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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