Palau CO₂ Emissions
Palau emitted 226 thousand tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, less than 0.01% of the global total. That ranks it 194th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 12.76 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Palau emit?
Palau produced 226 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Palau accounts for less than 0.01% of it.
With a population of about 17,719, that is 12.76 tonnes per person, 2.7 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Palau since 1990
Annual emissions in Palau have fallen by 3% since 1990, from 234 thousand tonnes to 226 thousand tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 3%. Emissions peaked in 2007 at 253 thousand tonnes and are now 11% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the only recorded source of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in Palau.
How Palau compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Palau in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 192 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.26 | <0.01% | 2.54 |
| 193 | Samoa | 0.25 | <0.01% | 1.13 |
| 194 | Palau | 0.23 | <0.01% | 12.76 |
| 195 | Vanuatu | 0.20 | <0.01% | 0.60 |
| 196 | British Virgin Islands | 0.19 | <0.01% | 4.87 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Palau has emitted about 11 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 Palau emit per year?
Palau emitted 226 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 Palau?
About 12.76 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 2.7 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Palau rising or falling?
They have risen by 3% over the last ten years and fallen by 3% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2007 at 253 thousand tonnes and are now 11% 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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