Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea
North Korea: Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector was 48.45 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
48.45 kilograms per person
Change on year
up 7.2%
World rank
171st
of 193 countries
All-time high
236.6 kilograms per person
in 1991
All-time low
45.2 kilograms per person
in 2022
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
In 2023, per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea stood at 48.45 kilograms per person.
The figure is up 7.2% on the previous year and down 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea peaked at 236.6 kilograms per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 45.2 kilograms per person, in 2022.
That places North Korea 171st out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 236.36 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 236.6 kilograms per person | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 228.04 kilograms per person | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 218.82 kilograms per person | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 129.05 kilograms per person | -41.0% |
| 1995 | 64.4 kilograms per person | -50.1% |
| 1996 | 53.28 kilograms per person | -17.3% |
| 1997 | 70.1 kilograms per person | +31.6% |
| 1998 | 70.78 kilograms per person | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 78.31 kilograms per person | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 81.97 kilograms per person | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 89.86 kilograms per person | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 64.73 kilograms per person | -28.0% |
| 2003 | 60.19 kilograms per person | -7.0% |
| 2004 | 71.33 kilograms per person | +18.5% |
| 2005 | 69.27 kilograms per person | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 75.03 kilograms per person | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 65.32 kilograms per person | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 66.63 kilograms per person | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 72.35 kilograms per person | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 78.04 kilograms per person | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 86.86 kilograms per person | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 77.34 kilograms per person | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 77.78 kilograms per person | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 72.3 kilograms per person | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 67.25 kilograms per person | -7.0% |
| 2016 | 74.71 kilograms per person | +11.1% |
| 2017 | 72.43 kilograms per person | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 83.3 kilograms per person | +15.0% |
| 2019 | 62.6 kilograms per person | -24.8% |
| 2020 | 52.8 kilograms per person | -15.7% |
| 2021 | 50.32 kilograms per person | -4.7% |
| 2022 | 45.2 kilograms per person | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 48.45 kilograms per person | +7.2% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 48.45 kilograms per person is below the median for low income countries, which is 234.87 kilograms per person, 21% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 48.45 kilograms per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 171.85 kilograms per person, 28% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 138.57 kilograms per person | 53.28 kilograms per person | 236.6 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.67 kilograms per person | 60.19 kilograms per person | 89.86 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.26 kilograms per person | 62.6 kilograms per person | 86.86 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.19 kilograms per person | 45.2 kilograms per person | 52.8 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea?
- Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in North Korea was 48.45 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 236.6 kilograms per person in 1991.
- What is the lowest per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.2 kilograms per person in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector?
- North Korea ranks 171st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide-equivalents per person.