Per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia
Australia: Per capita nitrous oxide emissions was 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
4th
of 201 countries
All-time high
12.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1850
All-time low
2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 2020
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
Australia recorded 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person for per capita nitrous oxide emissions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 21.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia peaked at 12.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850 and was at its lowest, 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 2020.
Australia ranks 4th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 175 years of available data.
Per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 12.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 12.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1852 | 11.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.0% |
| 1853 | 11.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.8% |
| 1854 | 10.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.0% |
| 1855 | 9.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.1% |
| 1856 | 9.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.3% |
| 1857 | 8.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.5% |
| 1858 | 7.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.7% |
| 1859 | 7.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.9% |
| 1860 | 7.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1861 | 6.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.4% |
| 1862 | 6.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1863 | 6.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1864 | 6.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1865 | 6.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1866 | 5.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1867 | 5.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1868 | 5.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1869 | 5.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 1870 | 5.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1871 | 5.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1872 | 5.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1873 | 5.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1874 | 5.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1875 | 6.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.5% |
| 1876 | 6.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1877 | 6.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1878 | 6.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 6.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1880 | 6.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1881 | 6.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 1882 | 6.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1883 | 6.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 1884 | 6.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1885 | 5.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1886 | 5.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1887 | 5.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1888 | 5.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1889 | 5.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1890 | 5.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.2% |
| 1891 | 5.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.6% |
| 1892 | 5.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.0% |
| 1893 | 4.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1894 | 4.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1895 | 4.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1896 | 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 1897 | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1898 | 3.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1899 | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1900 | 3.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1901 | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1902 | 3.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1903 | 3.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1904 | 3.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1905 | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1906 | 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1907 | 4.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1908 | 4.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1909 | 4.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1911 | 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1912 | 4.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1913 | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1914 | 4.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1915 | 4.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1916 | 4.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1917 | 4.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1918 | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1919 | 4.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1920 | 3.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1921 | 3.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1922 | 3.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1923 | 3.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1924 | 3.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1925 | 3.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1926 | 3.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1927 | 3.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1928 | 3.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1929 | 3.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1930 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1931 | 3.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1932 | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1933 | 3.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1934 | 3.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1935 | 3.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1936 | 3.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1937 | 3.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1938 | 3.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1939 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1940 | 3.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1941 | 3.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1942 | 3.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1943 | 3.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1944 | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.3% |
| 1945 | 3.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.5% |
| 1946 | 4.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.3% |
| 1947 | 4.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.6% |
| 1948 | 4.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1949 | 4.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1950 | 4.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1951 | 4.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1952 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1953 | 4.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1954 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1956 | 4.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1957 | 4.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1958 | 4.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1959 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1961 | 4.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1962 | 4.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 4.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 4.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 4.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 4.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 4.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 4.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 4.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 4.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.7% |
| 1972 | 5.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +23.3% |
| 1973 | 4.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -22.9% |
| 1974 | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.2% |
| 1975 | 4.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 5.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +17.3% |
| 1977 | 5.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.7% |
| 1978 | 4.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -20.4% |
| 1979 | 5.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +19.9% |
| 1980 | 5.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.9% |
| 1981 | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -30.3% |
| 1982 | 4.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +27.7% |
| 1983 | 4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.6% |
| 1984 | 4.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 5.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +31.5% |
| 1986 | 4.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.5% |
| 1987 | 3.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.5% |
| 1988 | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 3.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 4.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.3% |
| 1991 | 4.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 4.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 3.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 3.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 3.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 3.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 4.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +21.0% |
| 2000 | 4.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 5.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.5% |
| 2002 | 4.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 3.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -38.1% |
| 2004 | 4.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +33.6% |
| 2005 | 3.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -26.3% |
| 2006 | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +27.2% |
| 2007 | 3.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 2.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -21.2% |
| 2009 | 2.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.6% |
| 2011 | 4.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +88.8% |
| 2012 | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 2.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -39.0% |
| 2014 | 3.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +17.0% |
| 2015 | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 2.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -19.5% |
| 2017 | 3.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +32.3% |
| 2018 | 3.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.9% |
| 2020 | 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.6% |
| 2021 | 2.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +16.3% |
| 2022 | 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.3904 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 6.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.2323 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 10.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +88.8% | 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 2013 | -39.0% | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 2003 | -38.1% | 4.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 2004 | +33.6% | 3.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 2017 | +32.3% | 2.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1985 | +31.5% | 4.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 10.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 5.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 6.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 1 Mongolia 4.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 2 Botswana 3.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 3 New Zealand 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 5 Uruguay 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 6 Central African Republic 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 7 Lithuania 1.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia?
- Per capita nitrous oxide emissions in Australia was 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850.
- What is the lowest per capita nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for per capita nitrous oxide emissions?
- Australia ranks 4th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita nitrous oxide emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.