Global CO2 emissions per capita 1975-2018, by select country

Qatar had the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in 2018, at 31.1 metric tons.
The tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao once had the highest CO2 emissions per capita in the world. Although these levels have fallen over the past 40 years, Curacao still has one of the highest CO2 emissions per capita worldwide. This is mainly due to the Isla Oil Refinery. Countries in the Middle East and North America have high levels of per capita emissions, especially when compared to countries in Africa. In 1970's Europe, Czechia was once the continents top ranked country for per capita emissions. However, in the following decades, Czechia has seen its per capita emissions drop by 40 percent.

Greenhouse gas emissions worldwide

Some of the Middle East’s largest oil producing countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are among the world’s largest carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters per capita. Developed countries such as the United States and South Korea also show disproportionately high levels of emission per inhabitant. Despite a relatively low population for its size, Canada’s CO2 emissions have recently reached more than 500 million metric tons, and is amongst biggest producers of CO2 emissions worldwide.

Rising emissions

Global greenhouse gas emissions have been on the rise since the industrial revolution began approximately 200 years ago. However, over the past 50 years carbon dioxide emissions have skyrocketed, and climbed to a record high in 2018.