Transportation emissions in the U.S. - statistics & facts

Transportation is a major polluter and emits more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than any other economic sector in the United States. The sector became the largest direct source of GHGs in the U.S. in 2016 and now accounts for about 29 percent of the country’s total GHG emissions. U.S. transportation carbon dioxide emissions have remained above 1.8 billion metric tons (GtCO₂e) per year for most of the past two decades, making the U.S. the largest contributor to global transportation emissions.

Where do U.S. transportation emissions come from?

Emissions from transportation activities mainly come from the combustion of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum liquids. The majority of U.S. transportation emissions are produced by on-road vehicles ‐ in particular light-duty trucks. LDTs, which include SUVs, pickup trucks, and minivans, accounted for more than one-third of the sector’s GHG emissions in 2021. Medium and heavy-duty trucks and passenger cars followed, each with shares above 20 percent. Passenger car emissions had previously been far higher, but they have been cut by more than 40 percent since 1990 due to improved efficiency, increasingly stringent emissions standards, and more recently, an uptake in alternative fuel vehicles.

On a state-by-state basis, the biggest contributor to U.S. transportation emissions is Texas. Despite a COVID-19 induced year-on-year reduction of 15 percent, Texas emitted 193 MtCO₂ in 2020. This was almost 20 percent more than in second-placed California and at least twice those of every other state.

Decarbonizing the U.S. transportation sector

The United States has set the target to reduce economy-wide emissions by 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. As the sector that generates the most CO₂ in the U.S., reducing transportation emissions will be vital for the country to achieve these goals. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), billions of dollars in funding have been allocated for various programs over five years, including the Carbon Reduction Program. The CRP specifically aims to reduce transportation-related emissions through strategies like installing infrastructure to support the electrification of freight vehicles or personal cars. Investment in public transportation is also one of the BIL’s important areas of focus, with over 80 billion U.S. dollars in funding.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

U.S. share of global transportation CO₂ emissions: 21.6%

Transportation's share of U.S. GHG emissions: 28.5%

U.S. transportation-related CO₂ emissions: 1.84 GtCO₂

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Emissions

Transportation sector CO2 emissions in the U.S. 1975-2022

Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in the U.S. 1990-2021

Emissions

Share of global transportation sector CO₂ emissions 2021, by country

Recommended statistics

Overview

Premium Statistic Global transportation sector CO₂ emissions 1970-2021
Global transportation sector CO₂ emissions 1970-2021
Carbon dioxide emissions of the transportation sector worldwide from 1970 to 2021 (in billion metric tons)
Basic Statistic Share of global transportation sector CO₂ emissions 2021, by country
Share of global transportation sector CO₂ emissions 2021, by country
Distribution of carbon dioxide emissions of the transportation sector worldwide in 2021, by select country
Basic Statistic Share of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. 2021, by sector
Share of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. 2021, by sector
Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States in 2021, by economic sector
Premium Statistic U.S. carbon dioxide emissions 1975-2022, by sector
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions 1975-2022, by sector
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption from 1975 to 2022, by end-use sector (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Basic Statistic U.S. transportation sector gasoline & distillate fuel consumption 1992-2021
U.S. transportation sector gasoline & distillate fuel consumption 1992-2021
U.S. motor gasoline and distillate fuel oil consumption by the transportation sector from 1992 to 2021 (in 1,000 barrels per day)

GHG emissions

Premium Statistic Transportation sector CO2 emissions change in the U.S. 1990-2022
Transportation sector CO2 emissions change in the U.S. 1990-2022
Annual percent change in transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2022
Basic Statistic Transportation CO₂ emissions in the U.S. 2018-2022, by month
Transportation CO₂ emissions in the U.S. 2018-2022, by month
Monthly carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector in the U.S. from 2018 to 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Basic Statistic Transportation-related CO2 emissions in the United States 1990-2022, by fuel type
Transportation-related CO2 emissions in the United States 1990-2022, by fuel type
Transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2022, by fuel type (in million metric tons)
Basic Statistic Transportation sector CO₂ emissions in the U.S. 1980-2020, by state
Transportation sector CO₂ emissions in the U.S. 1980-2020, by state
Transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 1980 to 2020, by select state (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)
Premium Statistic Transportation shares of total CO2 emissions in the U.S. 2020, by state
Transportation shares of total CO2 emissions in the U.S. 2020, by state
Transportation sector shares of total energy-related CO2 emissions produced in United States in 2020, by state

Segments

Premium Statistic Breakdown of transportation GHG emissions in the U.S. 2021, by source
Breakdown of transportation GHG emissions in the U.S. 2021, by source
Distribution of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in the United States in 2021, by vehicle type
Premium Statistic Greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in the U.S. 1990-2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in the U.S. 1990-2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)
Basic Statistic Greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty trucks in the U.S. 1990-2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty trucks in the U.S. 1990-2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty trucks in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)
Basic Statistic Greenhouse gas emissions from medium and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. 1990-2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from medium and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. 1990-2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from medium and heavy-duty trucks in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)
Premium Statistic Greenhouse gas emissions from aircrafts in the United States 1990-2021, by type
Greenhouse gas emissions from aircrafts in the United States 1990-2021, by type
Greenhouse gas emissions from aviation in the United States from 1990 to 2021, by type (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)
Premium Statistic CO₂ emissions from road transportation in the U.S. 2021, by vehicle and fuel type
CO₂ emissions from road transportation in the U.S. 2021, by vehicle and fuel type
Carbon dioxide emissions from road transport in the United States in 2021, by vehicle and fuel type (in million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent)

Air pollutants

Premium Statistic Air pollutant emissions sources in the U.S. 2022, by category
Air pollutant emissions sources in the U.S. 2022, by category
Distribution of air pollutant emissions in the United States in 2022, by source category
Basic Statistic Sulfur dioxide emissions from road transportation in the U.S. 1970-2022
Sulfur dioxide emissions from road transportation in the U.S. 1970-2022
Annual sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from road vehicles in the United States from 1970 to 2022 (in 1,000 tons)
Premium Statistic Road vehicle particulate matter emissions in the U.S. 2005-2022
Road vehicle particulate matter emissions in the U.S. 2005-2022
Annual PM2.5 and PM10 emissions from road vehicles in the United States from 2005 to 2022* (in 1,000 tons)
Premium Statistic Road transportation nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. 1970-2022
Road transportation nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. 1970-2022
Annual nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from road vehicles in the United States from 1970 to 2022* (in 1,000 tons)
Premium Statistic Highway vehicle nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. 2022, by state
Highway vehicle nitrogen oxide emissions in the U.S. 2022, by state
Annual nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from on-road vehicles in the United States in 2022, by state (in 1,000 tons)

Outlook

Premium Statistic GHG emission projections in the U.S. 2021-2050, by sector
GHG emission projections in the U.S. 2021-2050, by sector
Projected greenhouse gas emissions in the United States under a "business-as-usual" scenario from 2021 to 2050, by sector (in million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Premium Statistic GHG emission projections from the transport sector in the U.S. and China 2020-2050
GHG emission projections from the transport sector in the U.S. and China 2020-2050
Greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector in the United States and China under a “business-as-usual” scenario from 2020 to 2021, with projections until 2050 (in million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Basic Statistic Transportation CO₂ emissions outlook in the United States 2022-2050, by fuel type
Transportation CO₂ emissions outlook in the United States 2022-2050, by fuel type
Projections for transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 2022 to 2050, by fuel type (in million metric tons of CO₂)
Basic Statistic Transportation CO₂ emissions outlook in the United States 2022-2050, by vehicle type
Transportation CO₂ emissions outlook in the United States 2022-2050, by vehicle type
Projections for transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States from 2022 to 2050, by vehicle type (in million metric tons)

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Transportation emissions in the U.S." and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Change in U.S. transportation emissions in 2022
1.5%
Detailed statistics
Transportation sector CO2 emissions change in the U.S. 1990-2022
U.S. transportation emissions from motor gasoline
1.02 GtCO₂
Detailed statistics
Transportation-related CO2 emissions in the United States 1990-2022, by fuel type
Largest contributor to U.S. transportation emissions
Texas
Detailed statistics
Transportation-related CO₂ emissions in the United States 2020, by state

U.S. transportation sector NOx emissions
4.09 Mt
Detailed statistics
Transportation NOx emissions in the United States 1990-2021
U.S. road vehicle PM2.5 emissions
80,000 t
Detailed statistics
Road vehicle particulate matter emissions in the U.S. 2005-2022
U.S. road transportation SO₂ emissions
13,000 t
Detailed statistics
Sulfur dioxide emissions from road transportation in the U.S. 1970-2022

Main source of U.S. transportation emissions
Light-duty trucks
Detailed statistics
Breakdown of transportation GHG emissions in the U.S. 2021, by source
U.S. GHG emissions from passenger cars
374.2 MtCO₂e
Detailed statistics
Greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars in the U.S. 1990-2021
U.S. GHG emissions from medium & heavy-duty trucks
417.1 MtCO₂e
Detailed statistics
Greenhouse gas emissions from medium and heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. 1990-2021
U.S. GHG emissions from light-duty trucks
671.8 MtCO₂e
Detailed statistics
Greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty trucks in the U.S. 1990-2021