Per capita CO₂ emissions in the U.S. 1970-2022

The average American was responsible for emitting 14.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide (tCO₂) in 2022. Although an increase from the previous year, U.S. per capita fossil CO₂ emissions have fallen by more than 25 percent since 1990.

Global per capita emission comparisons

Despite per capita emissions in the United States falling notably in recent decades, they remain more than three times the global average per capita CO₂ emissions. In 2022, the average American emitted more CO₂ in one day than the average Somalian did throughout the entire year. Additionally, while China is now the world’s biggest emitter, the average Chinese citizen’s annual carbon footprint was almost half the average American’s.

Which U.S. state has the largest carbon footprint?

Per capita energy-related CO₂ emissions in the U.S. vary greatly by state. Wyoming was the biggest CO₂ emitter per capita in 2021, with 94 tCO₂ per person. The least-populated state’s high per capita emissions are mainly due to its heavily polluting coal industry. In contrast, New Yorkers had the smallest carbon footprint in 2021, at less than eight tCO₂ per person.