Wealth and carbon emissions
Richer countries emit more CO2 per person, but at the same income some emit several times more than others.
Countries with higher GDP per Person at PPP tend to have higher CO2 Emissions per Person.
Moderate link: a correlation of 0.41 across 179 countries.CorrelationHow closely two metrics move together, from −1 to +1. Near +1: both rise together. Near −1: one rises as the other falls. Near 0: no clear link.More in the glossary →
Carbon emissions per person rise with income, but energy sources and efficiency vary so much that countries with similar incomes can emit very different amounts.
Each dot in the chart is one of 179 countries. The correlation between GDP per Person at PPP (on a log scale) and CO2 Emissions per Person is 0.41, a moderate relationship: about 17% of the differences in CO2 Emissions per Person from place to place line up with GDP per Person at PPP. Ranked instead of measured, the link is 0.87.
The highest CO2 Emissions per Person is in Palau (82.84), Qatar (47.33) and Bahrain (23.9); the lowest is in Tuvalu (0), Nauru (0) and Micronesia (0). The median place has 2.57 for CO2 Emissions per Person and $20,181 for GDP per Person at PPP.
The biggest exceptions sit furthest from the trend line. Palau, Qatar and Kuwait have a much higher CO2 Emissions per Person than their GDP per Person at PPP would predict, while Macau, Switzerland and Malta have a much lower one.
This is a comparison across places, not proof that one causes the other: both can follow from something else, such as income, age or how urban a place is. GDP per Person at PPP is from 2025 and CO2 Emissions per Person from 2024.
Highest CO2 Emissions per Person
| Place | CO2 Emissions per Person | GDP per Person at PPP |
|---|---|---|
| Palau | 82.84 | $23,052 |
| Qatar | 47.33 | $128,883 |
| Bahrain | 23.9 | $70,997 |
| Kuwait | 23.67 | $56,468 |
| Brunei | 20.24 | $92,430 |
Lowest CO2 Emissions per Person
| Place | CO2 Emissions per Person | GDP per Person at PPP |
|---|---|---|
| Tuvalu | 0 | $6,759 |
| Nauru | 0 | $14,200 |
| Micronesia | 0 | $4,604 |
| Marshall Islands | 0 | $8,964 |
| Somalia | 0.05 | $1,643 |
Explore it yourself
- Open this comparison in the interactive chart to highlight places, change the metrics or colour by party.
- Full ranking and sources for GDP per Person at PPP
- Full ranking and sources for CO2 Emissions per Person