CO2 per unit GDP in China stood at 0.434 kg/$ in 2022, according to Our World in Data. The latest value is up 0.8% from 0.431 kg/$ in 2021. Ten years earlier, in 2012, the value was 0.661 kg/$ (down 34% since). The highest value since 1911 was 1.133 kg/$ in 1960, the lowest 0.0563 kg/$ in 1913. China ranked 19th highest of the 163 countries in this dataset in 2022; North Korea ranked first.
Data source: Our World in Data · Unit: kg/$ · Category: Commodities and Energy · Explore more indicators on EconDash
CO2 per unit GDP, measured in kg/$, measures the total economic output of China. It represents the broadest indicator of economic activity, capturing production, income, and expenditure across all sectors — from manufacturing and services to agriculture and government. GDP can be calculated three ways: by adding up all expenditures (consumption + investment + government spending + net exports), by summing all incomes earned, or by totaling value added at each production stage. In China, the statistical agency compiles GDP data through comprehensive surveys of businesses, government records, and household expenditure patterns. While GDP per capita provides insight into average living standards, it does not capture income distribution, environmental costs, or unpaid work like caregiving. Nevertheless, GDP growth remains the most widely followed metric for assessing whether an economy is expanding or contracting.
CO2 per unit GDP in China stood at 0.434 kg/$ in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
The latest value is up 0.8% from 0.431 kg/$ in 2021. Ten years earlier, in 2012, the value was 0.661 kg/$ (down 34% since).
China ranked 19th highest of the 163 countries in this dataset in 2022; North Korea ranked first.
The highest value since 1911 was 1.133 kg/$ in 1960, the lowest 0.0563 kg/$ in 1913.
| Indicator | CO2 per unit GDP |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Category | Commodities and Energy |
| Unit | kg/$ |
| Source | Our World in Data |
| Interactive chart | View on EconDash |
| API access | EconDash API documentation |
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Our World in Data. (2026). CO2 per unit GDP — China [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/CHN. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp
Our World in Data. "CO2 per unit GDP — China." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/CHN. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp.
Our World in Data. 2026. "CO2 per unit GDP — China." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/CHN. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp.
@misc{econdash_co2_per_unit_gdp_chn,
author = {{Our World in Data}},
title = {{CO2 per unit GDP --- China}},
howpublished = {EconDash},
year = {2026},
url = {https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/CHN},
note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp}
}Browse indicators available for China. Click any indicator to view its interactive chart, compare with other countries, and download historical data.
| Demographics | 49 indicators |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | 33 indicators |
| Macroeconomics | 137 indicators |
| Real Estate | 3 indicators |
| Education | 38 indicators |
| Commodities and Energy | 107 indicators |
| Technology and Internet | 8 indicators |
| Transport and Logistics | 22 indicators |
| Labor and Employment | 34 indicators |
| Financial Markets | 39 indicators |
| Total indicators | 470 |