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North Korea CO2 per unit GDP 2026: Interactive Chart & Historical Data

CO2 per unit GDP in North Korea stood at 1.392 kg/$ in 2022, according to Our World in Data. The latest value is up 4.6% from 1.331 kg/$ in 2021. Ten years earlier, in 2012, the value was 1.074 kg/$ (up 30% since). North Korea had the highest value of the 163 countries in this dataset in 2022.

Data source: Our World in Data · Unit: kg/$ · Category: Commodities and Energy · Explore more indicators on EconDash

Data updated:Last checked:Frequency:AnnualCoverage:1820–2022
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What is CO2 per unit GDP?

CO2 per unit GDP, measured in kg/$, measures the total economic output of North Korea. 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 North Korea, 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.

Key facts

What is the latest CO2 per unit GDP in North Korea?

CO2 per unit GDP in North Korea stood at 1.392 kg/$ in 2022, according to Our World in Data.

Is CO2 per unit GDP in North Korea rising or falling?

The latest value is up 4.6% from 1.331 kg/$ in 2021. Ten years earlier, in 2012, the value was 1.074 kg/$ (up 30% since).

How does North Korea rank for CO2 per unit GDP?

North Korea had the highest value of the 163 countries in this dataset in 2022.

Metadata for CO2 per unit GDP in North Korea
IndicatorCO2 per unit GDP
CountryNorth Korea
CategoryCommodities and Energy
Unitkg/$
SourceOur World in Data
Interactive chartView on EconDash
API accessEconDash API documentation

Latest value: 1.392 kg/$ (2022)

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Source:Our World in Data — series co2_per_gdp
License:CC BY 4.0
Cite this chart
APA

Our World in Data. (2026). CO2 per unit GDP — North Korea [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/PRK. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp

MLA

Our World in Data. "CO2 per unit GDP — North Korea." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/PRK. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp.

Chicago

Our World in Data. 2026. "CO2 per unit GDP — North Korea." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/PRK. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp.

BibTeX
@misc{econdash_co2_per_unit_gdp_prk,
  author = {{Our World in Data}},
  title = {{CO2 per unit GDP --- North Korea}},
  howpublished = {EconDash},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://econdash.org/chart/co2-per-unit-gdp/PRK},
  note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co2-emissions-and-gdp}
}