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Environment · North America · High income
United States: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 13.62 t (2024), 15th of 203 in the world and 2nd of 3 in North America. GHG per person is 17.39 t (2024), 15th of 203 in the world and 2nd of 3 in North America. GHG emissions is 5,912.6 Mt (2024), 2nd of 203 in the world and 1st of 3 in North America.
CO₂ per person
United StatesNorth AmericaHigh incomeWorld
GHG per person
United StatesNorth AmericaHigh incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: United States in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within North America; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 13.62 t2024 | 15/203 | 2/3 | 21.01 t | 17.85 t | 13.47 t | −17%since 2014 | 13.66 t | 9.75 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 17.39 t2024 | 15/203 | 2/3 | 25.59 t | 21.83 t | 17.20 t | −14%since 2014 | 17.52 t | 12.50 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 5,912.6 Mt2024 | 2/203 | 1/3 | 7,219.8 Mt | 6,754.2 Mt | 5,703.9 Mt | −8.9%since 2014 | 6,681.0 Mt | 17,426.5 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 4,632.2 Mt2024 | 2/203 | 1/3 | 5,928.8 Mt | 5,521.5 Mt | 4,466.9 Mt | −12%since 2014 | 5,210.4 Mt | 13,596.6 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 843.4 Mt2024 | 3/203 | 1/3 | 826.3 Mt | 818.9 Mt | 823.9 Mt | +1.6%since 2014 | 976.5 Mt | 2,534.1 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 10.9%2021 | 143/212 | 2/3 | 5.4% | 7.4% | 11.0% | +2.5 ppsince 2011 | 12.5% | 12.8% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 20.3%2021 | 114/206 | 2/2 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 19.9% | +7.6 ppsince 2011 | 26.3% | 26.7% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 7.0 µg/m³2023 | 176/200 | 1/3 | 14.5 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | −17%since 2013 | 6.9 µg/m³ | 13.0 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 33.8%2024 | 102/214 | 2/3 | 33.1% | 33.7% | 33.8% | −0.1 ppsince 2014 | 36.6% | 36.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 46.1%2024 | 74/210 | 1/3 | 45.2% | 45.8% | 46.3% | −0.3 ppsince 2014 | 26.7% | 28.2% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 16.6%2024 | 65/206 | 1/3 | 19.2% | 17.2% | 16.8% | −0.5 ppsince 2014 | 10.6% | 9.0% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 15.8%2025 | 82/213 | 1/3 | · | · | 23.9% | −4.3 ppsince 2015 | 13.7% | 22.2% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 15.8%2022 | 70/177 | 1/2 | 16.8% | 14.9% | 15.8% | +0.5 ppsince 2012 | 8.5% | 6.4% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 8,437 m³2022 | 54/183 | 2/2 | 9,987 m³ | 9,109 m³ | 8,499 m³ | −5.9%since 2012 | 15,198 m³ | 10,983 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 8,414 kg/ha2024 | 9/179 | 1/2 | 5,854 kg/ha | 6,978 kg/ha | 8,145 kg/ha | +10%since 2014 | 8,414 kg/ha | 5,394 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person−17%13.62 t in 2024
- GHG per person−14%17.39 t in 2024
- GHG emissions−8.9%5,912.6 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions−12%4,632.2 Mt in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Methane+1.6%843.4 Mt in 2024
- Protected areas−4.3 pp15.8% in 2025
- Water withdrawals+0.5 pp15.8% in 2022
- Freshwater per person−5.9%8,437 m³ in 2022
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
United States and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with United States. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | United States | Mexico | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 13.62 t2024 | 3.64 t2024 | 14.01 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 17.39 t2024 | 5.25 t2024 | 18.61 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 5,912.6 Mt2024 | 686.8 Mt2024 | 768.1 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 4,632.2 Mt2024 | 476.0 Mt2024 | 578.0 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 843.4 Mt2024 | 150.7 Mt2024 | 133.1 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 10.9%2021 | 13.0%2021 | 23.8%2021 |
| Renewable power | 20.3%2021 | 23.4%2021 | 67.0%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 7.0 µg/m³2023 | 16.6 µg/m³2023 | 6.6 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 33.8%2024 | 34.2%2024 | 42.0%2024 |