Per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the United States were estimated at 14.6 metric tons (tCO₂) in 2022. Under a business-as-usual scenario based on laws and regulations as of November 2022 under evolutionary technological growth assumptions, U.S. per capita emissions would fall to 10.6 tCO₂. Since 1990, U.S. per capita emissions have reduced by roughly 30 percent.
Americans have a large carbon footprint
Although per capita emissions have fallen in the U.S., they are still far higher than other countries. This is especially the case when compared to other major GHG emitters like China and India. In 2021, per capita GHG emissions in the U.S. were 17.6 tCO₂e, roughly 2.5 times the global average.
Which state has the largest carbon footprint?
The U.S. state with the largest carbon footprint is Wyoming. In 2020, energy-related per capita CO₂ emissions in Wyoming were 96.4 tCO₂, roughly six times the national average. This is because of the states polluting coal industry.
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2022 to 2050
(in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Characteristic
Emissions in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent/ person
2050
10.6
2049
10.6
2048
10.6
2047
10.6
2046
10.6
2045
10.7
2044
10.7
2043
10.7
2042
10.7
2041
10.7
2040
10.7
2039
10.8
2038
10.8
2037
10.9
2036
11
2035
11
2034
11.1
2033
11.2
2032
11.3
2031
11.4
2030
11.6
2029
11.9
2028
12.2
2027
12.6
2026
13
2025
13.5
2024
13.9
2023
14.1
2022
14.6
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The projections under the AEO2023 Reference case are based on a business-as-usual trend estimate, given known technology and technological and demographic trends, as well as current laws and regulations as of November 2022.
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EIA. (March 31, 2023). U.S. carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2022 to 2050 (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 17, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/193174/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-person-since-2009/
EIA. "U.S. carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2022 to 2050 (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)." Chart. March 31, 2023. Statista. Accessed November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/193174/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-person-since-2009/
EIA. (2023). U.S. carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2022 to 2050 (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 17, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/193174/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-person-since-2009/
EIA. "U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions per Capita from 2022 to 2050 (in Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Mar 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/193174/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-person-since-2009/
EIA, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2022 to 2050 (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/193174/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-person-since-2009/ (last visited November 17, 2024)
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 2022 to 2050 (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph], EIA, March 31, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/193174/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-per-person-since-2009/