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Who put the most CO2 in the air

Race · 9 Nov 2026

Bar chart race of cumulative CO2 emissions in tonnes, 1900 to 2024, for 12 countries. The United Kingdom leads until the United States, in gold, passes it in 1911. China climbs to second place, passing the UK in 1998, Germany in 2001 and Russia in 2003. In 2024 the US has emitted 435 billion tonnes in total and China 285 billion.

In 1900 it was the United Kingdom, with 16.8 billion tonnes emitted since the 1750s. The US passed it in 1911 and has led ever since. In 2024 it stands at 435 billion tonnes, almost a quarter of the world's total.

China came late but fast: it passed the UK in 1998, Germany in 2001 and Russia in 2003, and now stands at 285 billion tonnes.

Source: Global Carbon Project via Our World in Data, 2025