Passenger cars produced approximately three billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in 2020. The emissions produced by passenger cars have been steadily rising over the past two decades, increasing from 2.2 billion metric tons in 2000 to a peak of 3.2 million metric tons. Emissions fell roughly six percent in a 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused major disruptions to transportation.
Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020
(in billion metric tons)
Characteristic
Carbon dioxide emissions in billion metric tons
2020
3
2019
3.2
2018
3.1
2017
3.1
2016
3
2015
3
2014
2.9
2013
2.8
2012
2.8
2011
2.7
2010
2.6
2009
2.6
2008
2.6
2.22.42.62.833.23.4
Add this content to your personal favorites. These can be accessed from the favorites menu in the main navigation.
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
IEA. (May 25, 2021). Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (in billion metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 11, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport/
IEA. "Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (in billion metric tons)." Chart. May 25, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 11, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport/
IEA. (2021). Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (in billion metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 11, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport/
IEA. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Passenger Cars Worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (in Billion Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 May 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport/
IEA, Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (in billion metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport/ (last visited May 11, 2025)
Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars worldwide from 2000 to 2020 (in billion metric tons) [Graph], IEA, May 25, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1107970/carbon-dioxide-emissions-passenger-transport/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
