Carbon dioxide emissions per person in the U.S. 2024-2050

Per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the United States were estimated at 14 metric tons (tCO₂) in 2024. Under a business-as-usual scenario based on laws and regulations as of December 2024 under evolutionary technological growth assumptions, U.S. per capita emissions would fall to 9.2 tCO₂ by 2050. 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 2023, per capita GHG emissions in the U.S. were 17.2 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 2022, energy-related per capita CO₂ emissions in Wyoming were 96.6 tCO₂, roughly six times the national average. This is because of the states polluting coal industry.