UK greenhouse gas emissions per person
UK greenhouse gas emissions per person stood at 1.69 tonnes CO2e in Q3 2025, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Greenhouse gas emissions table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1999 to Q3 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Greenhouse gas emissions table
| Indicator | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | Q3-2023 | Q2-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse gas emissions per person | 1.69 | 1.67 | 1.75 | 1.77 | 1.85 | 1.88 | 1.8 | 1.75 | 1.82 | 1.78 | |
| Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | 0.15 | |
| Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of output | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.11 | 0.12 | 0.12 |
Understanding UK greenhouse gas emissions per person
Average greenhouse gas output per resident across the United Kingdom is calculated in this indicator by dividing total residence-based warming gas emissions by the estimated population count. The numerator aggregates every regulated greenhouse gas from all commercial, industrial, and household activities, while the demographic denominator scales the total down to an individual level. This metric normalises national emission totals against population size to assess per capita carbon footprints.
When reviewing these figures, analysts must remember that population estimates are subject to periodic revisions following demographic censuses, which alters historical per capita calculations retrospectively. Because the emission numerator incorporates residence-based international transport alongside domestic sources, the resulting per capita figure reflects all UK-operated travel abroad. Observers should rely on same-quarter annual comparisons to evaluate long-term footprint changes, avoiding short-term seasonal weather volatility that heavily influences the emission numerator.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the per capita footprint calculated in this series?
- Total residence-based greenhouse gas emissions for the period are divided by the estimated resident population.
- Do population revisions impact historical data points?
- Yes, updating demographic baselines with census results leads to retrospective adjustments in the per capita output.
- Does this per capita measure include international travel emissions?
- Yes, because the underlying emission totals include emissions generated abroad by UK-operated transport carriers.