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China vs Taiwan

21 metrics with data for both countries. The solid line is China; the dashed grey line is Taiwan.

Country A · China
Country B · Taiwan

Climate

CO2 emissions

China: 12,289 Mt CO2/year · 2024Taiwan: 262.3 Mt CO2/year · 2024
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Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

China: 8.66 t CO2/person/year · 2024Taiwan: 11.3 t CO2/person/year · 2024
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Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

China: 1,591 Mt CO2e/year · 2024Taiwan: 15.5 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
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Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

China: 14,107 Mt CO2e/year · 2024Taiwan: 283.5 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
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Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

China: 475.5 Mt CO2e/year · 2024Taiwan: 5.73 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
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N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Consumption-based CO2

China: 10,857 Mt CO2/year · 2023Taiwan: 294.8 Mt CO2/year · 2023
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CO2 counted where goods are used rather than where they are made. Compare with production emissions to see who imports their footprint. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

China: 74.6 kg CO2/person/year · 2024Taiwan: 320.7 kg CO2/person/year · 2018
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Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Renewable energy share

China: 17.5 % of primary energy · 2024Taiwan: 6.27 % of primary energy · 2024
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The slice of a country's energy that comes from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Fossil fuel share

China: 80.3 % of primary energy · 2024Taiwan: 91.4 % of primary energy · 2024
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The slice of a country's energy still coming from coal, oil and gas. The number the world is trying to shrink. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Energy use per person

China: 34,514 kWh/person/year · 2024Taiwan: 54,013 kWh/person/year · 2024
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How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

China: 11.1 % of electricity · 2025Taiwan: 5.44 % of electricity · 2025
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The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

China: 10.7 % of electricity · 2025Taiwan: 4.16 % of electricity · 2025
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The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

China: 54.3 % of electricity · 2025Taiwan: 36.3 % of electricity · 2025
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The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

China: 0.85 % of electricity · 2025Taiwan: 1.60 % of electricity · 2025
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The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

China: 3.16 % of electricity · 2025Taiwan: 48.8 % of electricity · 2025
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The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

China: 673,569 ha/year · 2024Taiwan: 3,681 ha/year · 2024
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Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

China: 24.2 % of land · 2025Taiwan: 67.0 % of land · 2015
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How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

China: 73.5 kg/person/year · 2023Taiwan: 91.5 kg/person/year · 2023
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Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

China: 192.4 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023Taiwan: 159.6 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
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Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Urban population

China: 66.3 % living in cities · 2025Taiwan: 78.9 % living in cities · 2025
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The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

China: 31.3 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024Taiwan: 16.6 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
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Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data