United Arab Emirates

Western Asia, Asia

CO2 emissions per person
20.1
t CO2/person/year · 2024
7th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.82
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
74th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
2.52
% of primary energy · 2024
66th of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
55.7
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
4th of 241 countries
19402025

United Arab Emirates in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

051950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2021low 1968

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

222.0 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+195% since 199428th highest of 215 · 2024
01002001960198020002020high 2016

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

20.1 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-38% since 19947th highest of 213 · 2024
0501960198020002020high 1969low 1961

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

Temperature anomaly

0.82 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+1.8 °C since 199574th highest of 193 · 2025
-10119401960198020002020Worldhigh 2021low 1968

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

37.6 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+53% since 199446th highest of 199 · 2024
020401850190019502000low 1927

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

262.1 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+160% since 199435th highest of 199 · 2024
01002001850190019502000high 2016

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

2.63 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+171% since 1994109th highest of 201 · 2024
0121850190019502000

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

248.1 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+265% since 199326th highest of 120 · 2023
01002001990200020102020high 2015

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

2,320 kg CO2/person/year · 2024
-11% since 20134th highest of 119 · 2024
01k2k3k201420162018202020222024World

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

2.52 % of primary energy · 2024
+2.5 pp since 199466th highest of 79 · 2024
012197019801990200020102020

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

91.0 % of primary energy · 2024
-9.0 pp since 199422nd highest of 79 · 2024
050100197019801990200020102020

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

138,026 kWh/person/year · 2024
-31% since 19944th highest of 79 · 2024
0100k200k197019801990200020102020high 1991

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

8.58 % of electricity · 2024
+8.6 pp since 199450th highest of 195 · 2024
051990200020102020high 2023

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

0.11 % of electricity · 2024
+0.1 pp since 1994100th highest of 193 · 2024
00.050.11990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 199481st highest of 194 · 2024
0121990200020102020high 2021

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

Electric car sales

9.00 % of new cars · 2025
+8.9 pp since 201246th highest of 59 · 2025
01020201520202025Worldlow 2014

The share of newly sold cars that are electric. Norway crossed 90% in the early 2020s; most of the world is following. International Energy Agency via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
-0.0 pp since 1994174th highest of 195 · 2024
00.011990200020102020high 1997low 2000

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

68.3 % of electricity · 2024
-32 pp since 199426th highest of 192 · 2024
0501001990200020102020high 2000

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

Forest area

4.57 % of land · 2025
+0.1 pp since 1995181st highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
-10120002005201020152020

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.84 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-7.7% since 1994134th highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020low 2022

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

19.2 % of land area · 2024
+0.6 pp since 201391st highest of 213 · 2024
01020201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

67.8 kg/person/year · 2023
-1.5% since 199369th highest of 176 · 2023
050100198020002020Worldhigh 1982low 2010

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

124.1 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-53% since 199317th highest of 198 · 2023
010020030019801990200020102020high 1995low 1986

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

12.0 % of territorial waters · 2024
-0.4 pp since 201341st highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

86.0 % living in cities · 2025
+7.7 pp since 199554th highest of 236 · 2025
0501960198020002020World

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

Water

Water stress

1,510 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
-46 pp since 20002nd highest of 179 · 2022
01k2k20002005201020152020Worldhigh 2005low 2003

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

14.9 m³/person/year · 2022
-79% since 1992178th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

98.6 % of population · 2024
+0.4 pp since 200039th highest of 159 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020World

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

18.7 mm/year · 2025
-82% since 1995190th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1997low 1956

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

-66.4 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
-150 pp since 1995191st highest of 192 · 2025
010019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1997low 1956

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Safely managed sanitation

98.4 % of population · 2024
+0.0 pp since 200012th highest of 145 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldlow 2010

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

55.7 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+15% since 19984th highest of 241 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2018

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

Ozone-depleting substances

359.5 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-65% since 19915th highest of 168 · 2021
05001k1990200020102020high 1992low 2020

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

Fossil fuels still supply 91% of the energy used here, so switching your home to a genuinely renewable tariff matters.

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

Compare with neighbours