United Kingdom

Northern Europe, Europe

CO2 emissions per person
4.53
t CO2/person/year · 2024
77th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.94
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
53rd of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
21.3
% of primary energy · 2024
26th of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
8.80
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
182nd of 241 countries
19402025

United Kingdom 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

-20241950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5low 1963

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

312.9 Mt CO2/year · 2024
-45% since 199418th highest of 215 · 2024
0200400600175018001850190019502000high 1971

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

4.53 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-54% since 199477th highest of 213 · 2024
0510175018001850190019502000high 1971

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

0.94 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+0.9 °C since 199553rd highest of 193 · 2025
-2-10119401960198020002020Worldlow 1963

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

43.8 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-64% since 199440th highest of 199 · 2024
0501001501850190019502000high 1965

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

390.3 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-47% since 199423rd highest of 199 · 2024
05001850190019502000high 1971low 1853

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

28.1 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-25% since 199422nd highest of 201 · 2024
020401850190019502000high 1979

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

487.1 Mt CO2/year · 2023
-26% since 199313th highest of 120 · 2023
05001990200020102020high 2004low 2020

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

481.9 kg CO2/person/year · 2024
+1.9% since 201323rd highest of 119 · 2024
0200400201420162018202020222024World

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

21.3 % of primary energy · 2024
+21 pp since 199426th highest of 79 · 2024
01020197019801990200020102020low 1969

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

73.5 % of primary energy · 2024
-16 pp since 199455th 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

28,016 kWh/person/year · 2024
-36% since 199446th highest of 79 · 2024
020k40k197019801990200020102020high 1973

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

6.61 % of electricity · 2025
+6.6 pp since 199543rd highest of 90 · 2025
02461990200020102020

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

29.4 % of electricity · 2025
+29 pp since 19956th highest of 88 · 2025
01020301990200020102020

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

Coal electricity

0.11 % of electricity · 2025
-46 pp since 199558th highest of 89 · 2025
02040601990200020102020high 1987

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

35.0 % of new cars · 2025
+35 pp since 201014th highest of 59 · 2025
01020302010201520202025World

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

4.37 % of electricity · 2025
-2.4 pp since 199521st highest of 90 · 2025
0510151990200020102020low 2013

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

31.1 % of electricity · 2025
+12 pp since 199531st highest of 87 · 2025
020401990200020102020high 2010low 1986

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

22,786 ha/year · 2024
+7.1% since 200168th highest of 197 · 2024
020k40k2005201020152020high 2009low 2003

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

13.5 % of land · 2025
+1.7 pp since 1995150th 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

1.02 deaths/year · 2021
-94% since 200079th highest of 194 · 2021
0102020002005201020152020high 2007low 2003

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

0.97 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-1.0% since 199422nd highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020low 2000

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

28.4 % of land area · 2024
+0.4 pp since 201344th highest of 213 · 2024
0102030201420162018202020222024World

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

84.4 kg/person/year · 2023
+17% since 199334th highest of 176 · 2023
050198020002020Worldhigh 2006low 1976

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

114.5 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-29% since 199322nd highest of 198 · 2023
0100200198020002020high 1996

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

46.8 % of territorial waters · 2024
+41 pp since 20137th highest of 174 · 2024
02040201420162018202020222024World

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

83.3 % living in cities · 2025
+4.7 pp since 199560th highest of 236 · 2025
0501960198020002020Worldlow 1971

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

14.3 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
-6.9 pp since 200077th highest of 179 · 2022
0102020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2006low 2014

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

2,145 m³/person/year · 2022
-15% since 1992103rd 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

99.8 % of population · 2024
-0.2 pp since 200019th 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

962.5 mm/year · 2025
+4.4% since 199597th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 2012low 1955

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

-2.00 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+4.1 pp since 199583rd highest of 192 · 2025
-2002019401960198020002020Worldhigh 2012low 1955

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

97.8 % of population · 2024
+0.5 pp since 200013th highest of 145 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020World

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)

8.80 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-33% since 1998182nd highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2003low 2020

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

What can one person do?

Fossil fuels still supply 74% 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