Greenland

Northern America, North America

CO2 emissions per person
11.1
t CO2/person/year · 2024
22nd of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
1.71
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
5th of 193 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
1.10
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
241st of 241 countries
19402025

Greenland 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 2010low 1943

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

0.62 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+25% since 1994179th highest of 215 · 2024
00.20.40.61960198020002020high 1977

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

11.1 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+25% since 199422nd highest of 213 · 2024
0510151960198020002020high 1977low 1954

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

1.71 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+2.1 °C since 19955th highest of 193 · 2025
-20219401960198020002020Worldhigh 2010low 1943

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

Energy

Energy use per person

46,981 kWh/person/year · 2023
+28% since 199328th highest of 216 · 2023
020k40k60k19801990200020102020high 2010low 1987

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

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000175th highest of 195 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

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

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000106th highest of 193 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

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 200081st highest of 194 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

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

16.7 % of electricity · 2024
-25 pp since 200071st highest of 195 · 2024
0204020002005201020152020high 2008low 2022

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

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000117th highest of 192 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

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

0.00 % of land · 2025
+0.0 pp since 1995210th highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

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

Red List Index

0.90 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-4.3% since 199482nd highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020

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

41.9 % of land area · 2024
+0.7 pp since 20139th highest of 213 · 2024
02040201420162018202020222024World

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

Marine protected areas

4.20 % of territorial waters · 2024
-0.3 pp since 201368th 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

88.6 % living in cities · 2025
+7.5 pp since 199546th 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

Ice & Oceans

Ice sheet mass change

-4,843 Gt vs 2002 · 2020
-4699 Gt since 2002
-4k-2k02005201020152020

How much ice Greenland and Antarctica have lost since 2002, measured from space by tracking tiny changes in Earth's gravity. NASA GRACE via Our World in Data

Water

Annual precipitation

482.2 mm/year · 2025
+23% since 1995154th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1976low 1966

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

16.9 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+22 pp since 199519th highest of 192 · 2025
-2002019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1976low 1966

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

0.00 % of population · 2022
+0.0 pp since 2014147th highest of 147 · 2022
020406020142016201820202022World

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)

1.10 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-39% since 1998241st highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2008

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?

  • 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