Hong Kong

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
4.49
t CO2/person/year · 2024
78th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.21
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
169th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
1.05
% of primary energy · 2024
70th of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
15.8
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
110th of 241 countries
19402025

Hong Kong 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

0241950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2019low 1945

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

33.3 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+7.2% since 199468th highest of 215 · 2024
0204019401960198020002020high 2014low 1947

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

4.49 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-13% since 199478th highest of 213 · 2024
024619401960198020002020high 1999low 1947

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

0.21 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+0.8 °C since 1995169th highest of 193 · 2025
-10119401960198020002020Worldhigh 2019low 1945

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

5.15 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+38% since 1994130th highest of 199 · 2024
0241850190019502000

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

38.9 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+9.4% since 1994111th highest of 199 · 2024
020401850190019502000high 2014

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

0.44 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-42% since 1994152nd highest of 201 · 2024
00.511850190019502000high 1999

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

144.2 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+105% since 199337th highest of 120 · 2023
0501001501990200020102020high 2013

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

Energy

Renewable energy share

1.05 % of primary energy · 2024
+1.0 pp since 199470th highest of 79 · 2024
00.51197019801990200020102020high 2023

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

99.0 % of primary energy · 2024
-1.0 pp since 19949th highest of 79 · 2024
050100197019801990200020102020low 2023

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

36,809 kWh/person/year · 2024
+32% since 199433rd highest of 79 · 2024
020k40k197019801990200020102020high 2018

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

0.61 % of electricity · 2024
+0.6 pp since 1994142nd highest of 195 · 2024
00.20.40.61990200020102020

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 1994106th highest of 193 · 2024
-1011990200020102020

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

Coal electricity

33.7 % of electricity · 2024
-27 pp since 200026th highest of 194 · 2024
05020002005201020152020high 2003low 2023

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

1.20 % of electricity · 2024
+0.7 pp since 2000135th highest of 195 · 2024
01220002005201020152020high 2012low 2007

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

64.1 % of electricity · 2024
+25 pp since 200029th highest of 192 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020high 2023low 2003

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

Water

Safely managed drinking water

100.0 % of population · 2024
+1.6 pp since 20001st highest of 159 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2020

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

1,808 mm/year · 2025
+2.0% since 199536th highest of 192 · 2025
01k2k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1973low 1943

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

-3.00 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+2.0 pp since 199586th highest of 192 · 2025
-5005019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1973low 1943

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

94.8 % of population · 2024
+18 pp since 200027th highest of 145 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2022low 2013

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

Land & Life

Red List Index

0.89 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-1.1% since 199491st highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020low 2003

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

42.0 % of land area · 2024
-0.1 pp since 20138th 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

Meat supply per person

107.4 kg/person/year · 2023
+2.0% since 199314th highest of 176 · 2023
050100150198020002020Worldhigh 2019

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

182.0 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-1.0% since 20026th highest of 198 · 2023
01002002005201020152020high 2014low 2022

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

0.00 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2018149th highest of 174 · 2024
0510152018202020222024World

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

100.0 % living in cities · 2025
+0.0 pp since 19951st highest of 236 · 2025
0501001960198020002020Worldhigh 1996

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)

15.8 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-9.2% since 1998110th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2004low 2022

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 99% 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.