Marshall Islands

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
4.11
t CO2/person/year · 2024
84th of 213 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
2.80
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
237th of 241 countries

Climate

CO2 emissions

0.15 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+83% since 1994198th highest of 215 · 2024
00.050.10.15200020102020

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

4.11 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+133% since 199484th highest of 213 · 2024
024200020102020

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

Nitrous oxide emissions

0.00 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
199th highest of 201 · 2024
-1011850190019502000

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

Aviation emissions per person

812.0 kg CO2/person/year · 2024
+281% since 201310th highest of 119 · 2024
0500201420162018202020222024World

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

Land & Life

Forest area

53.9 % of land · 2025
+1.7 pp since 199545th highest of 212 · 2025
020401990200020102020Worldhigh 2020

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

0.82 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-8.9% since 1994151st 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

16.6 % of land area · 2024
+13 pp since 2013110th highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

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

125.6 kg/person/year · 2023
+53% since 20193rd highest of 176 · 2023
05010020192020202120222023World

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

0.30 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.3 pp since 2013122nd 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

79.1 % living in cities · 2025
+12 pp since 199576th 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

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

2.80 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+7.7% since 1998237th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2015

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

0.00 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-100% since 1991142nd highest of 168 · 2021
00.511990200020102020low 2005

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?

  • 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.