British Virgin Islands

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
4.87
t CO2/person/year · 2024
70th of 213 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
5.70
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
207th of 241 countries

Climate

CO2 emissions

0.19 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+119% since 1994196th highest of 215 · 2024
00.10.2198020002020high 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

4.87 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-3.4% since 199470th highest of 213 · 2024
05198020002020high 2010low 1967

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

Methane emissions

0.01 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+33% since 1994194th highest of 199 · 2024
00.010.011850190019502000high 2021low 1970

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

0.21 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+109% since 1994189th highest of 199 · 2024
00.10.21850190019502000high 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

0.01 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+67% since 1994193rd highest of 201 · 2024
0001850190019502000high 2016

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

Energy

Energy use per person

19,623 kWh/person/year · 2023
+72% since 199389th highest of 216 · 2023
010k20k19801990200020102020high 2010low 1986

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 · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000174th highest of 210 · 2023
-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 · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000110th highest of 207 · 2023
-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 · 2023
+0.0 pp since 200085th highest of 207 · 2023
-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

100.0 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 20001st highest of 210 · 2023
05010020002005201020152020

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 · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000118th highest of 203 · 2023
-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

Tree cover loss

0.07 ha/year · 2024
-98% since 2001183rd highest of 197 · 2024
01002002005201020152020high 2017low 2015

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

66.5 % of land · 2025
-0.2 pp since 199522nd highest of 212 · 2025
02040601990200020102020Worldlow 2015

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

Red List Index

0.77 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-3.8% since 1994181st highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020low 2017

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

10.5 % of land area · 2024
+5.5 pp since 2013150th 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

Marine protected areas

0.00 % of territorial waters · 2024
-0.1 pp since 2013149th 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

57.4 % living in cities · 2025
+16 pp since 1995150th highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020World

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)

5.70 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-16% since 1998207th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 1999low 2011

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.