East Asia & Pacific · High income · 2023

South Korea: large EDGAR inventory · 657 MtCO₂e

In 2023, South Korea emitted 657 MtCO₂e (12.63 t per person, 0.38 t per $1K GDP) - energy led at 44% and carbon dioxide dominated the gas mix at 87%. EU EDGAR v8.0, excludes land use.

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Corpus placement

South Korea's per-person emissions rank #11 of 51 in 2023, well ahead of its GDP-intensity rank of #31 / 51 — high per-capita output from a comparatively carbon-efficient economy.

#13 / 51
Absolute Mt rank
#11 / 51
Per-capita rank
#31 / 51
GDP intensity rank

According to EU EDGAR v8.0 totals, World Bank population, and GDP denominators at 2023. Excludes LULUCF.

D
Emissions Performance Score
41/100
South Korea · 2023 EDGAR data

Based on per-capita emissions, GDP intensity, methane share, and the multi-year emissions trend, benchmarked against the 51-country EDGAR corpus, not a judgment of policy effort, development stage, or overall climate risk. See the benchmark table and methodology.

Per-capita emissions F
12.63 t/person
EDGAR latest-year total ÷ population, vs. the 51-country corpus spread
GDP intensity C+
0.38 t/$1K GDP
EDGAR latest-year total ÷ GDP, vs. the 51-country corpus spread
Methane share A+
7%
Share of the gas mix that is CH4 (AR6 GWP100 ≈ 27.9× CO2, short-lived but potent)
Emissions trend F
+562%
Change from the first to the latest EDGAR-tracked year for this country

EDGAR inventory roll

Roll KOR · 2023 657 Mt · 12.63 t per person

South Korea sits in the upper absolute-Mt tercile among 51 tracked EDGAR economies (657 Mt in 2023) - absolute, per-capita, and GDP-intensity ranks on one roll.

  • ABS 657 Mt
  • PC 12.63 t
  • INT 0.38
  • RANK-A #13 / 51
  • RANK-P #11 / 51
  • RANK-I #31 / 51
  • SECTOR 44% Energy
  • GAS 87% Carbon
  • PHOTO Germany
  • BOOK 51 econ

Photo-finish absolute-Mt peer: Germany (683 Mt · Δ 27 Mt vs South Korea)

Absolute-Mt neighbourhood

2023 EDGAR totals · nearest inventories to South Korea

1. Mexico7162. Germany6833. South Korea6574. Turkey6085. Australia572

Year-to-year inventory change

What changed between 2022 and 2023

2022 → 2023
  • South Korea's EDGAR greenhouse-gas total fell from 671 MtCO₂e in 2022 to 656.6 MtCO₂e in 2023 in the EU EDGAR v8.0 (2024) extract, a change of −14.4 MtCO₂e (−2.1%).
  • South Korea's energy total fell from 296.3 MtCO₂e in 2022 to 288.2 MtCO₂e in 2023 in the EU EDGAR v8.0 (2024) extract, a change of −8.08 MtCO₂e (−2.7%).
  • South Korea's methane total fell from 44.9 MtCO₂e in 2022 to 44.1 MtCO₂e in 2023 in the EU EDGAR v8.0 (2024) extract, a change of −0.84 MtCO₂e (−1.9%).

Arithmetic differences between two inventory years in one stored EU EDGAR v8.0 (2024) extract, not a second source release, a forecast, or a policy verdict.

Trends Inventory CSV

South Korea's per-person emissions rank #11 of 51 in 2023, well ahead of its GDP-intensity rank of #31 / 51 — high per-capita output from a comparatively carbon-efficient economy. How we place countries.

South Korea vs all tracked economies by EDGAR greenhouse-gas total

Where South Korea's 2023 EDGAR MtCO₂e sits among every tracked economy with live rows (inventory mass, not per-capita responsibility)

657 Top 25% more MtCO₂e than 75% of 51 economies

Tracked economies, banded by EDGAR MtCO₂e (AR6 GWP100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more economies. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EU EDGAR v8.0 · 2023

South Korea 2023 emissions by IPCC sector

EU EDGAR v8.0 · MtCO₂e · AR6 GWP100

1. Energy2882. Industry1483. Transport1084. Buildings525. Agriculture276. Waste227. Fugitive emissions12
0%100%44%
Energy share of 2023 total

Source: EU EDGAR v8.0 (Joint Research Centre) EDGAR GHG · 2023

South Korea emissions trend (1970–2023, MtCO₂e)

Annual greenhouse-gas totals, EU EDGAR v8.0

0200400600800 197019771984199119982005201220192023 657
Reported annual emissions for South Korea, 1970 to 2023 (AR6 GWP100, excludes LULUCF).

Data from EU EDGAR v8.0 (2024 release)

Source: EU EDGAR (Joint Research Centre) As of 1970–2023

South Korea 2023 greenhouse-gas inventory

EU EDGAR v8.0 · MtCO₂e · AR6 GWP100

1. Carbon dioxide573.52. Methane44.13. Fluorinated gases24.24. Nitrous oxide14.8

Per-person load versus carbon efficiency

Absolute inventory signature

South Korea's absolute inventory is the standout: 657 MtCO₂e puts it in the upper Mt tercile among tracked EDGAR economies (≥524.6 Mt).

South Korea's per-person rate (12.63 t, #11) in 2023 runs well ahead of its GDP-intensity rank (#31) — high consumption per person from an economy that is comparatively efficient per dollar of output.

Source: EU EDGAR v8.0 (Joint Research Centre) Country totals (AR6 GWP100, excl. LULUCF) Country figures for KOR exclude LULUCF; verify policy-critical totals against the Joint Research Centre EDGAR country table.

Other East Asia & Pacific economies in EDGAR

Methodology

South Korea (KOR) is in the upper third of live EDGAR country mass (657 MtCO₂e in 2023). Rows are aggregated from EU EDGAR v8.0 by IPCC sector and gas for 2023, excluding LULUCF. See the methodology page for GWP100 factors and the full pipeline. Full methodology.

Source: EU EDGAR v8.0 (Joint Research Centre) 2024 Global bottom-up inventory, CC BY 4.0.

FAQ

How much CO₂-equivalent did South Korea emit in 2023?

South Korea's 2023 total is 657 MtCO₂e per EU EDGAR v8.0 (AR6 GWP100, excludes LULUCF).

How do South Korea's absolute and per-capita ranks compare?

South Korea ranks #13 of 51 by absolute total and #11 by per-capita emissions in 2023, with GDP intensity at #31.

Which sector dominates South Korea's emissions?

Energy led at 44% of the 2023 national total (657 MtCO₂e).

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Data vintage: EU EDGAR v8.0 (2024 release), 2023 data year. Country emissions summed from EDGAR records for the focal year; LULUCF excluded on ranked surfaces.