Which Countries Have the Smallest Carbon Footprints?

What's on this page?

Methodology

We've based our study on figures from Our World in Data, focusing specifically on emissions released in 2019.

The pandemic significantly impacted most countries' CO2 output during 2020, which is why we've focused on the previous year - to rule out any anomalies.

To keep things fair, we've also focused our study on carbon footprints per capita ( the contribution of the average citizen of each country). This way, we won't simply base our findings on the size of the population.

Which countries have the smallest carbon footprints per capita?

Below, we've listed the top 10 countries with the smallest carbon footprints per capita - all of which are in Africa.

Unfortunately, one of the main reasons behind these countries' small carbon footprints is that they are all poorer nations, so they can't afford to consume as much as their more affluent counterparts.

Data from Our World in Data, 2019

To compare, the three highest carbon footprints per capita are 38.61, 31.79, and 29.89 tonnes. Although these countries' economic statuses have contributed to their small carbon footprints, there are a lot of other reasons behind the success.

How does this compare to other countries?

Something that's worth noting is that, although these African countries are generating the least amount of emissions, they're typically the most likely to suffer the effects of climate change.

On the other hand, many of the highly polluting countries don't experience regular events related to climate change. And as climate change increases - and consumption increases globally - this unfair divide will only get worse.

Below, we've listed the countries with the largest carbon footprints per capita, many of which use and supply fossil fuels to other countries.

Which countries have the smallest carbon footprints?

We covered the countries with the lowest carbon footprints per capita earlier. Below, we've listed the countries with the smallest carbon footprints overall.

This mostly comes down to the smaller populations living in these nations - fewer people means fewer emissions.

Summary

Unfortunately, one of the main motivators for the countries with the lowest carbon footprints is their vulnerability to climate change.

But in order for these countries to really benefit from their actions, the rest of the world needs to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint, too.

If you're looking for more ways you can shrink your carbon footprint, check out our Home Hub, where you can find lots of tips and tricks on how to become more eco-friendly at home.