Cyprus, the third smallest EU country, recorded the highest per capita greenhouse gas footprint in the European Union in 2023, according to the latest data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU. With 14.8 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per person, Cyprus exceeded the European Union average of 9.0 tonnes by a wide margin.
The EU-wide figure declined from 10.0 tons per capita in 2022, marking a year-on-year reduction of approximately one tonne per person.
What the greenhouse gas footprint measures
The greenhouse gas footprint reflects emissions generated along the entire production chain of goods and services consumed within the European Union. Crucially, it includes emissions embedded in imported products and services, meaning it accounts for carbon released outside EU borders during manufacturing and transport.
For Cyprus, this methodology captures not only domestic emissions but also the climate impact of imported goods consumed on the island.
Ireland ranked second in 2023 with 14.0 tons per capita, followed by Luxembourg at 12.7 tons. At the lower end of the scale, Portugal recorded 6.5 tons per capita, Bulgaria 6.8 tons, and Sweden and Romania each 6.9 tons, highlighting substantial variation among member states.
The greenhouse gas footprint of goods and services consumed in the EU amounted to 9.0 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per capita in 2023.🍃👣
Lowest in:
🇵🇹Portugal (6.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per capita)
Highest:
🇨🇾Cyprus (14.8 tonnes)👉 https://t.co/n0BzDRC0fQ pic.twitter.com/ozcj2ZwQfO
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) February 19, 2026
EU consumption and production emissions
Across the European Union, the total greenhouse gas footprint of goods and services consumed in 2023 reached 4.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalents. In comparison, emissions generated by production within EU borders amounted to 3.3 billion tons, indicating that the bloc’s consumption footprint exceeded its domestic production emissions.
Over the decade from 2013 to 2023, both indicators showed a downward trend. Consumption-based emissions declined by 12.9 percent, while production-based emissions fell by 18.6 percent.
Eurostat noted a sharp drop in emissions in 2020 due to pandemic-related restrictions that reduced economic activity and mobility. By 2023, consumption-based emissions had returned to 2020 levels. Production-based emissions, however, continued to decline and stood 3.5 percent lower than in 2020.
While the EU has made measurable progress in reducing emissions linked to domestic production, the gap between consumption and production emissions remains significant.
Cyprus’ position at the top of the per capita ranking underscores the challenge of addressing greenhouse gas emissions associated not only with local activity but also with imported goods and global supply chains.
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