A transformative platform is reported to derive ultra-thin carbon molecular sieve (CMS) hollow fiber membranes from dual-layer precursor hollow fibers with independently tuned skin layer and substrate properties. These ultra-thin CMS hollow fiber membranes show attractive CO 2 /CH 4 separation factors and excellent CO 2 permeances up to~1,400% higher than state-of-the-art asymmetric CMS hollow fiber membranes. They provide a unique combination of permeance and selectivity competitive with zeolite membranes, but with much higher membrane packing density and potentially much lower costs.carbon molecular sieve membranes, hollow fiber membranes, molecular separations, natural gas purification, ultra-thin membranes