Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 23,365 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
23,365 tonnes
Change on year
up 307.1%
World rank
120th
of 215 countries
All-time high
1.60 million tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
-1.79 million tonnes
in 2015
Years of data
104
1921–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1921–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 23,365 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 307.1% on the previous year and down 98.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1.60 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, -1.79 million tonnes, in 2015.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 120th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 3,664 tonnes | — |
| 1922 | 73,280 tonnes | +1900.0% |
| 1923 | 80,608 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1924 | 54,960 tonnes | -31.8% |
| 1925 | -43,968 tonnes | -180.0% |
| 1926 | 65,952 tonnes | -250.0% |
| 1927 | -7,328 tonnes | -111.1% |
| 1928 | 51,118 tonnes | -797.6% |
| 1929 | 21,924 tonnes | -57.1% |
| 1930 | 84,243 tonnes | +284.3% |
| 1931 | -139,143 tonnes | -265.2% |
| 1932 | -197,737 tonnes | +42.1% |
| 1933 | -47,603 tonnes | -75.9% |
| 1934 | 14,656 tonnes | -130.8% |
| 1935 | 14,656 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 7,328 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 1937 | 62,287 tonnes | +750.0% |
| 1938 | 18,290 tonnes | -70.6% |
| 1939 | -33,058 tonnes | -280.7% |
| 1940 | -10,943 tonnes | -66.9% |
| 1941 | 25,564 tonnes | -333.6% |
| 1942 | 40,215 tonnes | +57.3% |
| 1943 | 76,944 tonnes | +91.3% |
| 1944 | -47,722 tonnes | -162.0% |
| 1945 | 53 tonnes | -100.1% |
| 1946 | 139,209 tonnes | +262558.5% |
| 1947 | 14,513 tonnes | -89.6% |
| 1948 | 47,597 tonnes | +228.0% |
| 1949 | 102,503 tonnes | +115.4% |
| 1950 | 1.00 million tonnes | +879.3% |
| 1951 | 267,353 tonnes | -73.4% |
| 1952 | 336,941 tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1953 | 205,154 tonnes | -39.1% |
| 1954 | 527,228 tonnes | +157.0% |
| 1955 | 571,347 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1956 | -212,720 tonnes | -137.2% |
| 1957 | 153,858 tonnes | -172.3% |
| 1958 | -402,741 tonnes | -361.8% |
| 1959 | -226,992 tonnes | -43.6% |
| 1960 | -380,461 tonnes | +67.6% |
| 1961 | 36,878 tonnes | -109.7% |
| 1962 | -183,438 tonnes | -597.4% |
| 1963 | 120,732 tonnes | -165.8% |
| 1964 | -318,709 tonnes | -364.0% |
| 1965 | 494,554 tonnes | -255.2% |
| 1966 | -66,013 tonnes | -113.3% |
| 1967 | -113,703 tonnes | +72.2% |
| 1968 | 1.08 million tonnes | -1047.4% |
| 1969 | 282,010 tonnes | -73.8% |
| 1970 | -938,371 tonnes | -432.7% |
| 1971 | 249,004 tonnes | -126.5% |
| 1972 | 58,534 tonnes | -76.5% |
| 1973 | 171,971 tonnes | +193.8% |
| 1974 | 175,515 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1975 | -131,904 tonnes | -175.2% |
| 1976 | 172,099 tonnes | -230.5% |
| 1977 | 72,086 tonnes | -58.1% |
| 1978 | 49,004 tonnes | -32.0% |
| 1979 | 214,130 tonnes | +337.0% |
| 1980 | -255,085 tonnes | -219.1% |
| 1981 | 270,404 tonnes | -206.0% |
| 1982 | -708,459 tonnes | -362.0% |
| 1983 | 951,035 tonnes | -234.2% |
| 1984 | -66,360 tonnes | -107.0% |
| 1985 | -319,732 tonnes | +381.8% |
| 1986 | -266,245 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1987 | 470,200 tonnes | -276.6% |
| 1988 | 162,129 tonnes | -65.5% |
| 1989 | 374,000 tonnes | +130.7% |
| 1990 | -103,027 tonnes | -127.5% |
| 1991 | -1.12 million tonnes | +983.6% |
| 1992 | -324,381 tonnes | -70.9% |
| 1993 | -145,893 tonnes | -55.0% |
| 1994 | 88,652 tonnes | -160.8% |
| 1995 | 345,191 tonnes | +289.4% |
| 1996 | 376,455 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1997 | -383,216 tonnes | -201.8% |
| 1998 | -356,154 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1999 | -533,821 tonnes | +49.9% |
| 2000 | -494,706 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2001 | -57,274 tonnes | -88.4% |
| 2002 | 86,637 tonnes | -251.3% |
| 2003 | 361,990 tonnes | +317.8% |
| 2004 | -68,191 tonnes | -118.8% |
| 2005 | 259,503 tonnes | -480.6% |
| 2006 | 64,331 tonnes | -75.2% |
| 2007 | 271,249 tonnes | +321.6% |
| 2008 | 62,144 tonnes | -77.1% |
| 2009 | -239,153 tonnes | -484.8% |
| 2010 | 289,446 tonnes | -221.0% |
| 2011 | 305,632 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2012 | -243,715 tonnes | -179.7% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million tonnes | -561.1% |
| 2014 | 1.14 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2015 | -1.79 million tonnes | -256.5% |
| 2016 | -614,976 tonnes | -65.7% |
| 2017 | 260,842 tonnes | -142.4% |
| 2018 | 853,959 tonnes | +227.4% |
| 2019 | 343,887 tonnes | -59.7% |
| 2020 | 186,697 tonnes | -45.7% |
| 2021 | -12,552 tonnes | -106.7% |
| 2022 | 1.60 million tonnes | -12848.0% |
| 2023 | -11,280 tonnes | -100.7% |
| 2024 | 23,365 tonnes | -307.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 23,365 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 29,261 tonnes, 80% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 23,365 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,780 tonnes, 50% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +262558.5% | 53 tonnes | 139,209 tonnes |
| 2022 | +12848.0% | -12,552 tonnes | 1.60 million tonnes |
| 1922 | +1900.0% | 3,664 tonnes | 73,280 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 33,357 tonnes | -43,968 tonnes | 80,608 tonnes | 9 |
| 1930s | -21,608 tonnes | -197,737 tonnes | 84,243 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 38,793 tonnes | -47,722 tonnes | 139,209 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 222,325 tonnes | -402,741 tonnes | 1.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 94,907 tonnes | -380,461 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 9,207 tonnes | -938,371 tonnes | 249,004 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 61,189 tonnes | -708,459 tonnes | 951,035 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | -215,255 tonnes | -1.12 million tonnes | 376,455 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,653 tonnes | -494,706 tonnes | 361,990 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 167,212 tonnes | -1.79 million tonnes | 1.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 357,272 tonnes | -12,552 tonnes | 1.60 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4511 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 28.16 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo was 23,365 tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1.60 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.79 million tonnes in 2015.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 120th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 104 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual growth in total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.