Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 287,922 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
287,922 tonnes
Change on year
down 37.7%
World rank
63rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
1.31 million tonnes
in 1994
All-time low
-906,325 tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
154
1871–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica, 1871–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Costa Rica is 287,922 tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 37.7% on the previous year and up 143.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Costa Rica peaked at 1.31 million tonnes in 1994 and was at its lowest, -906,325 tonnes, in 2020.
That places Costa Rica 63rd 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 Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 | 5 tonnes | — |
| 1872 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1873 | 15 tonnes | — |
| 1874 | 41 tonnes | +173.3% |
| 1875 | -38 tonnes | -192.7% |
| 1876 | 5 tonnes | -113.2% |
| 1877 | 61 tonnes | +1120.0% |
| 1878 | 454 tonnes | +644.3% |
| 1879 | 400 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1880 | -395 tonnes | -198.8% |
| 1881 | -456 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1882 | -13 tonnes | -97.1% |
| 1883 | 603 tonnes | -4738.5% |
| 1884 | 1,077 tonnes | +78.6% |
| 1885 | -613 tonnes | -156.9% |
| 1886 | 1,380 tonnes | -325.1% |
| 1887 | -895 tonnes | -164.9% |
| 1888 | -1,011 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1889 | 4,917 tonnes | -586.4% |
| 1890 | 10,705 tonnes | +117.7% |
| 1891 | -4,060 tonnes | -137.9% |
| 1892 | 23,517 tonnes | -679.2% |
| 1893 | -7,430 tonnes | -131.6% |
| 1894 | 1,451 tonnes | -119.5% |
| 1895 | -6,242 tonnes | -530.2% |
| 1896 | 3,152 tonnes | -150.5% |
| 1897 | -3,163 tonnes | -200.3% |
| 1898 | 9,367 tonnes | -396.1% |
| 1899 | -3,226 tonnes | -134.4% |
| 1900 | 733 tonnes | -122.7% |
| 1901 | 1,570 tonnes | +114.2% |
| 1902 | -9,690 tonnes | -717.2% |
| 1903 | 16,058 tonnes | -265.7% |
| 1904 | -3,411 tonnes | -121.2% |
| 1905 | -10,372 tonnes | +204.1% |
| 1906 | 52,289 tonnes | -604.1% |
| 1907 | -14,484 tonnes | -127.7% |
| 1908 | 27,738 tonnes | -291.5% |
| 1909 | -38,189 tonnes | -237.7% |
| 1910 | 46,276 tonnes | -221.2% |
| 1911 | 12,755 tonnes | -72.4% |
| 1912 | 1,516 tonnes | -88.1% |
| 1913 | 18 tonnes | -98.8% |
| 1914 | -13,527 tonnes | -75250.0% |
| 1915 | -27,336 tonnes | +102.1% |
| 1916 | -13,883 tonnes | -49.2% |
| 1917 | -31,162 tonnes | +124.5% |
| 1918 | -22,319 tonnes | -28.4% |
| 1919 | 26,487 tonnes | -218.7% |
| 1920 | 5,242 tonnes | -80.2% |
| 1921 | -27,366 tonnes | -622.1% |
| 1922 | -2,655 tonnes | -90.3% |
| 1923 | 2,124 tonnes | -180.0% |
| 1924 | 1,044 tonnes | -50.8% |
| 1925 | -6,005 tonnes | -675.2% |
| 1926 | -1,531 tonnes | -74.5% |
| 1927 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1928 | 18,757 tonnes | — |
| 1929 | -65 tonnes | -100.3% |
| 1930 | -8,951 tonnes | +13670.8% |
| 1931 | -5,460 tonnes | -39.0% |
| 1932 | 1,080 tonnes | -119.8% |
| 1933 | -6,510 tonnes | -702.8% |
| 1934 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1935 | 7,274 tonnes | — |
| 1936 | -6,889 tonnes | -194.7% |
| 1937 | 7,271 tonnes | -205.5% |
| 1938 | -7,271 tonnes | -200.0% |
| 1939 | -385 tonnes | -94.7% |
| 1940 | 3,447 tonnes | -995.3% |
| 1941 | -3,447 tonnes | -200.0% |
| 1942 | 385 tonnes | -111.2% |
| 1943 | -54 tonnes | -114.0% |
| 1944 | 5,412 tonnes | -10122.2% |
| 1945 | -5,743 tonnes | -206.1% |
| 1946 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1947 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1948 | 7,274 tonnes | — |
| 1949 | -7,274 tonnes | -200.0% |
| 1950 | 285,792 tonnes | -4029.0% |
| 1951 | 26,033 tonnes | -90.9% |
| 1952 | 76,177 tonnes | +192.6% |
| 1953 | 43,968 tonnes | -42.3% |
| 1954 | -25,648 tonnes | -158.3% |
| 1955 | -58,624 tonnes | +128.6% |
| 1956 | 135,568 tonnes | -331.2% |
| 1957 | -21,984 tonnes | -116.2% |
| 1958 | -14,656 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1959 | -62,288 tonnes | +325.0% |
| 1960 | 106,256 tonnes | -270.6% |
| 1961 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1962 | 58,624 tonnes | — |
| 1963 | 51,296 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 1964 | 73,161 tonnes | +42.6% |
| 1965 | 171,852 tonnes | +134.9% |
| 1966 | 146,560 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1967 | -117,219 tonnes | -180.0% |
| 1968 | 161,127 tonnes | -237.5% |
| 1969 | 109,801 tonnes | -31.9% |
| 1970 | 102,503 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1971 | 278,345 tonnes | +171.5% |
| 1972 | 234,288 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1973 | 282,099 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 1974 | -139,322 tonnes | -149.4% |
| 1975 | 131,756 tonnes | -194.6% |
| 1976 | 45,858 tonnes | -65.2% |
| 1977 | 525,378 tonnes | +1045.7% |
| 1978 | 304,347 tonnes | -42.1% |
| 1979 | -131,327 tonnes | -143.2% |
| 1980 | -332,787 tonnes | +153.4% |
| 1981 | -212,257 tonnes | -36.2% |
| 1982 | -165,676 tonnes | -21.9% |
| 1983 | 18,160 tonnes | -111.0% |
| 1984 | -108,351 tonnes | -696.6% |
| 1985 | 261,279 tonnes | -341.1% |
| 1986 | 334,545 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1987 | 145,952 tonnes | -56.4% |
| 1988 | 181,939 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1989 | 26,892 tonnes | -85.2% |
| 1990 | -20,644 tonnes | -176.8% |
| 1991 | 373,305 tonnes | -1908.3% |
| 1992 | 452,858 tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1993 | 146,180 tonnes | -67.7% |
| 1994 | 1.31 million tonnes | +793.8% |
| 1995 | -399,498 tonnes | -130.6% |
| 1996 | -115,200 tonnes | -71.2% |
| 1997 | 226,616 tonnes | -296.7% |
| 1998 | 313,728 tonnes | +38.4% |
| 1999 | 201,661 tonnes | -35.7% |
| 2000 | -48,185 tonnes | -123.9% |
| 2001 | 270,669 tonnes | -661.7% |
| 2002 | 576,427 tonnes | +113.0% |
| 2003 | 336,691 tonnes | -41.6% |
| 2004 | 245,803 tonnes | -27.0% |
| 2005 | -137,239 tonnes | -155.8% |
| 2006 | 316,492 tonnes | -330.6% |
| 2007 | 930,600 tonnes | +194.0% |
| 2008 | 27,446 tonnes | -97.1% |
| 2009 | -241,000 tonnes | -978.1% |
| 2010 | -231,914 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2011 | -184,825 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2012 | -59,597 tonnes | -67.8% |
| 2013 | 366,760 tonnes | -715.4% |
| 2014 | 118,327 tonnes | -67.7% |
| 2015 | -349,048 tonnes | -395.0% |
| 2016 | 476,117 tonnes | -236.4% |
| 2017 | 157,840 tonnes | -66.8% |
| 2018 | -19,785 tonnes | -112.5% |
| 2019 | -306,602 tonnes | +1449.7% |
| 2020 | -906,325 tonnes | +195.6% |
| 2021 | 911,368 tonnes | -200.6% |
| 2022 | 344,700 tonnes | -62.2% |
| 2023 | 462,392 tonnes | +34.1% |
| 2024 | 287,922 tonnes | -37.7% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 287,922 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes, 21.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 287,922 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 109,750 tonnes, 2.6× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | -75250.0% | 18 tonnes | -13,527 tonnes |
| 1930 | -13670.8% | -65 tonnes | -8,951 tonnes |
| 1944 | +10122.2% | -54 tonnes | 5,412 tonnes |
| 1883 | +4738.5% | -13 tonnes | 603 tonnes |
| 1950 | +4029.0% | -7,274 tonnes | 285,792 tonnes |
| 1991 | +1908.3% | -20,644 tonnes | 373,305 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 104.78 tonnes | -38 tonnes | 454 tonnes | 9 |
| 1880s | 459.4 tonnes | -1,011 tonnes | 4,917 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 2,407 tonnes | -7,430 tonnes | 23,517 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 2,224 tonnes | -38,189 tonnes | 52,289 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | -2,118 tonnes | -31,162 tonnes | 46,276 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | -1,046 tonnes | -27,366 tonnes | 18,757 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | -1,984 tonnes | -8,951 tonnes | 7,274 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 tonnes | -7,274 tonnes | 7,274 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 38,434 tonnes | -62,288 tonnes | 285,792 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 76,146 tonnes | -117,219 tonnes | 171,852 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 163,393 tonnes | -139,322 tonnes | 525,378 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 14,970 tonnes | -332,787 tonnes | 334,545 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 248,562 tonnes | -399,498 tonnes | 1.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 227,770 tonnes | -241,000 tonnes | 930,600 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -3,273 tonnes | -349,048 tonnes | 476,117 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 220,011 tonnes | -906,325 tonnes | 911,368 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More climate change data for Costa Rica
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 108.28 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,751 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 942.79 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,808 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 688.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 623.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 65.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.35 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Costa Rica?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Costa Rica was 287,922 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 1.31 million tonnes in 1994.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was -906,325 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Costa Rica rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Costa Rica ranks 63rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 143.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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 — 154 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.