Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Greenland
Greenland: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 10,008 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
10,008 tonnes
Change on year
down 54.0%
World rank
137th
of 215 countries
All-time high
501,968 tonnes
in 1977
All-time low
-329,760 tonnes
in 1978
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Greenland, 1951–2024
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 Greenland is 10,008 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 54.0% on the previous year and up 116.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Greenland peaked at 501,968 tonnes in 1977 and was at its lowest, -329,760 tonnes, in 1978.
That places Greenland 137th 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 Greenland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1952 | 7,328 tonnes | — |
| 1953 | 14,656 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 1954 | -18,320 tonnes | -225.0% |
| 1955 | 106,256 tonnes | -680.0% |
| 1956 | -65,952 tonnes | -162.1% |
| 1957 | 18,320 tonnes | -127.8% |
| 1958 | 65,952 tonnes | +260.0% |
| 1959 | 7,328 tonnes | -88.9% |
| 1960 | -10,992 tonnes | -250.0% |
| 1961 | 69,616 tonnes | -733.3% |
| 1962 | -29,312 tonnes | -142.1% |
| 1963 | 65,952 tonnes | -325.0% |
| 1964 | -14,656 tonnes | -122.2% |
| 1965 | 29,312 tonnes | -300.0% |
| 1966 | 43,968 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1967 | 29,312 tonnes | -33.3% |
| 1968 | 124,576 tonnes | +325.0% |
| 1969 | -135,568 tonnes | -208.8% |
| 1970 | -25,648 tonnes | -81.1% |
| 1971 | 87,936 tonnes | -442.9% |
| 1972 | 84,272 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1973 | 3,664 tonnes | -95.7% |
| 1974 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1975 | -51,296 tonnes | — |
| 1976 | -285,792 tonnes | +457.1% |
| 1977 | 501,968 tonnes | -275.6% |
| 1978 | -329,760 tonnes | -165.7% |
| 1979 | 179,536 tonnes | -154.4% |
| 1980 | -7,328 tonnes | -104.1% |
| 1981 | -36,640 tonnes | +400.0% |
| 1982 | -10,992 tonnes | -70.0% |
| 1983 | -153,888 tonnes | +1300.0% |
| 1984 | 205,184 tonnes | -233.3% |
| 1985 | -58,624 tonnes | -128.6% |
| 1986 | -183,200 tonnes | +212.5% |
| 1987 | -91,600 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 1988 | 311,440 tonnes | -440.0% |
| 1989 | -73,280 tonnes | -123.5% |
| 1990 | 151,544 tonnes | -306.8% |
| 1991 | -14,800 tonnes | -109.8% |
| 1992 | -14,100 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1993 | -49,900 tonnes | +253.9% |
| 1994 | -50,000 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 38,400 tonnes | -176.8% |
| 1996 | 62,700 tonnes | +63.3% |
| 1997 | 20,800 tonnes | -66.8% |
| 1998 | -20,800 tonnes | -200.0% |
| 1999 | -2,400 tonnes | -88.5% |
| 2000 | 73,104 tonnes | -3146.0% |
| 2001 | -49,401 tonnes | -167.6% |
| 2002 | -38,402 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 2003 | 69,902 tonnes | -282.0% |
| 2004 | -26,701 tonnes | -138.2% |
| 2005 | 4,098 tonnes | -115.3% |
| 2006 | 17,000 tonnes | +314.8% |
| 2007 | -8,499 tonnes | -150.0% |
| 2008 | 18,402 tonnes | -316.5% |
| 2009 | -76,403 tonnes | -515.2% |
| 2010 | 83,505 tonnes | -209.3% |
| 2011 | 44,395 tonnes | -46.8% |
| 2012 | -158,080 tonnes | -456.1% |
| 2013 | 15,180 tonnes | -109.6% |
| 2014 | -59,693 tonnes | -493.2% |
| 2015 | 45,093 tonnes | -175.5% |
| 2016 | -38,400 tonnes | -185.2% |
| 2017 | 26,703 tonnes | -169.5% |
| 2018 | -12,163 tonnes | -145.5% |
| 2019 | 2,390 tonnes | -119.6% |
| 2020 | 23,379 tonnes | +878.2% |
| 2021 | -3,155 tonnes | -113.5% |
| 2022 | 40,847 tonnes | -1394.7% |
| 2023 | 21,754 tonnes | -46.7% |
| 2024 | 10,008 tonnes | -54.0% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's 10,008 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes, 73% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Greenland's 10,008 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1,028 tonnes. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Greenland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +3146.0% | -2,400 tonnes | 73,104 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,063 tonnes | -65,952 tonnes | 106,256 tonnes | 9 |
| 1960s | 17,221 tonnes | -135,568 tonnes | 124,576 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,488 tonnes | -329,760 tonnes | 501,968 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | -9,893 tonnes | -183,200 tonnes | 311,440 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,144 tonnes | -50,000 tonnes | 151,544 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | -1,690 tonnes | -76,403 tonnes | 73,104 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -5,107 tonnes | -158,080 tonnes | 83,505 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,567 tonnes | -3,155 tonnes | 40,847 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
More climate change data for Greenland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 148,208 kg (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0031 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 0.8215 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions 0.0031 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Direct emissions 0.0023 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that) 0.0002 kt (2050)
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Indirect emissions (N2O that leaches) 0.0005 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Greenland?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Greenland was 10,008 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 Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 501,968 tonnes in 1977.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was -329,760 tonnes in 1978.
- How does Greenland rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Greenland ranks 137th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greenland 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 — 74 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.