Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Ireland
Ireland: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was -257,316 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-257,316 tonnes
Change on year
up 91.7%
World rank
179th
of 215 countries
All-time high
3.82 million tonnes
in 1979
All-time low
-5.18 million tonnes
in 2009
Years of data
109
1881–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Ireland, 1881–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Ireland recorded -257,316 tonnes for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in 2024.
That represents a change of up 91.7% on the previous year and up 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Ireland peaked at 3.82 million tonnes in 1979 and was at its lowest, -5.18 million tonnes, in 2009.
Ireland ranks 179th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Ireland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1881 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1914 | 25,648 tonnes | — |
| 1915 | -21,984 tonnes | -185.7% |
| 1916 | 14,656 tonnes | -166.7% |
| 1917 | 14,656 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1918 | -10,992 tonnes | -175.0% |
| 1919 | 3,664 tonnes | -133.3% |
| 1920 | 43,968 tonnes | +1100.0% |
| 1921 | -54,960 tonnes | -225.0% |
| 1925 | -652,192 tonnes | +1086.7% |
| 1926 | 2.06 million tonnes | -416.3% |
| 1927 | -1.37 million tonnes | -166.3% |
| 1928 | -245,488 tonnes | -82.0% |
| 1929 | 3.51 million tonnes | -1531.3% |
| 1930 | -447,008 tonnes | -112.7% |
| 1931 | 289,456 tonnes | -164.8% |
| 1932 | -3.41 million tonnes | -1279.7% |
| 1933 | 2.84 million tonnes | -183.2% |
| 1934 | 216,176 tonnes | -92.4% |
| 1935 | 51,296 tonnes | -76.3% |
| 1936 | 611,888 tonnes | +1092.9% |
| 1937 | 208,848 tonnes | -65.9% |
| 1938 | -388,830 tonnes | -286.2% |
| 1939 | 1.56 million tonnes | -502.2% |
| 1940 | -7,387 tonnes | -100.5% |
| 1941 | -3.07 million tonnes | +41516.2% |
| 1942 | -1.43 million tonnes | -53.4% |
| 1943 | 95,057 tonnes | -106.6% |
| 1944 | -754,665 tonnes | -893.9% |
| 1945 | 476,438 tonnes | -163.1% |
| 1946 | 1.36 million tonnes | +186.0% |
| 1947 | 615,582 tonnes | -54.8% |
| 1948 | -366,817 tonnes | -159.6% |
| 1949 | -99,076 tonnes | -73.0% |
| 1950 | 1.38 million tonnes | -1494.2% |
| 1951 | 780,490 tonnes | -43.5% |
| 1952 | -886,836 tonnes | -213.6% |
| 1953 | -84,302 tonnes | -90.5% |
| 1954 | -443,850 tonnes | +426.5% |
| 1955 | 2.62 million tonnes | -691.0% |
| 1956 | -791,603 tonnes | -130.2% |
| 1957 | -1.20 million tonnes | +52.2% |
| 1958 | -762,112 tonnes | -36.7% |
| 1959 | 3.36 million tonnes | -540.3% |
| 1960 | -1.14 million tonnes | -134.1% |
| 1961 | 1.18 million tonnes | -203.5% |
| 1962 | 754,130 tonnes | -36.3% |
| 1963 | 340,465 tonnes | -54.9% |
| 1964 | 768,741 tonnes | +125.8% |
| 1965 | -498,506 tonnes | -164.8% |
| 1966 | 1.38 million tonnes | -376.3% |
| 1967 | 1.30 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1968 | 1.40 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1969 | 696,348 tonnes | -50.4% |
| 1970 | 895,682 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1971 | 3.09 million tonnes | +244.6% |
| 1972 | -439,764 tonnes | -114.2% |
| 1973 | 809,938 tonnes | -284.2% |
| 1974 | 446,920 tonnes | -44.8% |
| 1975 | -1.24 million tonnes | -377.9% |
| 1976 | 238,316 tonnes | -119.2% |
| 1977 | 1.28 million tonnes | +435.2% |
| 1978 | 10,796 tonnes | -99.2% |
| 1979 | 3.82 million tonnes | +35313.5% |
| 1980 | -1.12 million tonnes | -129.4% |
| 1981 | -213,574 tonnes | -81.0% |
| 1982 | -495,240 tonnes | +131.9% |
| 1983 | 158,750 tonnes | -132.1% |
| 1984 | -175,568 tonnes | -210.6% |
| 1985 | 1.20 million tonnes | -781.6% |
| 1986 | 1.80 million tonnes | +50.8% |
| 1987 | 1.68 million tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1988 | -342,700 tonnes | -120.4% |
| 1989 | 177,462 tonnes | -151.8% |
| 1990 | 2.88 million tonnes | +1525.2% |
| 1991 | 729,862 tonnes | -74.7% |
| 1992 | -179,032 tonnes | -124.5% |
| 1993 | 221,016 tonnes | -223.5% |
| 1994 | 1.12 million tonnes | +407.6% |
| 1995 | 1.01 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1996 | 1.62 million tonnes | +59.3% |
| 1997 | 1.34 million tonnes | -17.4% |
| 1998 | 1.90 million tonnes | +42.5% |
| 1999 | 1.73 million tonnes | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 2.81 million tonnes | +62.2% |
| 2001 | 2.36 million tonnes | -16.1% |
| 2002 | -1.53 million tonnes | -164.7% |
| 2003 | -397,424 tonnes | -74.0% |
| 2004 | 482,772 tonnes | -221.5% |
| 2005 | 1.99 million tonnes | +311.4% |
| 2006 | -555,608 tonnes | -128.0% |
| 2007 | 60,808 tonnes | -110.9% |
| 2008 | -297,116 tonnes | -588.6% |
| 2009 | -5.18 million tonnes | +1644.8% |
| 2010 | -386,172 tonnes | -92.6% |
| 2011 | -3.74 million tonnes | +867.6% |
| 2012 | 169,532 tonnes | -104.5% |
| 2013 | -945,216 tonnes | -657.5% |
| 2014 | -428,828 tonnes | -54.6% |
| 2015 | 1.87 million tonnes | -535.0% |
| 2016 | 1.65 million tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2017 | -1.33 million tonnes | -180.3% |
| 2018 | -118,084 tonnes | -91.1% |
| 2019 | -1.72 million tonnes | +1358.7% |
| 2020 | -2.15 million tonnes | +24.7% |
| 2021 | 2.42 million tonnes | -212.8% |
| 2022 | -798,012 tonnes | -133.0% |
| 2023 | -3.11 million tonnes | +289.4% |
| 2024 | -257,316 tonnes | -91.7% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's -257,316 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes. (74 countries reporting)
- Ireland's -257,316 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1,028 tonnes, 250.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | -41516.2% | -7,387 tonnes | -3.07 million tonnes |
| 1979 | +35313.5% | 10,796 tonnes | 3.82 million tonnes |
| 2009 | -1644.8% | -297,116 tonnes | -5.18 million tonnes |
| 1929 | +1531.3% | -245,488 tonnes | 3.51 million tonnes |
| 1990 | +1525.2% | 177,462 tonnes | 2.88 million tonnes |
| 1950 | +1494.2% | -99,076 tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 1 |
| 1910s | 4,275 tonnes | -21,984 tonnes | 25,648 tonnes | 6 |
| 1920s | 471,610 tonnes | -1.37 million tonnes | 3.51 million tonnes | 7 |
| 1930s | 153,051 tonnes | -3.41 million tonnes | 2.84 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | -318,474 tonnes | -3.07 million tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 396,735 tonnes | -1.20 million tonnes | 3.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 618,222 tonnes | -1.14 million tonnes | 1.40 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 890,483 tonnes | -1.24 million tonnes | 3.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 266,188 tonnes | -1.12 million tonnes | 1.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.24 million tonnes | -179,032 tonnes | 2.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | -26,323 tonnes | -5.18 million tonnes | 2.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -497,724 tonnes | -3.74 million tonnes | 1.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -777,842 tonnes | -3.11 million tonnes | 2.42 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More climate change data for Ireland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 320.11 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 18,098 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,665 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 14,433 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.83 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 515.47 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,902 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,899 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.17 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Ireland?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Ireland was -257,316 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.82 million tonnes in 1979.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.18 million tonnes in 2009.
- How does Ireland rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Ireland ranks 179th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 109 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.