Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 53,848 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
53,848 tonnes
Change on year
up 185.2%
World rank
101st
of 215 countries
All-time high
721,808 tonnes
in 1969
All-time low
-425,024 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
74
1951–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone, 1951–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 53,848 tonnes for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in 2024.
The figure is up 185.2% on the previous year and down 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone peaked at 721,808 tonnes in 1969 and was at its lowest, -425,024 tonnes, in 1961.
That places Sierra Leone 101st 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | -62,288 tonnes | — |
| 1952 | 84,272 tonnes | -235.3% |
| 1953 | -10,992 tonnes | -113.0% |
| 1954 | -43,968 tonnes | +300.0% |
| 1955 | 58,624 tonnes | -233.3% |
| 1956 | -3,664 tonnes | -106.2% |
| 1957 | 208,848 tonnes | -5800.0% |
| 1958 | -179,536 tonnes | -186.0% |
| 1959 | 25,648 tonnes | -114.3% |
| 1960 | 479,984 tonnes | +1771.4% |
| 1961 | -425,024 tonnes | -188.5% |
| 1962 | 36,640 tonnes | -108.6% |
| 1963 | 43,968 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1964 | -65,952 tonnes | -250.0% |
| 1965 | -21,984 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1966 | 18,320 tonnes | -183.3% |
| 1967 | -47,632 tonnes | -360.0% |
| 1968 | 109,920 tonnes | -330.8% |
| 1969 | 721,808 tonnes | +556.7% |
| 1970 | -227,168 tonnes | -131.5% |
| 1971 | -54,960 tonnes | -75.8% |
| 1972 | -124,576 tonnes | +126.7% |
| 1973 | -139,232 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1974 | -18,320 tonnes | -86.8% |
| 1975 | 3,664 tonnes | -120.0% |
| 1976 | -73,280 tonnes | -2100.0% |
| 1977 | 62,288 tonnes | -185.0% |
| 1978 | 197,856 tonnes | +217.6% |
| 1979 | -32,976 tonnes | -116.7% |
| 1980 | -69,616 tonnes | +111.1% |
| 1981 | 84,272 tonnes | -221.1% |
| 1982 | -139,232 tonnes | -265.2% |
| 1983 | 135,568 tonnes | -197.4% |
| 1984 | -73,280 tonnes | -154.1% |
| 1985 | 47,632 tonnes | -165.0% |
| 1986 | 10,992 tonnes | -76.9% |
| 1987 | -175,872 tonnes | -1700.0% |
| 1988 | -40,304 tonnes | -77.1% |
| 1989 | -84,272 tonnes | +109.1% |
| 1990 | 124,576 tonnes | -247.8% |
| 1991 | 58,624 tonnes | -52.9% |
| 1992 | -274,800 tonnes | -568.8% |
| 1993 | -18,320 tonnes | -93.3% |
| 1994 | 10,992 tonnes | -160.0% |
| 1995 | -51,296 tonnes | -566.7% |
| 1996 | 7,328 tonnes | -114.3% |
| 1997 | -25,648 tonnes | -450.0% |
| 1998 | 14,656 tonnes | -157.1% |
| 1999 | -43,968 tonnes | -400.0% |
| 2000 | 95,264 tonnes | -316.7% |
| 2001 | 102,592 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 128,240 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2003 | 36,640 tonnes | -71.4% |
| 2004 | -18,320 tonnes | -150.0% |
| 2005 | -87,936 tonnes | +380.0% |
| 2006 | 142,896 tonnes | -262.5% |
| 2007 | -87,936 tonnes | -161.5% |
| 2008 | 18,320 tonnes | -120.8% |
| 2009 | -3,664 tonnes | -120.0% |
| 2010 | 43,968 tonnes | -1300.0% |
| 2011 | 168,544 tonnes | +283.3% |
| 2012 | 117,248 tonnes | -30.4% |
| 2013 | 219,840 tonnes | +87.5% |
| 2014 | 76,944 tonnes | -65.0% |
| 2015 | -44,367 tonnes | -157.7% |
| 2016 | 55,359 tonnes | -224.8% |
| 2017 | -43,968 tonnes | -179.4% |
| 2018 | -58,624 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 2019 | 80,608 tonnes | -237.5% |
| 2020 | 69,616 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2021 | 296,477 tonnes | +325.9% |
| 2022 | -39,997 tonnes | -113.5% |
| 2023 | -63,181 tonnes | +58.0% |
| 2024 | 53,848 tonnes | -185.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 53,848 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 29,261 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 53,848 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,780 tonnes, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | +5800.0% | -3,664 tonnes | 208,848 tonnes |
| 1976 | -2100.0% | 3,664 tonnes | -73,280 tonnes |
| 1960 | +1771.4% | 25,648 tonnes | 479,984 tonnes |
| 1987 | -1700.0% | 10,992 tonnes | -175,872 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8,549 tonnes | -179,536 tonnes | 208,848 tonnes | 9 |
| 1960s | 85,005 tonnes | -425,024 tonnes | 721,808 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | -40,670 tonnes | -227,168 tonnes | 197,856 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | -30,411 tonnes | -175,872 tonnes | 135,568 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | -19,786 tonnes | -274,800 tonnes | 124,576 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 32,610 tonnes | -87,936 tonnes | 142,896 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 61,555 tonnes | -58,624 tonnes | 219,840 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 63,353 tonnes | -63,181 tonnes | 296,477 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 3.65 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 538.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,431 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 201.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.761 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone was 53,848 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 721,808 tonnes in 1969.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was -425,024 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Sierra Leone ranks 101st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.