CO₂ emissions from transport in Nepal
Nepal: CO₂ emissions from transport was 3.72 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
CO₂ emissions from transport in Nepal, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, co₂ emissions from transport in Nepal stood at 3.72 million tonnes.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 97.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from transport in Nepal peaked at 4.54 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 340,000 tonnes, in 1990.
That places Nepal 108th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions from transport in Nepal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 340,000 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 400,000 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1992 | 440,000 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 480,000 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 560,000 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1995 | 620,000 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1996 | 640,000 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 740,000 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1998 | 770,000 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 780,000 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 830,000 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 750,000 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 790,000 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 780,000 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 840,000 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 840,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 880,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 910,000 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 1.34 million tonnes | +47.3% |
| 2009 | 1.75 million tonnes | +30.6% |
| 2010 | 1.94 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2011 | 1.96 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.67 million tonnes | -14.8% |
| 2013 | 1.88 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2014 | 2.13 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2015 | 1.81 million tonnes | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 3.04 million tonnes | +68.0% |
| 2017 | 3.74 million tonnes | +23.0% |
| 2018 | 4.03 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2019 | 2.49 million tonnes | -38.2% |
| 2020 | 3.97 million tonnes | +59.4% |
| 2021 | 4.54 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2022 | 3.65 million tonnes | -19.6% |
| 2023 | 3.72 million tonnes | +1.9% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 3.72 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.18 million tonnes, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 3.72 million tonnes is below the median for South Asia, which is 5.62 million tonnes, 66% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from transport in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +68.0% | 1.81 million tonnes | 3.04 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 577,000 tonnes | 340,000 tonnes | 780,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 971,000 tonnes | 750,000 tonnes | 1.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.47 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes | 4.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.97 million tonnes | 3.65 million tonnes | 4.54 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 106 Bahrain 3.97 million tonnes compare
- 107 Cameroon 3.78 million tonnes compare
- 109 Burkina Faso 3.68 million tonnes compare
- 110 Mongolia 3.58 million tonnes compare
- 111 Democratic Republic of Congo 3.30 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for Nepal
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 14.93 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,890 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 19,588 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.68 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 699.59 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,853 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,263 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,590 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.76 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from transport in Nepal?
- Co₂ emissions from transport in Nepal was 3.72 million tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from transport recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 4.54 million tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from transport recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 340,000 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Nepal rank for co₂ emissions from transport?
- Nepal ranks 108th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is co₂ emissions from transport rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions from transport. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes.