CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho
Lesotho: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 9.29 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho, 1990–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 9.29 million tonnes for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in 2024.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 271.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho peaked at 11.73 million tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1.56 million tonnes, in 2012.
Lesotho ranks 131st of 194 countries on this measure, 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 fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.91 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 3.42 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1992 | 3.14 million tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 2.84 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1994 | 2.75 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1995 | 2.80 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 2.96 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1997 | 2.89 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 2.68 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 2.91 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 2.78 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 1.93 million tonnes | -30.6% |
| 2002 | 5.62 million tonnes | +191.3% |
| 2003 | 8.08 million tonnes | +43.8% |
| 2004 | 6.56 million tonnes | -18.8% |
| 2005 | 4.42 million tonnes | -32.6% |
| 2006 | 8.33 million tonnes | +88.6% |
| 2007 | 7.38 million tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2008 | 5.25 million tonnes | -28.9% |
| 2009 | 3.92 million tonnes | -25.5% |
| 2010 | 2.97 million tonnes | -24.2% |
| 2011 | 2.36 million tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2012 | 1.56 million tonnes | -34.1% |
| 2013 | 5.08 million tonnes | +225.8% |
| 2014 | 2.50 million tonnes | -50.7% |
| 2015 | 9.49 million tonnes | +279.1% |
| 2016 | 11.58 million tonnes | +22.0% |
| 2017 | 11.73 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 8.15 million tonnes | -30.5% |
| 2019 | 9.12 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2020 | 9.20 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 10.34 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 2022 | 9.74 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 9.49 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 9.29 million tonnes | -2.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 9.29 million tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.17 million tonnes, 36% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 9.29 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.74 million tonnes, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +279.1% | 2.50 million tonnes | 9.49 million tonnes |
| 2013 | +225.8% | 1.56 million tonnes | 5.08 million tonnes |
| 2002 | +191.3% | 1.93 million tonnes | 5.62 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.93 million tonnes | 2.68 million tonnes | 3.42 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.43 million tonnes | 1.93 million tonnes | 8.33 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.45 million tonnes | 1.56 million tonnes | 11.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.61 million tonnes | 9.20 million tonnes | 10.34 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Lesotho was 9.29 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 11.73 million tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.56 million tonnes in 2012.
- How does Lesotho rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- Lesotho ranks 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 271.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), including land-use change, measured in tonnes.