CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 9.59 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
9.59 million tonnes
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
127th
of 194 countries
All-time high
99.49 million tonnes
in 2002
All-time low
5.50 million tonnes
in 1959
Years of data
75
1950–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sierra Leone, 1950–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sierra Leone is 9.59 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 46.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sierra Leone peaked at 99.49 million tonnes in 2002 and was at its lowest, 5.50 million tonnes, in 1959.
Sierra Leone ranks 127th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.27 million tonnes | — |
| 1951 | 9.59 million tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1952 | 7.89 million tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1953 | 6.94 million tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1954 | 6.40 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1955 | 6.13 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1956 | 6.12 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 5.99 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1958 | 5.60 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 5.50 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1960 | 5.97 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1961 | 6.87 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1962 | 7.61 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1963 | 7.82 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 7.87 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 8.08 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 8.22 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 9.24 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1968 | 8.62 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1969 | 9.36 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 9.23 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 8.83 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1972 | 8.74 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1973 | 8.54 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1974 | 8.47 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 8.39 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 8.27 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 9.35 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1978 | 9.95 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 9.26 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1980 | 8.81 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1981 | 10.48 million tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1982 | 9.24 million tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1983 | 11.00 million tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1984 | 19.96 million tonnes | +81.6% |
| 1985 | 13.65 million tonnes | -31.6% |
| 1986 | 11.79 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1987 | 10.03 million tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1988 | 8.88 million tonnes | -11.5% |
| 1989 | 8.18 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 7.76 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1991 | 6.96 million tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1992 | 6.23 million tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1993 | 5.98 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 6.11 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 5.83 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 5.71 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 5.90 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 6.47 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 8.86 million tonnes | +37.0% |
| 2000 | 41.62 million tonnes | +369.8% |
| 2001 | 69.54 million tonnes | +67.1% |
| 2002 | 99.49 million tonnes | +43.1% |
| 2003 | 95.70 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 77.46 million tonnes | -19.1% |
| 2005 | 96.21 million tonnes | +24.2% |
| 2006 | 48.33 million tonnes | -49.8% |
| 2007 | 42.08 million tonnes | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 41.55 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 44.57 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 40.98 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 26.36 million tonnes | -35.7% |
| 2012 | 29.86 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 21.78 million tonnes | -27.1% |
| 2014 | 17.99 million tonnes | -17.4% |
| 2015 | 15.77 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 2016 | 15.56 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 14.23 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 12.34 million tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2019 | 11.87 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 11.36 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 10.65 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 10.16 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 9.74 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 9.59 million tonnes | -1.6% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 9.59 million tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 25.12 million tonnes, 38% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 9.59 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.74 million tonnes, 65% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +369.8% | 8.86 million tonnes | 41.62 million tonnes |
| 1984 | +81.6% | 11.00 million tonnes | 19.96 million tonnes |
| 2001 | +67.1% | 41.62 million tonnes | 69.54 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.14 million tonnes | 5.50 million tonnes | 11.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.97 million tonnes | 5.97 million tonnes | 9.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.90 million tonnes | 8.27 million tonnes | 9.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.20 million tonnes | 8.18 million tonnes | 19.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.58 million tonnes | 5.71 million tonnes | 8.86 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.65 million tonnes | 41.55 million tonnes | 99.49 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.67 million tonnes | 11.87 million tonnes | 40.98 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.30 million tonnes | 9.59 million tonnes | 11.36 million 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 co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sierra Leone?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sierra Leone was 9.59 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 99.49 million tonnes in 2002.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.50 million tonnes in 1959.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- Sierra Leone ranks 127th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.7%. 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 CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 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.