CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 31.18 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
31.18 million tonnes
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
93rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
119.19 million tonnes
in 1962
All-time low
13.28 million tonnes
in 1981
Years of data
75
1950–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 31.18 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka peaked at 119.19 million tonnes in 1962 and was at its lowest, 13.28 million tonnes, in 1981.
That places Sri Lanka 93rd out of 194 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.
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 25.17 million tonnes | — |
| 1951 | 23.37 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1952 | 22.87 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1953 | 23.69 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1954 | 23.07 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1955 | 24.75 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1956 | 25.14 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 28.54 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1958 | 28.88 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 23.28 million tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1960 | 17.83 million tonnes | -23.4% |
| 1961 | 15.39 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1962 | 119.19 million tonnes | +674.7% |
| 1963 | 80.67 million tonnes | -32.3% |
| 1964 | 64.41 million tonnes | -20.2% |
| 1965 | 52.57 million tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1966 | 45.86 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1967 | 46.91 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 34.67 million tonnes | -26.1% |
| 1969 | 30.14 million tonnes | -13.1% |
| 1970 | 26.55 million tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1971 | 24.22 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1972 | 23.17 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1973 | 22.25 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1974 | 19.78 million tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1975 | 27.42 million tonnes | +38.6% |
| 1976 | 30.76 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1977 | 32.55 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 20.54 million tonnes | -36.9% |
| 1979 | 17.06 million tonnes | -17.0% |
| 1980 | 15.35 million tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1981 | 13.28 million tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1982 | 15.96 million tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1983 | 15.24 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 14.22 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 15.93 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1986 | 15.65 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 15.16 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 14.25 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 13.42 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 14.08 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 16.81 million tonnes | +19.3% |
| 1992 | 17.21 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 18.75 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1994 | 23.50 million tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1995 | 22.49 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 23.87 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 20.99 million tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1998 | 22.88 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1999 | 20.63 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2000 | 22.13 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 21.58 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 23.93 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2003 | 25.50 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 64.28 million tonnes | +152.1% |
| 2005 | 33.88 million tonnes | -47.3% |
| 2006 | 32.41 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 66.67 million tonnes | +105.7% |
| 2008 | 46.61 million tonnes | -30.1% |
| 2009 | 40.03 million tonnes | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 53.32 million tonnes | +33.2% |
| 2011 | 41.82 million tonnes | -21.6% |
| 2012 | 34.58 million tonnes | -17.3% |
| 2013 | 29.23 million tonnes | -15.5% |
| 2014 | 29.88 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 35.23 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 2016 | 36.87 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 43.86 million tonnes | +19.0% |
| 2018 | 34.02 million tonnes | -22.4% |
| 2019 | 32.01 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 29.77 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 29.17 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 28.26 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 29.42 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 31.18 million tonnes | +6.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 31.18 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 24.44 million tonnes, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 31.18 million tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 28.35 million tonnes, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | +674.7% | 15.39 million tonnes | 119.19 million tonnes |
| 2004 | +152.1% | 25.50 million tonnes | 64.28 million tonnes |
| 2007 | +105.7% | 32.41 million tonnes | 66.67 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.88 million tonnes | 22.87 million tonnes | 28.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 50.76 million tonnes | 15.39 million tonnes | 119.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 24.43 million tonnes | 17.06 million tonnes | 32.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.84 million tonnes | 13.28 million tonnes | 15.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.12 million tonnes | 14.08 million tonnes | 23.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.70 million tonnes | 21.58 million tonnes | 66.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.08 million tonnes | 29.23 million tonnes | 53.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.56 million tonnes | 28.26 million tonnes | 31.18 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More climate change data for Sri Lanka
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 327.09 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,418 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 618.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,800 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,168 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,071 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,097 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Sri Lanka was 31.18 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 119.19 million tonnes in 1962.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.28 million tonnes in 1981.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- Sri Lanka ranks 93rd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.