Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Carbon dioxide emissions by income level was 8.76 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8.76 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
114th
of 215 countries
All-time high
8.76 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
3 tonnes
in 1870
Years of data
155
1870–2024
Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica, 1870–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica stood at 8.76 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 155 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica peaked at 8.76 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3 tonnes, in 1870.
That places Costa Rica 114th 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.
Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 3 tonnes | — |
| 1871 | 8 tonnes | +166.7% |
| 1872 | 8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 23 tonnes | +187.5% |
| 1874 | 64 tonnes | +178.3% |
| 1875 | 26 tonnes | -59.4% |
| 1876 | 31 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1877 | 92 tonnes | +196.8% |
| 1878 | 546 tonnes | +493.5% |
| 1879 | 946 tonnes | +73.3% |
| 1880 | 551 tonnes | -41.8% |
| 1881 | 95 tonnes | -82.8% |
| 1882 | 82 tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1883 | 685 tonnes | +735.4% |
| 1884 | 1,762 tonnes | +157.2% |
| 1885 | 1,149 tonnes | -34.8% |
| 1886 | 2,529 tonnes | +120.1% |
| 1887 | 1,634 tonnes | -35.4% |
| 1888 | 623 tonnes | -61.9% |
| 1889 | 5,540 tonnes | +789.2% |
| 1890 | 16,245 tonnes | +193.2% |
| 1891 | 12,185 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 1892 | 35,702 tonnes | +193.0% |
| 1893 | 28,272 tonnes | -20.8% |
| 1894 | 29,723 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1895 | 23,481 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 1896 | 26,633 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1897 | 23,470 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1898 | 32,837 tonnes | +39.9% |
| 1899 | 29,611 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1900 | 30,344 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1901 | 31,914 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1902 | 22,224 tonnes | -30.4% |
| 1903 | 38,282 tonnes | +72.3% |
| 1904 | 34,871 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1905 | 24,499 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 1906 | 76,788 tonnes | +213.4% |
| 1907 | 62,304 tonnes | -18.9% |
| 1908 | 90,042 tonnes | +44.5% |
| 1909 | 51,853 tonnes | -42.4% |
| 1910 | 98,129 tonnes | +89.2% |
| 1911 | 110,884 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1912 | 112,400 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1913 | 112,418 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 98,891 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1915 | 71,555 tonnes | -27.6% |
| 1916 | 57,672 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1917 | 26,510 tonnes | -54.0% |
| 1918 | 4,191 tonnes | -84.2% |
| 1919 | 30,678 tonnes | +632.0% |
| 1920 | 35,920 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1921 | 8,554 tonnes | -76.2% |
| 1922 | 5,899 tonnes | -31.0% |
| 1923 | 8,023 tonnes | +36.0% |
| 1924 | 9,067 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1925 | 3,062 tonnes | -66.2% |
| 1926 | 1,531 tonnes | -50.0% |
| 1927 | 1,531 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 20,288 tonnes | +1225.1% |
| 1929 | 20,223 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1930 | 11,272 tonnes | -44.3% |
| 1931 | 5,812 tonnes | -48.4% |
| 1932 | 6,892 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1933 | 382 tonnes | -94.5% |
| 1934 | 382 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 7,656 tonnes | +1904.2% |
| 1936 | 767 tonnes | -90.0% |
| 1937 | 8,038 tonnes | +948.0% |
| 1938 | 767 tonnes | -90.5% |
| 1939 | 382 tonnes | -50.2% |
| 1940 | 3,829 tonnes | +902.4% |
| 1941 | 382 tonnes | -90.0% |
| 1942 | 767 tonnes | +100.8% |
| 1943 | 713 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1944 | 6,125 tonnes | +759.0% |
| 1945 | 382 tonnes | -93.8% |
| 1946 | 382 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 382 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 7,656 tonnes | +1904.2% |
| 1949 | 382 tonnes | -95.0% |
| 1950 | 286,174 tonnes | +74814.7% |
| 1951 | 312,207 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1952 | 388,384 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1953 | 432,352 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1954 | 406,704 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1955 | 348,080 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1956 | 483,648 tonnes | +38.9% |
| 1957 | 461,664 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1958 | 447,008 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 384,720 tonnes | -13.9% |
| 1960 | 490,976 tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1961 | 490,976 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 549,600 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1963 | 600,896 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 674,057 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1965 | 845,909 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1966 | 992,469 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1967 | 875,250 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1968 | 1.04 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1969 | 1.15 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1970 | 1.25 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 1.53 million tonnes | +22.3% |
| 1972 | 1.76 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1973 | 2.04 million tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1974 | 1.90 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1975 | 2.04 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1976 | 2.08 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 2.61 million tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1978 | 2.91 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1979 | 2.78 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 2.45 million tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1981 | 2.24 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1982 | 2.07 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 2.09 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 1.98 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1985 | 2.24 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1986 | 2.58 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1987 | 2.72 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 2.90 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1989 | 2.93 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 2.91 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 3.28 million tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1992 | 3.74 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1993 | 3.88 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 5.19 million tonnes | +33.7% |
| 1995 | 4.79 million tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1996 | 4.67 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 4.90 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 5.21 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 5.42 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 5.37 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 5.64 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 6.21 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 6.55 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 6.80 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 6.66 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 6.98 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 7.91 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 7.93 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 7.69 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 7.46 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 7.28 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 7.22 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 7.58 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 7.70 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 7.35 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 7.83 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 7.99 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 7.97 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 7.66 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 6.75 million tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 7.67 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 8.01 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 8.47 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2024 | 8.76 million tonnes | +3.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 8.76 million tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.70 million tonnes, 29% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 8.76 million tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 7.95 million tonnes, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +74814.7% | 382 tonnes | 286,174 tonnes |
| 1935 | +1904.2% | 382 tonnes | 7,656 tonnes |
| 1948 | +1904.2% | 382 tonnes | 7,656 tonnes |
| 1928 | +1225.1% | 1,531 tonnes | 20,288 tonnes |
| 1937 | +948.0% | 767 tonnes | 8,038 tonnes |
| 1940 | +902.4% | 382 tonnes | 3,829 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 174.7 tonnes | 3 tonnes | 946 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,465 tonnes | 82 tonnes | 5,540 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 25,816 tonnes | 12,185 tonnes | 35,702 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 46,312 tonnes | 22,224 tonnes | 90,042 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 72,333 tonnes | 4,191 tonnes | 112,418 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 11,410 tonnes | 1,531 tonnes | 35,920 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 4,235 tonnes | 382 tonnes | 11,272 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2,100 tonnes | 382 tonnes | 7,656 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 395,094 tonnes | 286,174 tonnes | 483,648 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 770,269 tonnes | 490,976 tonnes | 1.15 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.09 million tonnes | 1.25 million tonnes | 2.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.42 million tonnes | 1.98 million tonnes | 2.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.40 million tonnes | 2.91 million tonnes | 5.42 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.77 million tonnes | 5.37 million tonnes | 7.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.60 million tonnes | 7.22 million tonnes | 7.99 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.93 million tonnes | 6.75 million tonnes | 8.76 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 111 Cameroon 9.63 million tonnes compare
- 112 El Salvador 8.97 million tonnes compare
- 113 Congo 8.84 million tonnes compare
- 115 Mozambique 8.61 million tonnes compare
- 116 Jamaica 8.40 million tonnes compare
- 117 Papua New Guinea 8.35 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for Costa Rica
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 108.28 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,751 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 942.79 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,808 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 688.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 623.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 65.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.35 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica?
- Carbon dioxide emissions by income level in Costa Rica was 8.76 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon dioxide emissions by income level recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 8.76 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest carbon dioxide emissions by income level recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 tonnes in 1870.
- How does Costa Rica rank for carbon dioxide emissions by income level?
- Costa Rica ranks 114th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon dioxide emissions by income level rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon dioxide emissions by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 155 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.