Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 648.20 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
648.20 million tonnes
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
2nd
of 197 countries
All-time high
1.07 billion tonnes
in 2011
All-time low
-39.99 million tonnes
in 1911
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 648.20 million tonnes for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 1.07 billion tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, -39.99 million tonnes, in 1911.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 2nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 28.47 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 17.19 million tonnes | -39.6% |
| 1852 | 12.88 million tonnes | -25.1% |
| 1853 | 10.53 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1854 | 8.89 million tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1855 | 7.54 million tonnes | -15.2% |
| 1856 | 6.82 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1857 | 7.37 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1858 | 6.78 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1859 | 6.40 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1860 | 21.70 million tonnes | +238.9% |
| 1861 | 34.81 million tonnes | +60.4% |
| 1862 | 40.22 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1863 | 44.28 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1864 | 51.25 million tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1865 | 53.55 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1866 | 56.47 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1867 | 61.74 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1868 | 63.86 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1869 | 63.02 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1870 | 67.79 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1871 | 74.59 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1872 | 76.95 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 84.34 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1874 | 81.50 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1875 | 83.26 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1876 | 93.23 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1877 | 97.01 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1878 | 90.14 million tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1879 | 92.47 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1880 | 79.83 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1881 | 67.40 million tonnes | -15.6% |
| 1882 | 64.24 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1883 | 62.41 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1884 | 55.39 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1885 | 55.58 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 56.29 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 52.57 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1888 | 53.73 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1889 | 52.53 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1890 | 29.69 million tonnes | -43.5% |
| 1891 | 18.35 million tonnes | -38.2% |
| 1892 | 10.02 million tonnes | -45.4% |
| 1893 | 5.33 million tonnes | -46.8% |
| 1894 | 692,936 tonnes | -87.0% |
| 1895 | -2.77 million tonnes | -500.0% |
| 1896 | -6.37 million tonnes | +129.8% |
| 1897 | -9.03 million tonnes | +41.8% |
| 1898 | -11.82 million tonnes | +30.9% |
| 1899 | -13.75 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1900 | -16.69 million tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1901 | -19.91 million tonnes | +19.3% |
| 1902 | -23.21 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1903 | -25.91 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1904 | -28.60 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1905 | -31.20 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1906 | -33.63 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1907 | -35.29 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1908 | -37.57 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1909 | -39.40 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1910 | -39.38 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -39.99 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1912 | -39.54 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1913 | -39.27 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1914 | -39.01 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1915 | -39.23 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1916 | -39.25 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1917 | -38.89 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1918 | -37.41 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1919 | -38.88 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1920 | 2.85 million tonnes | -107.3% |
| 1921 | 19.48 million tonnes | +583.9% |
| 1922 | 34.05 million tonnes | +74.8% |
| 1923 | 43.18 million tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1924 | 50.46 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1925 | 57.72 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1926 | 63.67 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1927 | 69.55 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1928 | 74.66 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1929 | 79.38 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1930 | 85.39 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1931 | 89.58 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1932 | 92.71 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1933 | 95.83 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 99.24 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1935 | 102.16 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1936 | 106.28 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1937 | 108.51 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 111.47 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1939 | 112.59 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 137.67 million tonnes | +22.3% |
| 1941 | 149.60 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1942 | 157.39 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1943 | 163.91 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1944 | 168.93 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1945 | 170.86 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1946 | 180.09 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1947 | 184.62 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1948 | 188.42 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1949 | 190.03 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1950 | 219.05 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1951 | 241.41 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1952 | 257.21 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1953 | 272.80 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1954 | 303.93 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1955 | 321.78 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1956 | 341.53 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1957 | 364.24 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1958 | 395.60 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1959 | 397.26 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 548.62 million tonnes | +38.1% |
| 1961 | 365.40 million tonnes | -33.4% |
| 1962 | 282.94 million tonnes | -22.6% |
| 1963 | 210.56 million tonnes | -25.6% |
| 1964 | 168.17 million tonnes | -20.1% |
| 1965 | 140.78 million tonnes | -16.3% |
| 1966 | 128.35 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1967 | 122.81 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1968 | 117.86 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1969 | 115.42 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 114.55 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 109.11 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1972 | 105.92 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 105.80 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 96.81 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1975 | 97.17 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 92.42 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1977 | 87.53 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1978 | 81.33 million tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1979 | 89.47 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1980 | 99.47 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1981 | 91.21 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1982 | 92.44 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 98.10 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1984 | 104.12 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1985 | 104.81 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 95.48 million tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1987 | 88.83 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1988 | 87.58 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 90.84 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 92.58 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 96.45 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 94.95 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 123.91 million tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1994 | 127.24 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 130.63 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 131.02 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 178.56 million tonnes | +36.3% |
| 1998 | 183.99 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 193.85 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 195.20 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 163.70 million tonnes | -16.1% |
| 2002 | 153.11 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2003 | 178.65 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 151.36 million tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2005 | 148.13 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 158.63 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 165.39 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 484.11 million tonnes | +192.7% |
| 2009 | 783.11 million tonnes | +61.8% |
| 2010 | 929.44 million tonnes | +18.7% |
| 2011 | 1.07 billion tonnes | +15.5% |
| 2012 | 1.00 billion tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 845.22 million tonnes | -17.0% |
| 2015 | 664.94 million tonnes | -21.3% |
| 2016 | 709.91 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2017 | 724.89 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 587.59 million tonnes | -18.9% |
| 2019 | 506.46 million tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2020 | 545.75 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 736.14 million tonnes | +34.9% |
| 2022 | 762.93 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 669.18 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 2024 | 648.20 million tonnes | -3.1% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 648.20 million tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 9.26 million tonnes, 70.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 648.20 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.78 million tonnes, 83.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | +583.9% | 2.85 million tonnes | 19.48 million tonnes |
| 1895 | -500.0% | 692,936 tonnes | -2.77 million tonnes |
| 1860 | +238.9% | 6.40 million tonnes | 21.70 million tonnes |
| 2008 | +192.7% | 165.39 million tonnes | 484.11 million tonnes |
| 1896 | -129.8% | -2.77 million tonnes | -6.37 million tonnes |
| 1920 | +107.3% | -38.88 million tonnes | 2.85 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 11.29 million tonnes | 6.40 million tonnes | 28.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 49.09 million tonnes | 21.70 million tonnes | 63.86 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 84.13 million tonnes | 67.79 million tonnes | 97.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 60.00 million tonnes | 52.53 million tonnes | 79.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.03 million tonnes | -13.75 million tonnes | 29.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | -29.14 million tonnes | -39.40 million tonnes | -16.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | -39.08 million tonnes | -39.99 million tonnes | -37.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 49.50 million tonnes | 2.85 million tonnes | 79.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 100.38 million tonnes | 85.39 million tonnes | 112.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 169.15 million tonnes | 137.67 million tonnes | 190.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 311.48 million tonnes | 219.05 million tonnes | 397.26 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 220.09 million tonnes | 115.42 million tonnes | 548.62 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 98.01 million tonnes | 81.33 million tonnes | 114.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 95.29 million tonnes | 87.58 million tonnes | 104.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 135.32 million tonnes | 92.58 million tonnes | 193.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 258.14 million tonnes | 148.13 million tonnes | 783.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 806.12 million tonnes | 506.46 million tonnes | 1.07 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 672.44 million tonnes | 545.75 million tonnes | 762.93 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4511 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 28.16 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo was 648.20 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 1.07 billion tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -39.99 million tonnes in 1911.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 2nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.