Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana
Ghana: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 13.53 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
13.53 million tonnes
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
45th
of 197 countries
All-time high
95.41 million tonnes
in 1959
All-time low
790,398 tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana stood at 13.53 million tonnes.
The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and down 35.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana peaked at 95.41 million tonnes in 1959 and was at its lowest, 790,398 tonnes, in 1850.
That places Ghana 45th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 790,398 tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 2.19 million tonnes | +176.9% |
| 1852 | 3.11 million tonnes | +42.0% |
| 1853 | 3.99 million tonnes | +28.5% |
| 1854 | 4.33 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1855 | 4.72 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1856 | 5.09 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1857 | 5.54 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1858 | 5.71 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1859 | 5.93 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1860 | 5.18 million tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1861 | 4.98 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1862 | 4.92 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1863 | 4.95 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1864 | 4.96 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 5.00 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1866 | 5.05 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 5.13 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1868 | 5.17 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 5.21 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1870 | 6.13 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1871 | 6.54 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1872 | 6.80 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1873 | 7.00 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1874 | 7.16 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1875 | 7.30 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1876 | 7.41 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1877 | 7.77 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1878 | 7.68 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1879 | 7.70 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 8.85 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1881 | 9.40 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1882 | 9.74 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1883 | 9.95 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1884 | 10.13 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1885 | 10.29 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1886 | 10.42 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 10.59 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1888 | 10.65 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 10.72 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 11.35 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1891 | 11.67 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1892 | 11.93 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1893 | 12.07 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1894 | 12.20 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1895 | 12.34 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 12.43 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 12.50 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 12.56 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 12.61 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1900 | 12.63 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1901 | 12.95 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1902 | 12.76 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1903 | 12.72 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1904 | 12.83 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1905 | 12.77 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1906 | 12.87 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1907 | 12.82 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1908 | 13.08 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1909 | 12.99 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1910 | 11.67 million tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1911 | 11.08 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1912 | 10.79 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1913 | 10.73 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1914 | 10.44 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1915 | 10.41 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1916 | 10.37 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1917 | 10.29 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1918 | 10.22 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1919 | 10.18 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1920 | 17.52 million tonnes | +72.2% |
| 1921 | 20.88 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1922 | 23.54 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1923 | 25.51 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1924 | 25.84 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1925 | 26.31 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 28.06 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1927 | 29.28 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1928 | 29.27 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1929 | 29.62 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 29.19 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1931 | 28.67 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1932 | 28.99 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1933 | 29.61 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 30.12 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 29.38 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1936 | 28.53 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1937 | 28.54 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 28.88 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 29.10 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1940 | 34.84 million tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1941 | 36.39 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1942 | 38.96 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1943 | 39.96 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1944 | 41.68 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1945 | 40.86 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1946 | 40.94 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1947 | 41.42 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1948 | 41.22 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1949 | 42.58 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 48.46 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1951 | 55.05 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1952 | 69.16 million tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1953 | 74.31 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1954 | 84.33 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1955 | 88.42 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 92.77 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 93.03 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 93.82 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 95.41 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 57.55 million tonnes | -39.7% |
| 1961 | 41.33 million tonnes | -28.2% |
| 1962 | 31.68 million tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1963 | 26.43 million tonnes | -16.6% |
| 1964 | 21.37 million tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1965 | 17.91 million tonnes | -16.2% |
| 1966 | 15.17 million tonnes | -15.3% |
| 1967 | 12.88 million tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1968 | 11.36 million tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1969 | 9.69 million tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1970 | 8.97 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1971 | 8.99 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 8.16 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1973 | 8.61 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 21.22 million tonnes | +146.6% |
| 1975 | 12.27 million tonnes | -42.2% |
| 1976 | 10.08 million tonnes | -17.8% |
| 1977 | 22.64 million tonnes | +124.5% |
| 1978 | 13.33 million tonnes | -41.1% |
| 1979 | 10.50 million tonnes | -21.3% |
| 1980 | 8.39 million tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1981 | 32.53 million tonnes | +287.7% |
| 1982 | 17.17 million tonnes | -47.2% |
| 1983 | 38.23 million tonnes | +122.6% |
| 1984 | 36.37 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1985 | 22.64 million tonnes | -37.7% |
| 1986 | 28.02 million tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1987 | 32.44 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1988 | 19.66 million tonnes | -39.4% |
| 1989 | 27.47 million tonnes | +39.7% |
| 1990 | 28.81 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 18.20 million tonnes | -36.8% |
| 1992 | 26.37 million tonnes | +44.9% |
| 1993 | 31.22 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1994 | 43.85 million tonnes | +40.5% |
| 1995 | 50.20 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1996 | 67.36 million tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1997 | 41.41 million tonnes | -38.5% |
| 1998 | 35.96 million tonnes | -13.2% |
| 1999 | 30.29 million tonnes | -15.8% |
| 2000 | 27.41 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2001 | 26.86 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 23.12 million tonnes | -13.9% |
| 2003 | 19.96 million tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2004 | 15.65 million tonnes | -21.6% |
| 2005 | 17.01 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 16.49 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 18.33 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 15.63 million tonnes | -14.7% |
| 2009 | 18.66 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 2010 | 19.56 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 19.67 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 19.01 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 20.67 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 20.96 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 18.96 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 19.13 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 19.24 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 16.93 million tonnes | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 19.84 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 2020 | 16.10 million tonnes | -18.9% |
| 2021 | 11.95 million tonnes | -25.8% |
| 2022 | 12.46 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 12.70 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 13.53 million tonnes | +6.5% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 13.53 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.54 million tonnes, 2.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 13.53 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.78 million tonnes, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +287.7% | 8.39 million tonnes | 32.53 million tonnes |
| 1851 | +176.9% | 790,398 tonnes | 2.19 million tonnes |
| 1974 | +146.6% | 8.61 million tonnes | 21.22 million tonnes |
| 1977 | +124.5% | 10.08 million tonnes | 22.64 million tonnes |
| 1983 | +122.6% | 17.17 million tonnes | 38.23 million tonnes |
| 1920 | +72.2% | 10.18 million tonnes | 17.52 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 4.14 million tonnes | 790,398 tonnes | 5.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 5.06 million tonnes | 4.92 million tonnes | 5.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 7.15 million tonnes | 6.13 million tonnes | 7.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 10.07 million tonnes | 8.85 million tonnes | 10.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 12.17 million tonnes | 11.35 million tonnes | 12.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 12.84 million tonnes | 12.63 million tonnes | 13.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 10.62 million tonnes | 10.18 million tonnes | 11.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 25.58 million tonnes | 17.52 million tonnes | 29.62 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 29.10 million tonnes | 28.53 million tonnes | 30.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 39.88 million tonnes | 34.84 million tonnes | 42.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 79.47 million tonnes | 48.46 million tonnes | 95.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.54 million tonnes | 9.69 million tonnes | 57.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.48 million tonnes | 8.16 million tonnes | 22.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.29 million tonnes | 8.39 million tonnes | 38.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 37.37 million tonnes | 18.20 million tonnes | 67.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.91 million tonnes | 15.63 million tonnes | 27.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.40 million tonnes | 16.93 million tonnes | 20.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.35 million tonnes | 11.95 million tonnes | 16.10 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More climate change data for Ghana
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 63.84 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 6,671 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,693 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,979 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 10.16 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 142.09 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,417 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 670.16 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 746.8 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.53 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Ghana was 13.53 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 95.41 million tonnes in 1959.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 790,398 tonnes in 1850.
- How does Ghana rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Ghana ranks 45th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.