Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Kenya
Kenya: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 13.23 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
13.23 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
46th
of 197 countries
All-time high
74.47 million tonnes
in 1984
All-time low
-3.01 million tonnes
in 1909
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 13.23 million tonnes.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 65.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Kenya peaked at 74.47 million tonnes in 1984 and was at its lowest, -3.01 million tonnes, in 1909.
That places Kenya 46th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3.90 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 4.09 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1852 | 4.21 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1853 | 4.90 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1854 | 4.58 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1855 | 5.19 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1856 | 5.66 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1857 | 5.17 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1858 | 5.28 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1859 | 5.12 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1860 | 5.41 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1861 | 5.61 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1862 | 5.49 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1863 | 5.43 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1864 | 5.66 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1865 | 5.43 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1866 | 5.72 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1867 | 5.71 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1868 | 5.67 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1869 | 6.05 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1870 | 6.14 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1871 | 6.47 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1872 | 6.48 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 6.72 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1874 | 6.90 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1875 | 6.57 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1876 | 6.63 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 6.92 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1878 | 7.14 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1879 | 7.30 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1880 | 7.24 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1881 | 8.10 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1882 | 7.83 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1883 | 7.39 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1884 | 7.33 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1885 | 7.33 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 7.39 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 7.78 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1888 | 8.29 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1889 | 7.94 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1890 | 5.33 million tonnes | -32.9% |
| 1891 | 3.89 million tonnes | -27.0% |
| 1892 | 2.92 million tonnes | -24.8% |
| 1893 | 2.21 million tonnes | -24.6% |
| 1894 | 1.64 million tonnes | -25.8% |
| 1895 | 1.17 million tonnes | -28.6% |
| 1896 | 771,052 tonnes | -34.1% |
| 1897 | 424,584 tonnes | -44.9% |
| 1898 | 118,640 tonnes | -72.1% |
| 1899 | -154,474 tonnes | -230.2% |
| 1900 | -542,052 tonnes | +250.9% |
| 1901 | -911,347 tonnes | +68.1% |
| 1902 | -1.25 million tonnes | +37.1% |
| 1903 | -1.56 million tonnes | +24.9% |
| 1904 | -1.85 million tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1905 | -2.11 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1906 | -2.36 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1907 | -2.59 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1908 | -2.81 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1909 | -3.01 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1910 | -2.87 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1911 | -2.73 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1912 | -2.60 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1913 | -2.48 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1914 | -2.37 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1915 | -2.28 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1916 | -2.20 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1917 | -2.14 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1918 | -2.08 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1919 | -2.02 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1920 | 2.40 million tonnes | -218.5% |
| 1921 | 5.01 million tonnes | +108.9% |
| 1922 | 6.85 million tonnes | +36.6% |
| 1923 | 8.26 million tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1924 | 9.42 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1925 | 10.41 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1926 | 11.29 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1927 | 12.09 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1928 | 12.81 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1929 | 13.48 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1930 | 13.92 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1931 | 14.43 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1932 | 14.92 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1933 | 15.40 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1934 | 15.86 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1935 | 16.29 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1936 | 16.70 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1937 | 17.11 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1938 | 17.50 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1939 | 17.85 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 20.19 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1941 | 21.59 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1942 | 22.56 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1943 | 23.33 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1944 | 24.11 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1945 | 24.80 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1946 | 25.31 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1947 | 25.94 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1948 | 26.09 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1949 | 26.55 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 29.35 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1951 | 30.73 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1952 | 32.60 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1953 | 35.34 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1954 | 35.94 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 37.71 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1956 | 40.38 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1957 | 42.28 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1958 | 43.17 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1959 | 45.55 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1960 | 61.41 million tonnes | +34.8% |
| 1961 | 47.62 million tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1962 | 38.00 million tonnes | -20.2% |
| 1963 | 30.64 million tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1964 | 25.83 million tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1965 | 22.17 million tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1966 | 19.70 million tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1967 | 17.18 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1968 | 14.31 million tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1969 | 12.39 million tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1970 | 10.55 million tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1971 | 9.52 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1972 | 8.59 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1973 | 8.42 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 41.96 million tonnes | +398.1% |
| 1975 | 27.57 million tonnes | -34.3% |
| 1976 | 19.10 million tonnes | -30.7% |
| 1977 | 12.13 million tonnes | -36.5% |
| 1978 | 10.32 million tonnes | -15.0% |
| 1979 | 9.89 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 14.44 million tonnes | +45.9% |
| 1981 | 20.82 million tonnes | +44.2% |
| 1982 | 19.80 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 15.76 million tonnes | -20.4% |
| 1984 | 74.47 million tonnes | +372.5% |
| 1985 | 49.24 million tonnes | -33.9% |
| 1986 | 38.75 million tonnes | -21.3% |
| 1987 | 44.94 million tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1988 | 59.74 million tonnes | +32.9% |
| 1989 | 37.57 million tonnes | -37.1% |
| 1990 | 46.86 million tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1991 | 58.66 million tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1992 | 53.57 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1993 | 71.02 million tonnes | +32.6% |
| 1994 | 54.73 million tonnes | -22.9% |
| 1995 | 39.64 million tonnes | -27.6% |
| 1996 | 41.76 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 37.22 million tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1998 | 54.52 million tonnes | +46.5% |
| 1999 | 41.99 million tonnes | -23.0% |
| 2000 | 39.45 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2001 | 36.20 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2002 | 36.81 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 38.72 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 33.78 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 2005 | 37.72 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2006 | 44.76 million tonnes | +18.6% |
| 2007 | 43.69 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 50.90 million tonnes | +16.5% |
| 2009 | 49.53 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 71.95 million tonnes | +45.3% |
| 2011 | 70.37 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 57.43 million tonnes | -18.4% |
| 2013 | 45.10 million tonnes | -21.5% |
| 2014 | 38.47 million tonnes | -14.7% |
| 2015 | 41.51 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 25.11 million tonnes | -39.5% |
| 2017 | 46.03 million tonnes | +83.4% |
| 2018 | 37.62 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 2019 | 23.99 million tonnes | -36.2% |
| 2020 | 22.24 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 13.77 million tonnes | -38.1% |
| 2022 | 13.30 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 13.15 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 13.23 million tonnes | +0.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 13.23 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.54 million tonnes, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 13.23 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 Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +398.1% | 8.42 million tonnes | 41.96 million tonnes |
| 1984 | +372.5% | 15.76 million tonnes | 74.47 million tonnes |
| 1900 | -250.9% | -154,474 tonnes | -542,052 tonnes |
| 1899 | -230.2% | 118,640 tonnes | -154,474 tonnes |
| 1920 | +218.5% | -2.02 million tonnes | 2.40 million tonnes |
| 1921 | +108.9% | 2.40 million tonnes | 5.01 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 4.81 million tonnes | 3.90 million tonnes | 5.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 5.62 million tonnes | 5.41 million tonnes | 6.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.73 million tonnes | 6.14 million tonnes | 7.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 7.66 million tonnes | 7.24 million tonnes | 8.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.83 million tonnes | -154,474 tonnes | 5.33 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | -1.90 million tonnes | -3.01 million tonnes | -542,052 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | -2.38 million tonnes | -2.87 million tonnes | -2.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.20 million tonnes | 2.40 million tonnes | 13.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 16.00 million tonnes | 13.92 million tonnes | 17.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 24.05 million tonnes | 20.19 million tonnes | 26.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 37.30 million tonnes | 29.35 million tonnes | 45.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 28.93 million tonnes | 12.39 million tonnes | 61.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.80 million tonnes | 8.42 million tonnes | 41.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.55 million tonnes | 14.44 million tonnes | 74.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 50.00 million tonnes | 37.22 million tonnes | 71.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.16 million tonnes | 33.78 million tonnes | 50.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.76 million tonnes | 23.99 million tonnes | 71.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.14 million tonnes | 13.15 million tonnes | 22.24 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More climate change data for Kenya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 276.34 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 50,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,186 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,454 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 61.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,231 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,372 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 255.67 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.99 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Kenya?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Kenya was 13.23 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 74.47 million tonnes in 1984.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.01 million tonnes in 1909.
- How does Kenya rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Kenya ranks 46th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.