Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho
Lesotho: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 6.72 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.72 million tonnes
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
62nd
of 197 countries
All-time high
9.55 million tonnes
in 2016
All-time low
-1.23 million tonnes
in 2012
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 6.72 million tonnes for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and up 2,466.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho peaked at 9.55 million tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, -1.23 million tonnes, in 2012.
Lesotho ranks 62nd of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 94,238 tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 106,219 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1852 | 115,160 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1853 | 122,158 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1854 | 127,837 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1855 | 132,637 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1856 | 136,740 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1857 | 140,331 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1858 | 143,519 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1859 | 146,304 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1860 | 152,056 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1861 | 157,076 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1862 | 161,216 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1863 | 164,697 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1864 | 167,701 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1865 | 170,339 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1866 | 172,648 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 174,700 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1868 | 176,532 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1869 | 178,180 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1870 | 191,847 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1871 | 202,692 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1872 | 211,120 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1873 | 217,861 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1874 | 223,431 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1875 | 228,194 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1876 | 232,334 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1877 | 235,998 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1878 | 239,223 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1879 | 242,080 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1880 | 239,809 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1881 | 238,710 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1882 | 238,343 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1883 | 238,343 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 238,563 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 238,856 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 239,223 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 239,552 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 239,919 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 240,248 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 247,173 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1891 | 255,564 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1892 | 262,379 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1893 | 267,765 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1894 | 272,199 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 275,972 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1896 | 279,197 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 282,018 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 284,510 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 286,781 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 322,542 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1901 | 352,000 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1902 | 375,010 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1903 | 393,440 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1904 | 408,719 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1905 | 421,726 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1906 | 433,012 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1907 | 442,868 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1908 | 451,588 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1909 | 459,392 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 474,158 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1911 | 487,202 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 498,267 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1913 | 507,867 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 516,221 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1915 | 523,512 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1916 | 529,998 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 535,750 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 540,916 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1919 | 545,570 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1920 | 604,047 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1921 | 651,313 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1922 | 688,099 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1923 | 717,778 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1924 | 742,363 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1925 | 763,468 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1926 | 781,861 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 798,019 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 812,236 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 824,766 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 1.12 million tonnes | +35.5% |
| 1931 | 1.35 million tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1932 | 1.53 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1933 | 1.67 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1934 | 1.79 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1935 | 1.89 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1936 | 1.98 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1937 | 2.06 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1938 | 2.13 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1939 | 2.19 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1940 | 1.89 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1941 | 1.67 million tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1942 | 1.50 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1943 | 1.38 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1944 | 1.28 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1945 | 1.20 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1946 | 1.13 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1947 | 1.07 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1948 | 1.01 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1949 | 966,893 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1950 | 1.02 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1951 | 1.06 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 1.13 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1953 | 1.18 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1954 | 1.17 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1955 | 1.26 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1956 | 1.27 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 1.31 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 1.36 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1959 | 1.37 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 1.28 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1961 | 1.15 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1962 | 1.11 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1963 | 1.17 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1964 | 1.13 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 1.34 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1966 | 1.50 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1967 | 1.79 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1968 | 1.75 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1969 | 1.90 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 1.69 million tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1971 | 1.57 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1972 | 1.58 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 1.54 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 2.23 million tonnes | +45.2% |
| 1975 | 1.63 million tonnes | -26.8% |
| 1976 | 371,676 tonnes | -77.2% |
| 1977 | 421,507 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1978 | 1.11 million tonnes | +164.2% |
| 1979 | 673,993 tonnes | -39.5% |
| 1980 | 893,869 tonnes | +32.6% |
| 1981 | 650,433 tonnes | -27.2% |
| 1982 | 556,891 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1983 | 1.17 million tonnes | +110.1% |
| 1984 | 1.24 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 826,708 tonnes | -33.2% |
| 1986 | 2.35 million tonnes | +183.7% |
| 1987 | 2.25 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 1.26 million tonnes | -43.9% |
| 1989 | 1.82 million tonnes | +43.9% |
| 1990 | 1.44 million tonnes | -21.1% |
| 1991 | 1.90 million tonnes | +32.0% |
| 1992 | 1.55 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1993 | 1.21 million tonnes | -21.7% |
| 1994 | 1.07 million tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1995 | 1.09 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 1.23 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1997 | 1.12 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1998 | 876,978 tonnes | -21.6% |
| 1999 | 1.08 million tonnes | +23.3% |
| 2000 | 929,374 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 2001 | 56,499 tonnes | -93.9% |
| 2002 | 3.71 million tonnes | +6473.1% |
| 2003 | 6.15 million tonnes | +65.6% |
| 2004 | 4.58 million tonnes | -25.5% |
| 2005 | 2.40 million tonnes | -47.5% |
| 2006 | 6.30 million tonnes | +161.8% |
| 2007 | 5.31 million tonnes | -15.7% |
| 2008 | 3.13 million tonnes | -41.0% |
| 2009 | 1.70 million tonnes | -45.7% |
| 2010 | 691,067 tonnes | -59.3% |
| 2011 | -394,027 tonnes | -157.0% |
| 2012 | -1.23 million tonnes | +213.2% |
| 2013 | 2.95 million tonnes | -339.1% |
| 2014 | 261,829 tonnes | -91.1% |
| 2015 | 7.45 million tonnes | +2744.7% |
| 2016 | 9.55 million tonnes | +28.3% |
| 2017 | 9.44 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 5.98 million tonnes | -36.6% |
| 2019 | 6.93 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2020 | 7.22 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 7.24 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 7.19 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 7.00 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 6.72 million tonnes | -4.0% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 6.72 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.54 million tonnes, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 6.72 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.78 million tonnes, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +6473.1% | 56,499 tonnes | 3.71 million tonnes |
| 2015 | +2744.7% | 261,829 tonnes | 7.45 million tonnes |
| 2013 | +339.1% | -1.23 million tonnes | 2.95 million tonnes |
| 2012 | -213.2% | -394,027 tonnes | -1.23 million tonnes |
| 1986 | +183.7% | 826,708 tonnes | 2.35 million tonnes |
| 1978 | +164.2% | 421,507 tonnes | 1.11 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 126,514 tonnes | 94,238 tonnes | 146,304 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 167,514 tonnes | 152,056 tonnes | 178,180 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 222,478 tonnes | 191,847 tonnes | 242,080 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 239,157 tonnes | 238,343 tonnes | 240,248 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 271,356 tonnes | 247,173 tonnes | 286,781 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 406,030 tonnes | 322,542 tonnes | 459,392 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 515,946 tonnes | 474,158 tonnes | 545,570 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 738,395 tonnes | 604,047 tonnes | 824,766 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.77 million tonnes | 1.12 million tonnes | 2.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.31 million tonnes | 966,893 tonnes | 1.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.21 million tonnes | 1.02 million tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.41 million tonnes | 1.11 million tonnes | 1.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.28 million tonnes | 371,676 tonnes | 2.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.30 million tonnes | 556,891 tonnes | 2.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.26 million tonnes | 876,978 tonnes | 1.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.43 million tonnes | 56,499 tonnes | 6.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.16 million tonnes | -1.23 million tonnes | 9.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.07 million tonnes | 6.72 million tonnes | 7.24 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Lesotho was 6.72 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 9.55 million tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.23 million tonnes in 2012.
- How does Lesotho rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Lesotho ranks 62nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,466.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.