Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 10.35 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
10.35 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
48th
of 197 countries
All-time high
116.63 million tonnes
in 1962
All-time low
2.24 million tonnes
in 1879
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka is 10.35 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka peaked at 116.63 million tonnes in 1962 and was at its lowest, 2.24 million tonnes, in 1879.
Sri Lanka ranks 48th of 197 countries on this measure, 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 21.55 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 20.04 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1852 | 19.09 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1853 | 18.45 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1854 | 18.59 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 18.48 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1856 | 18.53 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1857 | 18.22 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1858 | 17.99 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1859 | 18.88 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1860 | 16.30 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1861 | 13.36 million tonnes | -18.0% |
| 1862 | 12.01 million tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1863 | 11.75 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1864 | 11.15 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1865 | 10.48 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1866 | 9.97 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1867 | 10.67 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1868 | 10.28 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1869 | 9.69 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1870 | 6.25 million tonnes | -35.5% |
| 1871 | 4.78 million tonnes | -23.5% |
| 1872 | 4.00 million tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1873 | 3.49 million tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1874 | 3.37 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1875 | 2.94 million tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1876 | 2.69 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1877 | 2.50 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1878 | 2.36 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1879 | 2.24 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1880 | 3.82 million tonnes | +70.2% |
| 1881 | 4.40 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1882 | 5.18 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1883 | 5.26 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1884 | 5.52 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1885 | 5.57 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 5.88 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1887 | 5.71 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1888 | 5.70 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1889 | 6.79 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1890 | 8.67 million tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1891 | 11.97 million tonnes | +38.1% |
| 1892 | 13.58 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1893 | 12.17 million tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1894 | 13.32 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1895 | 12.95 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1896 | 13.77 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1897 | 16.04 million tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1898 | 15.32 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1899 | 15.71 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1900 | 14.24 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1901 | 11.90 million tonnes | -16.5% |
| 1902 | 10.42 million tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1903 | 11.92 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1904 | 10.95 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1905 | 11.33 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1906 | 11.96 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1907 | 11.37 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1908 | 10.52 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1909 | 12.17 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1910 | 9.93 million tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1911 | 9.93 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 8.87 million tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1913 | 8.84 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1914 | 10.31 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1915 | 8.82 million tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1916 | 9.44 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1917 | 8.61 million tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1918 | 8.52 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1919 | 9.37 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1920 | 8.45 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1921 | 7.66 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1922 | 7.50 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1923 | 7.53 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 6.89 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1925 | 6.70 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1926 | 6.66 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1927 | 6.67 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1928 | 7.24 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1929 | 7.21 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1930 | 7.49 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1931 | 7.67 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1932 | 8.02 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1933 | 8.02 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1934 | 8.12 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1935 | 8.24 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1936 | 9.02 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1937 | 8.70 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1938 | 9.32 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1939 | 8.99 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1940 | 16.02 million tonnes | +78.3% |
| 1941 | 19.88 million tonnes | +24.1% |
| 1942 | 22.32 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1943 | 25.09 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1944 | 27.34 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1945 | 27.36 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1946 | 27.41 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1947 | 28.53 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1948 | 27.33 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1949 | 30.86 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1950 | 23.54 million tonnes | -23.7% |
| 1951 | 21.82 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1952 | 20.93 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1953 | 21.63 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1954 | 21.28 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1955 | 23.09 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1956 | 23.72 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 26.22 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1958 | 26.93 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 21.23 million tonnes | -21.2% |
| 1960 | 15.58 million tonnes | -26.6% |
| 1961 | 13.05 million tonnes | -16.2% |
| 1962 | 116.63 million tonnes | +793.6% |
| 1963 | 78.13 million tonnes | -33.0% |
| 1964 | 62.14 million tonnes | -20.5% |
| 1965 | 49.91 million tonnes | -19.7% |
| 1966 | 43.20 million tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1967 | 43.97 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 31.43 million tonnes | -28.5% |
| 1969 | 25.82 million tonnes | -17.9% |
| 1970 | 22.95 million tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1971 | 21.03 million tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1972 | 19.64 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1973 | 18.57 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1974 | 16.87 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1975 | 24.54 million tonnes | +45.5% |
| 1976 | 27.98 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1977 | 29.65 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 17.13 million tonnes | -42.2% |
| 1979 | 13.28 million tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1980 | 11.99 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1981 | 9.31 million tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1982 | 11.53 million tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1983 | 10.41 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1984 | 10.40 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 12.04 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1986 | 12.03 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 11.17 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1988 | 10.82 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 10.00 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1990 | 10.28 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 12.70 million tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1992 | 12.18 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 13.84 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1994 | 18.16 million tonnes | +31.3% |
| 1995 | 16.77 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 17.01 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 13.59 million tonnes | -20.1% |
| 1998 | 15.26 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1999 | 12.25 million tonnes | -19.7% |
| 2000 | 12.14 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 11.43 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 13.15 million tonnes | +15.1% |
| 2003 | 14.74 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 52.38 million tonnes | +255.3% |
| 2005 | 22.21 million tonnes | -57.6% |
| 2006 | 20.91 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 54.82 million tonnes | +162.2% |
| 2008 | 34.96 million tonnes | -36.2% |
| 2009 | 27.46 million tonnes | -21.5% |
| 2010 | 40.63 million tonnes | +47.9% |
| 2011 | 27.35 million tonnes | -32.7% |
| 2012 | 19.19 million tonnes | -29.8% |
| 2013 | 15.09 million tonnes | -21.4% |
| 2014 | 12.80 million tonnes | -15.2% |
| 2015 | 16.05 million tonnes | +25.4% |
| 2016 | 14.53 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 21.69 million tonnes | +49.3% |
| 2018 | 13.88 million tonnes | -36.0% |
| 2019 | 10.91 million tonnes | -21.4% |
| 2020 | 9.35 million tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2021 | 8.34 million tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 9.88 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2023 | 10.26 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 10.35 million tonnes | +0.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 10.35 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,429 tonnes, 7246.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 10.35 million tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 7.15 million tonnes, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | +793.6% | 13.05 million tonnes | 116.63 million tonnes |
| 2004 | +255.3% | 14.74 million tonnes | 52.38 million tonnes |
| 2007 | +162.2% | 20.91 million tonnes | 54.82 million tonnes |
| 1940 | +78.3% | 8.99 million tonnes | 16.02 million tonnes |
| 1880 | +70.2% | 2.24 million tonnes | 3.82 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 18.98 million tonnes | 17.99 million tonnes | 21.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 11.57 million tonnes | 9.69 million tonnes | 16.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.46 million tonnes | 2.24 million tonnes | 6.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.38 million tonnes | 3.82 million tonnes | 6.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 13.35 million tonnes | 8.67 million tonnes | 16.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 11.68 million tonnes | 10.42 million tonnes | 14.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 9.27 million tonnes | 8.52 million tonnes | 10.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 7.25 million tonnes | 6.66 million tonnes | 8.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 8.36 million tonnes | 7.49 million tonnes | 9.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.21 million tonnes | 16.02 million tonnes | 30.86 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 23.04 million tonnes | 20.93 million tonnes | 26.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 47.99 million tonnes | 13.05 million tonnes | 116.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 21.16 million tonnes | 13.28 million tonnes | 29.65 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.97 million tonnes | 9.31 million tonnes | 12.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.20 million tonnes | 10.28 million tonnes | 18.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.42 million tonnes | 11.43 million tonnes | 54.82 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.21 million tonnes | 10.91 million tonnes | 40.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.64 million tonnes | 8.34 million tonnes | 10.35 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More climate change data for Sri Lanka
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 327.09 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,418 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 618.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,800 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,168 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,071 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,097 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Sri Lanka was 10.35 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 116.63 million tonnes in 1962.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.24 million tonnes in 1879.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Sri Lanka ranks 48th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.