Carbon intensity of energy in Portugal
Portugal: Carbon intensity of energy was 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
162nd
of 204 countries
All-time high
280.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 1969
All-time low
165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour
in 2024
Years of data
60
1965–2024
Carbon intensity of energy in Portugal, 1965–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity of energy in Portugal is 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 60 years on record.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity of energy in Portugal peaked at 280.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1969 and was at its lowest, 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 2024.
Portugal ranks 162nd of 204 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 60 years of available data.
Carbon intensity of energy in Portugal, year by year
| Year | grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 275.66 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | — |
| 1966 | 267.77 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.9% |
| 1967 | 260.46 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 264.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 280.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 232.64 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -17.2% |
| 1971 | 225.71 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.0% |
| 1972 | 234.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 228.32 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 226.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 228.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 234.21 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 227.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 217.49 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.6% |
| 1979 | 224.69 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 236.78 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 231.59 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 235.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 237.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 224.12 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 209.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 211.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 214.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 207.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 221.89 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 245.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +10.6% |
| 1991 | 243.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 248.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 243.37 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 240.26 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 238.43 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 231.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 236.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 232.97 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 246.82 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.9% |
| 2000 | 240.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 240 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 247.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 234.67 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 241.23 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 243.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 239.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 228.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 227.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 219.36 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 203.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 203.87 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 210.94 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 196.22 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 196.15 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 204.94 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 192.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 203.43 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 195.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.8% |
| 2019 | 186.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 186.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 180.76 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 180.26 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 172.23 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.8% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is below the median for high income countries, which is 184.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 90% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 189.51 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 87% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 269.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 260.46 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 280.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
| 1970s | 228 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 217.49 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 234.28 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 223.05 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 207.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 237.42 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 240.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 231.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 248.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 236.2 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 219.36 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 247.03 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 199.33 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 186.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 210.94 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 177.09 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 186.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 159 Democratic Republic of Congo 172.92 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 160 Samoa 168.83 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 161 Bulgaria 166.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 163 Tonga 165.46 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 164 Georgia 164.64 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 165 Yemen 164.34 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
More climate change data for Portugal
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 93.31 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,543 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,218 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,325 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 4.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 154.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 950.54 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 585.76 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 364.79 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity of energy in Portugal?
- Carbon intensity of energy in Portugal was 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 280.85 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1969.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity of energy recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 165.7 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024.
- How does Portugal rank for carbon intensity of energy?
- Portugal ranks 162nd out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon intensity of energy rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity of energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of total energy supply, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.