Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Cumulative CO₂ emissions was 238.70 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
238.70 million tonnes
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
125th
of 215 countries
All-time high
238.70 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
3,664 tonnes
in 1920
Years of data
105
1920–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1920–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cumulative co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo is 238.70 million tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 105 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 238.70 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3,664 tonnes, in 1920.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 125th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 3,664 tonnes | — |
| 1921 | 10,992 tonnes | +200.0% |
| 1922 | 91,600 tonnes | +733.3% |
| 1923 | 252,816 tonnes | +176.0% |
| 1924 | 468,992 tonnes | +85.5% |
| 1925 | 641,200 tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1926 | 879,360 tonnes | +37.1% |
| 1927 | 1.11 million tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1928 | 1.39 million tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1929 | 1.70 million tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1930 | 2.08 million tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1931 | 2.33 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1932 | 2.38 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 2.39 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1934 | 2.41 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 2.44 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 2.48 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1937 | 2.58 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1938 | 2.70 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1939 | 2.79 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 2.87 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1941 | 2.97 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1942 | 3.11 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1943 | 3.33 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1944 | 3.50 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1945 | 3.68 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1946 | 3.99 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1947 | 4.31 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1948 | 4.69 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1949 | 5.16 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1950 | 6.64 million tonnes | +28.7% |
| 1951 | 8.39 million tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1952 | 10.47 million tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1953 | 12.76 million tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1954 | 15.58 million tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1955 | 18.96 million tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1956 | 22.14 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1957 | 25.47 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1958 | 28.39 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1959 | 31.09 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1960 | 33.41 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1961 | 35.77 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1962 | 37.94 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1963 | 40.23 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1964 | 42.21 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1965 | 44.67 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 47.08 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 49.37 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 52.73 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1969 | 56.38 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1970 | 59.09 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 62.05 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 65.07 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 68.25 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 71.62 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 74.85 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 78.26 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 81.73 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 85.26 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 89.00 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1980 | 92.48 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 96.24 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 99.29 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 103.28 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 107.22 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 110.83 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 114.17 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 117.99 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 121.97 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 126.32 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 130.57 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 133.70 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 136.51 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 139.17 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 141.92 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 145.02 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 148.49 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 151.58 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 154.31 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 156.51 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 158.22 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 159.87 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 161.60 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 163.70 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 165.72 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 168.01 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 170.36 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 172.99 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 175.67 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 178.12 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 180.85 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 183.89 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 186.69 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 190.61 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 195.68 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 198.95 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 201.61 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 204.53 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 208.31 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 212.43 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 216.73 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 221.02 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 226.91 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 232.79 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 238.70 million tonnes | +2.5% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 238.70 million tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 61.51 million tonnes, 3.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 238.70 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 103.07 million tonnes, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | +733.3% | 10,992 tonnes | 91,600 tonnes |
| 1921 | +200.0% | 3,664 tonnes | 10,992 tonnes |
| 1923 | +176.0% | 91,600 tonnes | 252,816 tonnes |
| 1924 | +85.5% | 252,816 tonnes | 468,992 tonnes |
| 1926 | +37.1% | 641,200 tonnes | 879,360 tonnes |
| 1925 | +36.7% | 468,992 tonnes | 641,200 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 654,697 tonnes | 3,664 tonnes | 1.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.46 million tonnes | 2.08 million tonnes | 2.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.76 million tonnes | 2.87 million tonnes | 5.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 17.99 million tonnes | 6.64 million tonnes | 31.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 43.98 million tonnes | 33.41 million tonnes | 56.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 73.52 million tonnes | 59.09 million tonnes | 89.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 108.98 million tonnes | 92.48 million tonnes | 126.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 143.78 million tonnes | 130.57 million tonnes | 156.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 167.43 million tonnes | 158.22 million tonnes | 178.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 196.36 million tonnes | 180.85 million tonnes | 212.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 227.23 million tonnes | 216.73 million tonnes | 238.70 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 122 Cambodia 251.61 million tonnes compare
- 123 Laos 243.01 million tonnes compare
- 124 Afghanistan 242.63 million tonnes compare
- 126 Nepal 232.10 million tonnes compare
- 127 Mozambique 211.22 million tonnes compare
- 128 Papua New Guinea 209.71 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4511 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 28.16 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo was 238.70 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 238.70 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,664 tonnes in 1920.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for cumulative co₂ emissions?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 125th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 105 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.