Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Ireland
Ireland: Cumulative CO₂ emissions was 2.37 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.37 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
64th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.37 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
395,712 tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
114
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Ireland, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 2.37 billion tonnes for cumulative co₂ emissions in 2024. That is the highest value across all 114 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions in Ireland peaked at 2.37 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 395,712 tonnes, in 1850.
Ireland ranks 64th of 215 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.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Ireland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 395,712 tonnes | — |
| 1880 | 747,456 tonnes | +88.9% |
| 1881 | 1.10 million tonnes | +47.1% |
| 1910 | 1.32 million tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1913 | 1.54 million tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1914 | 1.79 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1915 | 2.02 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1916 | 2.26 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1917 | 2.51 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1918 | 2.76 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1919 | 3.01 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1920 | 3.30 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1921 | 3.54 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1924 | 10.23 million tonnes | +188.9% |
| 1925 | 16.26 million tonnes | +59.0% |
| 1926 | 24.36 million tonnes | +49.8% |
| 1927 | 31.09 million tonnes | +27.6% |
| 1928 | 37.57 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1929 | 47.57 million tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1930 | 57.13 million tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1931 | 66.97 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1932 | 73.39 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1933 | 82.66 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1934 | 92.14 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1935 | 101.68 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1936 | 111.82 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1937 | 122.18 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1938 | 132.14 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1939 | 143.67 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1940 | 155.19 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1941 | 163.64 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1942 | 170.66 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1943 | 177.77 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1944 | 184.12 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1945 | 190.96 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1946 | 199.15 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1947 | 207.96 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1948 | 216.41 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1949 | 224.75 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1950 | 234.48 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1951 | 244.98 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1952 | 254.60 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 264.14 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 273.23 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1955 | 284.95 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1956 | 295.87 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 305.59 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 314.54 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 326.86 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 338.02 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 350.38 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 363.48 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1963 | 376.93 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 391.15 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1965 | 404.86 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 419.96 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1967 | 436.35 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 454.15 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1969 | 472.65 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 492.04 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1971 | 514.51 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 536.55 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 559.39 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 582.69 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 604.74 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 627.03 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 650.60 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 674.17 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 701.57 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 727.85 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 753.91 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 779.47 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 805.20 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 830.75 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 857.49 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 886.04 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 916.27 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 946.15 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 976.22 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 1.14 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 1.18 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 1.30 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 1.34 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 1.39 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 1.48 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 1.52 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 1.57 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 1.62 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.71 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 1.76 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.80 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 1.85 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 1.92 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 1.96 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.00 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 2.03 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 2.08 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 2.11 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 2.15 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 2.19 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 2.23 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 2.26 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 2.30 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.33 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 2.37 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 2.37 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.73 billion tonnes, 1.4× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 2.37 billion tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.86 billion tonnes, 83% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | +188.9% | 3.54 million tonnes | 10.23 million tonnes |
| 1880 | +88.9% | 395,712 tonnes | 747,456 tonnes |
| 1925 | +59.0% | 10.23 million tonnes | 16.26 million tonnes |
| 1926 | +49.8% | 16.26 million tonnes | 24.36 million tonnes |
| 1881 | +47.1% | 747,456 tonnes | 1.10 million tonnes |
| 1927 | +27.6% | 24.36 million tonnes | 31.09 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 395,712 tonnes | 395,712 tonnes | 395,712 tonnes | 1 |
| 1880s | 923,328 tonnes | 747,456 tonnes | 1.10 million tonnes | 2 |
| 1910s | 2.15 million tonnes | 1.32 million tonnes | 3.01 million tonnes | 8 |
| 1920s | 21.74 million tonnes | 3.30 million tonnes | 47.57 million tonnes | 8 |
| 1930s | 98.38 million tonnes | 57.13 million tonnes | 143.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 189.06 million tonnes | 155.19 million tonnes | 224.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 279.92 million tonnes | 234.48 million tonnes | 326.86 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 400.79 million tonnes | 338.02 million tonnes | 472.65 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 594.33 million tonnes | 492.04 million tonnes | 701.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 847.93 million tonnes | 727.85 million tonnes | 976.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.17 billion tonnes | 1.01 billion tonnes | 1.34 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.60 billion tonnes | 1.39 billion tonnes | 1.80 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.02 billion tonnes | 1.85 billion tonnes | 2.19 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.30 billion tonnes | 2.23 billion tonnes | 2.37 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More climate change data for Ireland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 320.11 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 18,098 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,665 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 14,433 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.83 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 515.47 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,902 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,899 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.17 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions in Ireland?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions in Ireland was 2.37 billion 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.37 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 395,712 tonnes in 1850.
- How does Ireland rank for cumulative co₂ emissions?
- Ireland ranks 64th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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 — 114 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.