Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 27.18 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
27.18 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
8th
of 197 countries
All-time high
27.18 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
28.47 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1850–2024
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 from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo is 27.18 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 27.18 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 28.47 million tonnes, in 1850.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 8th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 28.47 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 45.67 million tonnes | +60.4% |
| 1852 | 58.55 million tonnes | +28.2% |
| 1853 | 69.08 million tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1854 | 77.97 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1855 | 85.51 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1856 | 92.33 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1857 | 99.70 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1858 | 106.48 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1859 | 112.89 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1860 | 134.59 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1861 | 169.40 million tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1862 | 209.63 million tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1863 | 253.91 million tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1864 | 305.15 million tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1865 | 358.70 million tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1866 | 415.17 million tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1867 | 476.91 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1868 | 540.77 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1869 | 603.80 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1870 | 671.58 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1871 | 746.18 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1872 | 823.13 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1873 | 907.46 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1874 | 988.96 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1875 | 1.07 billion tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1876 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1877 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1878 | 1.35 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1879 | 1.45 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1880 | 1.52 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1881 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1882 | 1.66 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1883 | 1.72 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1884 | 1.77 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1885 | 1.83 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1886 | 1.89 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1887 | 1.94 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1888 | 1.99 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1889 | 2.05 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1890 | 2.07 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1891 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 2.10 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 2.11 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1894 | 2.11 billion tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 2.11 billion tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1896 | 2.10 billion tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1897 | 2.09 billion tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1898 | 2.08 billion tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1899 | 2.07 billion tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1900 | 2.05 billion tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1901 | 2.03 billion tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1902 | 2.01 billion tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1903 | 1.98 billion tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1904 | 1.95 billion tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1905 | 1.92 billion tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1906 | 1.89 billion tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1907 | 1.85 billion tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1908 | 1.81 billion tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1909 | 1.77 billion tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1910 | 1.73 billion tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1911 | 1.69 billion tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1912 | 1.66 billion tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1913 | 1.62 billion tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1914 | 1.58 billion tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1915 | 1.54 billion tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1916 | 1.50 billion tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1917 | 1.46 billion tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1918 | 1.42 billion tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1919 | 1.38 billion tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1920 | 1.39 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1921 | 1.41 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1922 | 1.44 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1923 | 1.48 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1924 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1925 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1926 | 1.65 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1927 | 1.72 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1928 | 1.80 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1929 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1930 | 1.96 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1931 | 2.05 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1932 | 2.15 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1933 | 2.24 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1934 | 2.34 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1935 | 2.44 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1936 | 2.55 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1937 | 2.66 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1938 | 2.77 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1939 | 2.88 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1940 | 3.02 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1941 | 3.17 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1942 | 3.33 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1943 | 3.49 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1944 | 3.66 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1945 | 3.83 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1946 | 4.01 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1947 | 4.19 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1948 | 4.38 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1949 | 4.57 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1950 | 4.79 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1951 | 5.03 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1952 | 5.29 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1953 | 5.56 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1954 | 5.87 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1955 | 6.19 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1956 | 6.53 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1957 | 6.90 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1958 | 7.29 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 7.69 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1960 | 8.24 billion tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1961 | 8.60 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1962 | 8.89 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 9.10 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 9.26 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 9.40 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 9.53 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 9.66 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1968 | 9.77 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 9.89 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 10.00 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 10.11 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 10.22 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 10.32 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 10.42 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 10.52 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 10.61 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 10.70 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 10.78 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 10.87 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 10.97 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 11.06 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 11.15 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 11.25 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 11.35 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 11.46 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 11.55 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 11.64 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 11.73 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 11.82 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 11.91 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 12.01 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 12.11 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 12.23 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 12.36 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 12.49 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 12.62 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 12.80 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 12.98 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 13.18 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 13.37 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 13.53 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 13.69 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 13.87 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 14.02 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 14.17 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 14.32 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 14.49 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 14.97 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 15.76 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 16.69 billion tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 17.76 billion tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 18.76 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 19.78 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 20.62 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 21.29 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 22.00 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 22.72 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 23.31 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 23.82 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 24.36 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 25.10 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 25.86 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 26.53 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 27.18 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 27.18 billion tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.53 billion tonnes, 17.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 27.18 billion tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.56 billion tonnes, 17.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | +60.4% | 28.47 million tonnes | 45.67 million tonnes |
| 1852 | +28.2% | 45.67 million tonnes | 58.55 million tonnes |
| 1861 | +25.9% | 134.59 million tonnes | 169.40 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 77.66 million tonnes | 28.47 million tonnes | 112.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 346.80 million tonnes | 134.59 million tonnes | 603.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.04 billion tonnes | 671.58 million tonnes | 1.45 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.80 billion tonnes | 1.52 billion tonnes | 2.05 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.09 billion tonnes | 2.07 billion tonnes | 2.11 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.93 billion tonnes | 1.77 billion tonnes | 2.05 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.56 billion tonnes | 1.38 billion tonnes | 1.73 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.59 billion tonnes | 1.39 billion tonnes | 1.88 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.40 billion tonnes | 1.96 billion tonnes | 2.88 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.77 billion tonnes | 3.02 billion tonnes | 4.57 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.11 billion tonnes | 4.79 billion tonnes | 7.69 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 9.23 billion tonnes | 8.24 billion tonnes | 9.89 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.46 billion tonnes | 10.00 billion tonnes | 10.87 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.40 billion tonnes | 10.97 billion tonnes | 11.82 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.47 billion tonnes | 11.91 billion tonnes | 13.18 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.22 billion tonnes | 13.37 billion tonnes | 15.76 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.68 billion tonnes | 16.69 billion tonnes | 23.82 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.81 billion tonnes | 24.36 billion tonnes | 27.18 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
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 from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Democratic Republic of Congo was 27.18 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 from land-use change recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 27.18 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.47 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 8th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.8%. 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 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
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.