Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos
Laos: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 3.31 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Laos recorded 3.31 billion tonnes for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos peaked at 3.31 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 4.54 million tonnes, in 1850.
That places Laos 49th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 4.54 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 8.44 million tonnes | +85.7% |
| 1852 | 11.62 million tonnes | +37.7% |
| 1853 | 14.07 million tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1854 | 17.84 million tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1855 | 20.38 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1856 | 22.61 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1857 | 24.64 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1858 | 27.22 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1859 | 29.35 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1860 | 31.16 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1861 | 33.39 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1862 | 35.30 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1863 | 37.24 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1864 | 39.23 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1865 | 41.42 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1866 | 43.55 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1867 | 45.33 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1868 | 47.10 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1869 | 48.88 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1870 | 51.40 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1871 | 54.37 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1872 | 57.99 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1873 | 61.74 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1874 | 65.23 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1875 | 68.83 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1876 | 72.58 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1877 | 75.80 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1878 | 79.71 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1879 | 83.70 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1880 | 87.97 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1881 | 92.83 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1882 | 99.40 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1883 | 105.07 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1884 | 111.28 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1885 | 119.87 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1886 | 127.39 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1887 | 134.60 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1888 | 142.08 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1889 | 149.13 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1890 | 157.00 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1891 | 163.99 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1892 | 170.75 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1893 | 177.60 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1894 | 184.10 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1895 | 190.56 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1896 | 197.83 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1897 | 205.20 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1898 | 213.92 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1899 | 221.50 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1900 | 227.40 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1901 | 232.65 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1902 | 236.83 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1903 | 240.71 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 244.13 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1905 | 248.36 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 252.26 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1907 | 256.19 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1908 | 260.08 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 263.88 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 267.66 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1911 | 271.56 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1912 | 275.92 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 281.34 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1914 | 287.03 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 291.99 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1916 | 297.20 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1917 | 301.92 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1918 | 307.87 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1919 | 313.21 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 318.83 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 327.70 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1922 | 338.08 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1923 | 350.03 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1924 | 360.37 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1925 | 371.24 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1926 | 384.73 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 399.26 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1928 | 412.21 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1929 | 424.97 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1930 | 440.15 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1931 | 458.91 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1932 | 478.45 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1933 | 498.16 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1934 | 517.93 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1935 | 539.51 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1936 | 561.31 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1937 | 583.36 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1938 | 604.64 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1939 | 625.15 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 642.22 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1941 | 661.28 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1942 | 678.90 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1943 | 697.29 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1944 | 716.40 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1945 | 734.94 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1946 | 753.12 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1947 | 770.99 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1948 | 789.99 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1949 | 805.22 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1950 | 823.53 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1951 | 845.03 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 864.76 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 888.05 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 912.67 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 943.13 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1956 | 977.10 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1957 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1960 | 1.16 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1961 | 1.19 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 1.24 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 1.28 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 1.29 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 1.31 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 1.33 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 1.35 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 1.37 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 1.39 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 1.42 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 1.44 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 1.50 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 1.52 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 1.57 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 1.59 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 1.61 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 1.63 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1982 | 1.65 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 1.67 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 1.69 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 1.71 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 1.73 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 1.75 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 1.77 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 1.79 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 1.83 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 1.85 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 1.87 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 1.89 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 1.91 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 1.95 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 1.97 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 2.00 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 2.04 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 2.13 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 2.18 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 2.24 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 2.30 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 2.37 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.42 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 2.49 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 2.56 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 2.64 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 2.71 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 2.77 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 2.84 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.92 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 3.00 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 3.06 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 3.10 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.13 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.17 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 3.19 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 3.21 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 3.24 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 3.27 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 3.29 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 3.31 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3.31 billion tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.89 billion tonnes, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 3.31 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.03 billion tonnes, 3.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos 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 | +85.7% | 4.54 million tonnes | 8.44 million tonnes |
| 1852 | +37.7% | 8.44 million tonnes | 11.62 million tonnes |
| 1854 | +26.8% | 14.07 million tonnes | 17.84 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 18.07 million tonnes | 4.54 million tonnes | 29.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 40.26 million tonnes | 31.16 million tonnes | 48.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 67.13 million tonnes | 51.40 million tonnes | 83.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 116.96 million tonnes | 87.97 million tonnes | 149.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 188.25 million tonnes | 157.00 million tonnes | 221.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 246.25 million tonnes | 227.40 million tonnes | 263.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 289.57 million tonnes | 267.66 million tonnes | 313.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 368.74 million tonnes | 318.83 million tonnes | 424.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 530.76 million tonnes | 440.15 million tonnes | 625.15 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 725.03 million tonnes | 642.22 million tonnes | 805.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 942.18 million tonnes | 823.53 million tonnes | 1.11 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.26 billion tonnes | 1.16 billion tonnes | 1.35 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.48 billion tonnes | 1.37 billion tonnes | 1.59 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.70 billion tonnes | 1.61 billion tonnes | 1.79 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.91 billion tonnes | 1.81 billion tonnes | 2.04 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.34 billion tonnes | 2.09 billion tonnes | 2.64 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.99 billion tonnes | 2.71 billion tonnes | 3.19 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.26 billion tonnes | 3.21 billion tonnes | 3.31 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More climate change data for Laos
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 11,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,980 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,484 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 11.25 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 303.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,806 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 581.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,224 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.19 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 79.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Laos was 3.31 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.31 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.54 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does Laos rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Laos ranks 49th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.