Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria
Nigeria: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 12.53 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
12.53 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
19th
of 197 countries
All-time high
12.53 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
-1.71 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria stood at 12.53 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria peaked at 12.53 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, -1.71 million tonnes, in 1850.
That places Nigeria 19th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | -1.71 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | -609,396 tonnes | -64.4% |
| 1852 | 1.59 million tonnes | -361.1% |
| 1853 | 4.86 million tonnes | +205.3% |
| 1854 | 9.04 million tonnes | +86.1% |
| 1855 | 14.02 million tonnes | +55.1% |
| 1856 | 19.62 million tonnes | +39.9% |
| 1857 | 25.86 million tonnes | +31.8% |
| 1858 | 32.74 million tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1859 | 40.50 million tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1860 | 49.01 million tonnes | +21.0% |
| 1861 | 58.11 million tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1862 | 67.76 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1863 | 77.80 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1864 | 88.41 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1865 | 99.24 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1866 | 111.03 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1867 | 122.61 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1868 | 134.48 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1869 | 146.44 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1870 | 160.21 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1871 | 175.03 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1872 | 190.65 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1873 | 206.87 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1874 | 223.57 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1875 | 240.60 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1876 | 258.07 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1877 | 275.84 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1878 | 293.88 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1879 | 311.97 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1880 | 332.49 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1881 | 353.94 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1882 | 376.17 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1883 | 398.94 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1884 | 422.29 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1885 | 445.95 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1886 | 470.12 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1887 | 494.47 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1888 | 519.00 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1889 | 543.85 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1890 | 568.21 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1891 | 592.30 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1892 | 616.18 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1893 | 640.58 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1894 | 664.54 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1895 | 688.38 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1896 | 712.19 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1897 | 735.96 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1898 | 759.94 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1899 | 783.77 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1900 | 813.88 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1901 | 847.44 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1902 | 883.79 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1903 | 921.17 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1904 | 959.79 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1905 | 999.21 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1906 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1907 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1908 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1909 | 1.16 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1910 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1911 | 1.25 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1912 | 1.30 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1913 | 1.34 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1914 | 1.39 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1915 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1916 | 1.48 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1917 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1918 | 1.58 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1919 | 1.62 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1920 | 1.69 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1921 | 1.76 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1922 | 1.84 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1923 | 1.93 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1924 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1925 | 2.10 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1926 | 2.20 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1927 | 2.30 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1928 | 2.40 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1929 | 2.50 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1930 | 2.60 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1931 | 2.71 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1932 | 2.82 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1933 | 2.93 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1934 | 3.05 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1935 | 3.16 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1936 | 3.28 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1937 | 3.40 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1938 | 3.52 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1939 | 3.64 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1940 | 3.77 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 3.92 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1942 | 4.07 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1943 | 4.23 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1944 | 4.39 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1945 | 4.55 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1946 | 4.72 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1947 | 4.89 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1948 | 5.05 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1949 | 5.22 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 5.37 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1951 | 5.51 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1952 | 5.64 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 5.78 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 5.92 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 6.07 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 6.21 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 6.37 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 6.53 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 6.69 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 6.86 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 6.99 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 7.11 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 7.22 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 7.32 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 7.40 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 7.47 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 7.54 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 7.63 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 7.71 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 7.78 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 7.86 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 7.93 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 8.00 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 8.06 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 8.12 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 8.18 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 8.24 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 8.31 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 8.38 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 8.44 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 8.49 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 8.54 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 8.61 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 8.68 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 8.74 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 8.79 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 8.84 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 8.89 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 8.95 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 9.07 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 9.24 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 9.40 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 9.62 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 9.94 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 10.17 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 10.35 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 10.56 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 10.81 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 10.98 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 11.17 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 11.33 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 11.45 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 11.56 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 11.66 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 11.73 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 11.78 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 11.80 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 11.92 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 11.98 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 12.04 billion tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 12.08 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 12.11 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 12.14 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 12.16 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 12.19 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 12.20 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 12.24 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 12.29 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 12.33 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 12.38 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 12.41 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 12.45 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 12.49 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 12.53 billion tonnes | +0.3% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 12.53 billion tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.89 billion tonnes, 6.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 12.53 billion tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.56 billion tonnes, 8.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1852 | +361.1% | -609,396 tonnes | 1.59 million tonnes |
| 1853 | +205.3% | 1.59 million tonnes | 4.86 million tonnes |
| 1854 | +86.1% | 4.86 million tonnes | 9.04 million tonnes |
| 1851 | +64.4% | -1.71 million tonnes | -609,396 tonnes |
| 1855 | +55.1% | 9.04 million tonnes | 14.02 million tonnes |
| 1856 | +39.9% | 14.02 million tonnes | 19.62 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 14.59 million tonnes | -1.71 million tonnes | 40.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 95.49 million tonnes | 49.01 million tonnes | 146.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 233.67 million tonnes | 160.21 million tonnes | 311.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 435.72 million tonnes | 332.49 million tonnes | 543.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 676.20 million tonnes | 568.21 million tonnes | 783.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 982.92 million tonnes | 813.88 million tonnes | 1.16 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.41 billion tonnes | 1.21 billion tonnes | 1.62 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.07 billion tonnes | 1.69 billion tonnes | 2.50 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.11 billion tonnes | 2.60 billion tonnes | 3.64 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.48 billion tonnes | 3.77 billion tonnes | 5.22 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.01 billion tonnes | 5.37 billion tonnes | 6.69 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.33 billion tonnes | 6.86 billion tonnes | 7.71 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.08 billion tonnes | 7.78 billion tonnes | 8.38 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.70 billion tonnes | 8.44 billion tonnes | 8.95 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.01 billion tonnes | 9.07 billion tonnes | 10.98 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.64 billion tonnes | 11.17 billion tonnes | 11.98 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.18 billion tonnes | 12.04 billion tonnes | 12.33 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.45 billion tonnes | 12.38 billion tonnes | 12.53 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More climate change data for Nigeria
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 608.40 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 66,810 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 24,814 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 41,996 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 93.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,500 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 22,614 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,292 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15,322 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 27.52 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Nigeria was 12.53 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 12.53 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.71 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does Nigeria rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Nigeria ranks 19th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.