Greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya
Kenya: Greenhouse gas emissions by gas was 20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
27th
of 201 countries
All-time high
21.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2020
All-time low
317,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya is 20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya peaked at 21.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020 and was at its lowest, 317,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Kenya 27th out of 201 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.
Greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 317,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 323,288 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1852 | 329,130 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1853 | 334,746 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1854 | 340,052 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1855 | 344,960 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1856 | 349,386 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1857 | 353,242 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 356,443 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 358,904 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 360,537 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 361,650 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1862 | 362,630 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1863 | 363,512 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 364,330 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 365,117 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 365,909 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 366,738 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 367,639 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 368,646 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 369,794 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 375,392 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1872 | 388,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1873 | 407,544 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1874 | 430,591 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1875 | 455,948 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1876 | 481,861 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1877 | 506,577 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1878 | 528,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1879 | 545,407 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1880 | 556,013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1881 | 562,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 567,630 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 572,239 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 576,296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 579,987 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 583,497 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 587,012 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 590,717 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 594,799 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 622,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1891 | 628,628 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1892 | 635,032 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 641,715 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1894 | 648,668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1895 | 655,881 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 663,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1897 | 671,045 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1898 | 678,975 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 687,124 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 695,480 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 703,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 712,215 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1903 | 720,689 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1904 | 729,450 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1905 | 738,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1906 | 748,476 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1907 | 759,065 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1908 | 770,586 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 783,201 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 797,071 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 816,512 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1912 | 844,702 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1913 | 880,096 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1914 | 921,147 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1915 | 966,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1916 | 1.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1917 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1918 | 1.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1919 | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1921 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1922 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1923 | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1924 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1925 | 1.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1926 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1927 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1928 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1932 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1933 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1934 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1935 | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1936 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1937 | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1938 | 1.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1939 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1940 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1941 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 1942 | 1.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.8% |
| 1943 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +26.3% |
| 1944 | 3.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.3% |
| 1945 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.0% |
| 1946 | 4.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.1% |
| 1947 | 4.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.1% |
| 1948 | 5.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1949 | 5.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1950 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1951 | 5.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1952 | 5.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1953 | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1954 | 5.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1955 | 5.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1956 | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 1957 | 4.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1958 | 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1959 | 4.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1960 | 4.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 4.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.5% |
| 1962 | 4.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 4.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1964 | 4.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1965 | 4.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1966 | 5.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 5.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 5.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 5.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1971 | 5.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 5.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 5.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 6.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 6.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1979 | 7.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 6.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.6% |
| 1981 | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 7.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1983 | 8.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 1984 | 8.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 8.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 8.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 9.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 9.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 9.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 9.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 9.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 9.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 9.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 9.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 9.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 9.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 9.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 9.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 9.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 9.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 9.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 10.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 10.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 10.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 10.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 15.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +51.6% |
| 2008 | 15.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 15.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 15.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 15.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 15.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 15.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 15.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 15.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 17.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 2017 | 16.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 16.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 19.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.8% |
| 2020 | 21.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 2021 | 19.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.2% |
| 2022 | 19.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 20.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 5.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 3.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +51.6% | 10.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1943 | +26.3% | 1.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1944 | +25.3% | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 340,746 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 317,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 358,904 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 364,671 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 360,537 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 368,646 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 449,002 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 369,794 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 545,407 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 577,047 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 556,013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 594,799 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 653,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 622,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 687,124 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 736,169 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 695,480 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 783,201 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 957,087 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 797,071 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 24 Tanzania 26.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 25 Colombia 23.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 26 Egypt 22.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 28 South Africa 20.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 29 Ukraine 20.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 30 Thailand 20.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Kenya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 276.34 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 50,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,186 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,454 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 61.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,231 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,372 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 255.67 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.99 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya?
- Greenhouse gas emissions by gas in Kenya was 20.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest greenhouse gas emissions by gas recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 21.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions by gas recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 317,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Kenya rank for greenhouse gas emissions by gas?
- Kenya ranks 27th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions by gas rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Greenhouse gas emissions by gas. 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
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.