Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany
Germany: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector was 7.63 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany is 7.63 million tonnes, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 525.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany peaked at 18.58 million tonnes in 1997 and was at its lowest, 570,000 tonnes, in 2008.
Germany ranks 17th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.45 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 18.37 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1992 | 16.45 million tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1993 | 13.25 million tonnes | -19.5% |
| 1994 | 14.33 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1995 | 15.23 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1996 | 18.48 million tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1997 | 18.58 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 17.91 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 12.22 million tonnes | -31.8% |
| 2000 | 11.21 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 11.33 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 11.36 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.09 million tonnes | -90.4% |
| 2004 | 1.03 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 1.13 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 870,000 tonnes | -23.0% |
| 2007 | 630,000 tonnes | -27.6% |
| 2008 | 570,000 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2009 | 570,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.37 million tonnes | +140.4% |
| 2011 | 1.45 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 1.27 million tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2013 | 1.22 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 1.29 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 1.15 million tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 1.15 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 900,000 tonnes | -21.7% |
| 2018 | 7.37 million tonnes | +718.9% |
| 2019 | 7.37 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.34 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 7.49 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 7.70 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 7.63 million tonnes | -0.9% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 7.63 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 735,000 tonnes, 10.4× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Germany's 7.63 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.04 million tonnes, 7.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +718.9% | 900,000 tonnes | 7.37 million tonnes |
| 2010 | +140.4% | 570,000 tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes |
| 2003 | -90.4% | 11.36 million tonnes | 1.09 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.13 million tonnes | 12.22 million tonnes | 18.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.98 million tonnes | 570,000 tonnes | 11.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.45 million tonnes | 900,000 tonnes | 7.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.54 million tonnes | 7.34 million tonnes | 7.70 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More climate change data for Germany
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.70 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 43,971 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,073 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,898 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 34.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,246 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 12,227 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 122.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 46.14 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany?
- Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Germany was 7.63 million tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 18.58 million tonnes in 1997.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 570,000 tonnes in 2008.
- How does Germany rank for greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- Germany ranks 17th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions by sector rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 525.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Greenhouse gas emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents.