Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India
India: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector was 69.32 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India stood at 69.32 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India peaked at 84.74 million tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 28.71 million tonnes, in 1990.
That places India 2nd out of 179 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28.71 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 33.58 million tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1992 | 33.51 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 32.55 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 37.41 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1995 | 39.58 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 42.16 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1997 | 45.73 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 35.43 million tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1999 | 40.80 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 2000 | 38.92 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 39.65 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 41.48 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 48.42 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 48.69 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 47.97 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 47.26 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 41.91 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 84.74 million tonnes | +102.2% |
| 2009 | 62.03 million tonnes | -26.8% |
| 2010 | 60.65 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 48.75 million tonnes | -19.6% |
| 2012 | 55.76 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2013 | 52.52 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 54.59 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 55.19 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 56.87 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 59.37 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 60.90 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 59.20 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 54.94 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 59.74 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 67.80 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 2023 | 69.32 million tonnes | +2.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 69.32 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 190,000 tonnes, 364.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- India's 69.32 million tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 290,000 tonnes, 239.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +102.2% | 41.91 million tonnes | 84.74 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.95 million tonnes | 28.71 million tonnes | 45.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.11 million tonnes | 38.92 million tonnes | 84.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.38 million tonnes | 48.75 million tonnes | 60.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.95 million tonnes | 54.94 million tonnes | 69.32 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More climate change data for India
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 27.69 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 602,760 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105,678 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 497,082 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 398.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 279,594 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 176,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 103,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 664.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India?
- Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in India was 69.32 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 84.74 million tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.71 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does India rank for greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- India ranks 2nd out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions by sector rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.