Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector was 390,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone, 2000–2023
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 Sierra Leone is 390,000 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone peaked at 400,000 tonnes in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20,000 tonnes, in 2000.
That places Sierra Leone 85th out of 179 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20,000 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 40,000 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 2002 | 110,000 tonnes | +175.0% |
| 2003 | 100,000 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 80,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2005 | 20,000 tonnes | -75.0% |
| 2007 | 120,000 tonnes | +500.0% |
| 2008 | 170,000 tonnes | +41.7% |
| 2009 | 129,999 tonnes | -23.5% |
| 2010 | 120,000 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 250,000 tonnes | +108.3% |
| 2012 | 320,000 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 2013 | 380,000 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 2014 | 400,000 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 280,000 tonnes | -30.0% |
| 2016 | 290,000 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 270,000 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 250,000 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 300,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 2020 | 330,000 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 390,000 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 370,000 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 390,000 tonnes | +5.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 390,000 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 110,000 tonnes, 3.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 390,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 80,000 tonnes, 4.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone 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 | +500.0% | 20,000 tonnes | 120,000 tonnes |
| 2002 | +175.0% | 40,000 tonnes | 110,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 87,778 tonnes | 20,000 tonnes | 170,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 2010s | 286,000 tonnes | 120,000 tonnes | 400,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 370,000 tonnes | 330,000 tonnes | 390,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 82 Philippines 450,000 tonnes compare
- 83 Uruguay 440,000 tonnes compare
- 84 Moldova 430,000 tonnes compare
- 86 Democratic Republic of Congo 320,000 tonnes compare
- 86 Slovenia 320,000 tonnes compare
- 88 Papua New Guinea 310,000 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 3.65 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 538.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,431 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 201.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.761 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone?
- Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Sierra Leone was 390,000 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 400,000 tonnes in 2014.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,000 tonnes in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- Sierra Leone ranks 85th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions by sector rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 23 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.