Methane emissions by sector in Australia
Australia: Methane emissions by sector was 530,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Methane emissions by sector in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, methane emissions by sector in Australia stood at 530,000 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 140.9% on the previous year and down 67.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions by sector in Australia peaked at 10.66 million tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 220,000 tonnes, in 2021.
Australia ranks 22nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions by sector in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.36 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 2.36 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.36 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2.36 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 2.36 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2.36 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4.69 million tonnes | +98.7% |
| 1997 | 7.03 million tonnes | +49.9% |
| 1998 | 5.47 million tonnes | -22.2% |
| 1999 | 7.58 million tonnes | +38.6% |
| 2000 | 2.47 million tonnes | -67.4% |
| 2001 | 1.61 million tonnes | -34.8% |
| 2002 | 2.42 million tonnes | +50.3% |
| 2003 | 3.83 million tonnes | +58.3% |
| 2004 | 430,000 tonnes | -88.8% |
| 2005 | 380,000 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 3.11 million tonnes | +718.4% |
| 2007 | 1.17 million tonnes | -62.4% |
| 2008 | 230,000 tonnes | -80.3% |
| 2009 | 1.82 million tonnes | +691.3% |
| 2010 | 290,000 tonnes | -84.1% |
| 2011 | 680,000 tonnes | +134.5% |
| 2012 | 1.05 million tonnes | +54.4% |
| 2013 | 1.61 million tonnes | +53.3% |
| 2014 | 1.18 million tonnes | -26.7% |
| 2015 | 740,000 tonnes | -37.3% |
| 2016 | 960,000 tonnes | +29.7% |
| 2017 | 610,000 tonnes | -36.5% |
| 2018 | 1.05 million tonnes | +72.1% |
| 2019 | 10.66 million tonnes | +915.2% |
| 2020 | 5.86 million tonnes | -45.0% |
| 2021 | 220,000 tonnes | -96.2% |
| 2022 | 220,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 530,000 tonnes | +140.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions by sector in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +915.2% | 1.05 million tonnes | 10.66 million tonnes |
| 2006 | +718.4% | 380,000 tonnes | 3.11 million tonnes |
| 2009 | +691.3% | 230,000 tonnes | 1.82 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.89 million tonnes | 2.36 million tonnes | 7.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.75 million tonnes | 230,000 tonnes | 3.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.88 million tonnes | 290,000 tonnes | 10.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.71 million tonnes | 220,000 tonnes | 5.86 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 19 South Sudan 880,000 tonnes compare
- 20 United States 860,000 tonnes compare
- 21 Nepal 720,000 tonnes compare
- 23 Ethiopia 480,000 tonnes compare
- 24 Malaysia 450,000 tonnes compare
- 25 Madagascar 390,000 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions by sector in Australia?
- Methane emissions by sector in Australia was 530,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions by sector recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.66 million tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest methane emissions by sector recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 220,000 tonnes in 2021.
- How does Australia rank for methane emissions by sector?
- Australia ranks 22nd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is methane emissions by sector rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Methane 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.