Methane emissions by sector in Brazil
Brazil: Methane emissions by sector was 5.48 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Methane emissions by sector in Brazil, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions by sector in Brazil is 5.48 million tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 19.9% on the previous year and up 199.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions by sector in Brazil peaked at 21.63 million tonnes in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.81 million tonnes, in 2009.
Brazil ranks 8th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions by sector in Brazil, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.29 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 8.29 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 8.29 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 8.29 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 8.29 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 8.29 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 10.00 million tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1997 | 12.22 million tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1998 | 21.63 million tonnes | +77.0% |
| 1999 | 16.53 million tonnes | -23.6% |
| 2000 | 2.44 million tonnes | -85.2% |
| 2001 | 4.57 million tonnes | +87.3% |
| 2002 | 9.14 million tonnes | +100.0% |
| 2003 | 8.14 million tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2004 | 9.70 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 2005 | 12.21 million tonnes | +25.9% |
| 2006 | 5.33 million tonnes | -56.3% |
| 2007 | 13.70 million tonnes | +157.0% |
| 2008 | 4.65 million tonnes | -66.1% |
| 2009 | 1.81 million tonnes | -61.1% |
| 2010 | 13.93 million tonnes | +669.6% |
| 2011 | 3.26 million tonnes | -76.6% |
| 2012 | 6.54 million tonnes | +100.6% |
| 2013 | 1.83 million tonnes | -72.0% |
| 2014 | 3.85 million tonnes | +110.4% |
| 2015 | 7.50 million tonnes | +94.8% |
| 2016 | 5.58 million tonnes | -25.6% |
| 2017 | 8.52 million tonnes | +52.7% |
| 2018 | 2.51 million tonnes | -70.5% |
| 2019 | 7.20 million tonnes | +186.9% |
| 2020 | 11.17 million tonnes | +55.1% |
| 2021 | 5.68 million tonnes | -49.1% |
| 2022 | 6.84 million tonnes | +20.4% |
| 2023 | 5.48 million tonnes | -19.9% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 5.48 million tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 10,000 tonnes, 548.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions by sector in Brazil 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +669.6% | 1.81 million tonnes | 13.93 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.01 million tonnes | 8.29 million tonnes | 21.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.17 million tonnes | 1.81 million tonnes | 13.70 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.07 million tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes | 13.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.29 million tonnes | 5.48 million tonnes | 11.17 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More climate change data for Brazil
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 8.54 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 564,343 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 124,669 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 439,674 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 470.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 15,703 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 67,360 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,554 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,806 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 228.5 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions by sector in Brazil?
- Methane emissions by sector in Brazil was 5.48 million 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 21.63 million tonnes in 1998.
- What is the lowest methane emissions by sector recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.81 million tonnes in 2009.
- How does Brazil rank for methane emissions by sector?
- Brazil ranks 8th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is methane emissions by sector rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 199.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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.