Methane emissions by sector in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Methane emissions by sector was 480,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Methane emissions by sector in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia is 480,000 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.1% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions by sector in Ethiopia peaked at 3.14 million tonnes in 1999 and was at its lowest, 330,000 tonnes, in 2009.
Ethiopia ranks 23rd 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 890,000 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 890,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 890,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 890,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 890,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 890,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 740,000 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1997 | 2.27 million tonnes | +206.8% |
| 1998 | 2.13 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 3.14 million tonnes | +47.4% |
| 2000 | 2.48 million tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2001 | 1.02 million tonnes | -58.9% |
| 2002 | 470,000 tonnes | -53.9% |
| 2003 | 640,000 tonnes | +36.2% |
| 2004 | 660,000 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 730,000 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 720,000 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 930,000 tonnes | +29.2% |
| 2008 | 670,000 tonnes | -28.0% |
| 2009 | 330,000 tonnes | -50.7% |
| 2010 | 519,999 tonnes | +57.6% |
| 2011 | 620,000 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 2012 | 670,000 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 540,000 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 2014 | 620,000 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 2015 | 460,000 tonnes | -25.8% |
| 2016 | 500,000 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2017 | 560,000 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 530,000 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 630,000 tonnes | +18.9% |
| 2020 | 820,000 tonnes | +30.2% |
| 2021 | 800,000 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 540,000 tonnes | -32.5% |
| 2023 | 480,000 tonnes | -11.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 480,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10,000 tonnes, 48.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions by sector in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +206.8% | 740,000 tonnes | 2.27 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.36 million tonnes | 740,000 tonnes | 3.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 865,000 tonnes | 330,000 tonnes | 2.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 565,000 tonnes | 460,000 tonnes | 670,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 660,000 tonnes | 480,000 tonnes | 820,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More climate change data for Ethiopia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 467.87 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 87,053 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 27,625 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 59,429 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 104.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2,122 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,042 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,650 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 392.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 17.55 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions by sector in Ethiopia?
- Methane emissions by sector in Ethiopia was 480,000 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.14 million tonnes in 1999.
- What is the lowest methane emissions by sector recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 330,000 tonnes in 2009.
- How does Ethiopia rank for methane emissions by sector?
- Ethiopia ranks 23rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is methane emissions by sector rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.