Methane emissions by sector in Laos
Laos: Methane emissions by sector was 3.04 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Methane emissions by sector in Laos, 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 Laos stood at 3.04 million tonnes.
The figure is up 850.0% on the previous year and up 157.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions by sector in Laos peaked at 3.63 million tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, 180,000 tonnes, in 2001.
That places Laos 11th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.45 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 1.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.45 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1.97 million tonnes | +35.9% |
| 1997 | 1.48 million tonnes | -24.9% |
| 1998 | 3.27 million tonnes | +120.9% |
| 1999 | 2.27 million tonnes | -30.6% |
| 2000 | 1.53 million tonnes | -32.6% |
| 2001 | 180,000 tonnes | -88.2% |
| 2002 | 700,000 tonnes | +288.9% |
| 2003 | 890,000 tonnes | +27.1% |
| 2004 | 3.26 million tonnes | +266.3% |
| 2005 | 1.70 million tonnes | -47.9% |
| 2006 | 820,000 tonnes | -51.8% |
| 2007 | 3.63 million tonnes | +342.7% |
| 2008 | 580,000 tonnes | -84.0% |
| 2009 | 880,000 tonnes | +51.7% |
| 2010 | 2.64 million tonnes | +200.0% |
| 2011 | 510,000 tonnes | -80.7% |
| 2012 | 1.07 million tonnes | +109.8% |
| 2013 | 1.18 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2014 | 1.10 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 1.01 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 1.65 million tonnes | +63.4% |
| 2017 | 550,000 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 2018 | 470,000 tonnes | -14.5% |
| 2019 | 980,000 tonnes | +108.5% |
| 2020 | 2.26 million tonnes | +130.6% |
| 2021 | 550,000 tonnes | -75.7% |
| 2022 | 320,000 tonnes | -41.8% |
| 2023 | 3.04 million tonnes | +850.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3.04 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10,000 tonnes, 304.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions by sector in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +850.0% | 320,000 tonnes | 3.04 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.77 million tonnes | 1.45 million tonnes | 3.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.42 million tonnes | 180,000 tonnes | 3.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.12 million tonnes | 470,000 tonnes | 2.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 million tonnes | 320,000 tonnes | 3.04 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More climate change data for Laos
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 11,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,980 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,484 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 11.25 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 303.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,806 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 581.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,224 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.19 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 79.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions by sector in Laos?
- Methane emissions by sector in Laos was 3.04 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.63 million tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest methane emissions by sector recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 180,000 tonnes in 2001.
- How does Laos rank for methane emissions by sector?
- Laos ranks 11th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is methane emissions by sector rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 157.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.