Methane emissions by sector in Nepal
Nepal: Methane emissions by sector was 720,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Methane emissions by sector in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 720,000 tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 157.1% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions by sector in Nepal peaked at 1.54 million tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 60,000 tonnes, in 2002.
Nepal ranks 21st 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 470,000 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 470,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 470,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 470,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 470,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 470,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 290,000 tonnes | -38.3% |
| 1997 | 200,000 tonnes | -31.0% |
| 1998 | 330,000 tonnes | +65.0% |
| 1999 | 420,000 tonnes | +27.3% |
| 2000 | 340,000 tonnes | -19.0% |
| 2001 | 259,999 tonnes | -23.5% |
| 2002 | 60,000 tonnes | -76.9% |
| 2003 | 500,000 tonnes | +733.3% |
| 2004 | 400,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2005 | 400,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 240,000 tonnes | -40.0% |
| 2007 | 170,000 tonnes | -29.2% |
| 2008 | 340,000 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 2009 | 490,000 tonnes | +44.1% |
| 2010 | 600,000 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 2011 | 360,000 tonnes | -40.0% |
| 2012 | 610,000 tonnes | +69.4% |
| 2013 | 640,000 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 630,000 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 90,000 tonnes | -85.7% |
| 2016 | 1.54 million tonnes | +1611.1% |
| 2017 | 370,000 tonnes | -76.0% |
| 2018 | 259,999 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 2019 | 820,000 tonnes | +215.4% |
| 2020 | 120,000 tonnes | -85.4% |
| 2021 | 820,000 tonnes | +583.3% |
| 2022 | 280,000 tonnes | -65.9% |
| 2023 | 720,000 tonnes | +157.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 720,000 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10,000 tonnes, 72.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 720,000 tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 20,000 tonnes, 36.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions by sector in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +1611.1% | 90,000 tonnes | 1.54 million tonnes |
| 2003 | +733.3% | 60,000 tonnes | 500,000 tonnes |
| 2021 | +583.3% | 120,000 tonnes | 820,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 406,000 tonnes | 200,000 tonnes | 470,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 320,000 tonnes | 60,000 tonnes | 500,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 592,000 tonnes | 90,000 tonnes | 1.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 485,000 tonnes | 120,000 tonnes | 820,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More climate change data for Nepal
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 14.93 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,890 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 19,588 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.68 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 699.59 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,853 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,263 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,590 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.76 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions by sector in Nepal?
- Methane emissions by sector in Nepal was 720,000 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 1.54 million tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest methane emissions by sector recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 60,000 tonnes in 2002.
- How does Nepal rank for methane emissions by sector?
- Nepal ranks 21st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is methane emissions by sector rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.