Methane emissions in Australia
Australia: Methane emissions was 135.64 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
135.64 million
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
12th
of 199 countries
All-time high
197.30 million
in 2001
All-time low
3.44 million
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Australia, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in Australia is 135.64 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Australia peaked at 197.30 million in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.44 million, in 1850.
That places Australia 12th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3.44 million | — |
| 1851 | 3.94 million | +14.3% |
| 1852 | 4.43 million | +12.5% |
| 1853 | 4.92 million | +11.1% |
| 1854 | 5.41 million | +10.0% |
| 1855 | 5.90 million | +9.1% |
| 1856 | 6.40 million | +8.3% |
| 1857 | 6.89 million | +7.7% |
| 1858 | 7.38 million | +7.1% |
| 1859 | 7.87 million | +6.7% |
| 1860 | 8.35 million | +6.0% |
| 1861 | 8.84 million | +5.9% |
| 1862 | 9.24 million | +4.5% |
| 1863 | 9.69 million | +4.9% |
| 1864 | 10.11 million | +4.3% |
| 1865 | 10.59 million | +4.8% |
| 1866 | 11.11 million | +4.8% |
| 1867 | 11.59 million | +4.4% |
| 1868 | 11.97 million | +3.3% |
| 1869 | 12.41 million | +3.7% |
| 1870 | 12.83 million | +3.4% |
| 1871 | 13.26 million | +3.3% |
| 1872 | 13.66 million | +3.0% |
| 1873 | 14.10 million | +3.2% |
| 1874 | 14.51 million | +2.9% |
| 1875 | 14.89 million | +2.7% |
| 1876 | 15.32 million | +2.9% |
| 1877 | 15.76 million | +2.9% |
| 1878 | 16.15 million | +2.4% |
| 1879 | 16.68 million | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 17.28 million | +3.6% |
| 1881 | 17.82 million | +3.2% |
| 1882 | 18.55 million | +4.1% |
| 1883 | 19.33 million | +4.2% |
| 1884 | 20.04 million | +3.7% |
| 1885 | 20.79 million | +3.8% |
| 1886 | 21.45 million | +3.2% |
| 1887 | 22.16 million | +3.3% |
| 1888 | 22.95 million | +3.6% |
| 1889 | 23.59 million | +2.8% |
| 1890 | 24.28 million | +2.9% |
| 1891 | 24.87 million | +2.4% |
| 1892 | 25.38 million | +2.0% |
| 1893 | 25.79 million | +1.6% |
| 1894 | 26.36 million | +2.2% |
| 1895 | 26.88 million | +2.0% |
| 1896 | 27.33 million | +1.7% |
| 1897 | 27.91 million | +2.2% |
| 1898 | 28.54 million | +2.2% |
| 1899 | 29.02 million | +1.7% |
| 1900 | 30.60 million | +5.4% |
| 1901 | 31.39 million | +2.6% |
| 1902 | 31.89 million | +1.6% |
| 1903 | 32.31 million | +1.3% |
| 1904 | 32.88 million | +1.8% |
| 1905 | 33.50 million | +1.9% |
| 1906 | 34.57 million | +3.2% |
| 1907 | 35.34 million | +2.2% |
| 1908 | 36.16 million | +2.3% |
| 1909 | 36.09 million | -0.2% |
| 1910 | 37.38 million | +3.6% |
| 1911 | 38.55 million | +3.1% |
| 1912 | 39.66 million | +2.9% |
| 1913 | 40.79 million | +2.8% |
| 1914 | 42.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1915 | 42.01 million | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 42.05 million | +0.1% |
| 1917 | 43.11 million | +2.5% |
| 1918 | 44.36 million | +2.9% |
| 1919 | 44.74 million | +0.9% |
| 1920 | 46.44 million | +3.8% |
| 1921 | 46.51 million | +0.1% |
| 1922 | 47.55 million | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 48.41 million | +1.8% |
| 1924 | 49.72 million | +2.7% |
| 1925 | 50.75 million | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 51.39 million | +1.3% |
| 1927 | 52.40 million | +2.0% |
| 1928 | 52.38 million | -0.0% |
| 1929 | 52.44 million | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 52.75 million | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 52.71 million | -0.1% |
| 1932 | 53.50 million | +1.5% |
| 1933 | 54.36 million | +1.6% |
| 1934 | 55.19 million | +1.5% |
| 1935 | 56.38 million | +2.2% |
| 1936 | 57.73 million | +2.4% |
| 1937 | 59.08 million | +2.3% |
| 1938 | 59.83 million | +1.3% |
| 1939 | 61.76 million | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 61.90 million | +0.2% |
| 1941 | 64.70 million | +4.5% |
| 1942 | 66.62 million | +3.0% |
| 1943 | 67.68 million | +1.6% |
| 1944 | 68.92 million | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 69.90 million | +1.4% |
| 1946 | 72.01 million | +3.0% |
| 1947 | 74.09 million | +2.9% |
| 1948 | 75.65 million | +2.1% |
| 1949 | 76.96 million | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 80.72 million | +4.9% |
| 1951 | 83.95 million | +4.0% |
| 1952 | 86.57 million | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 89.04 million | +2.9% |
| 1954 | 92.30 million | +3.7% |
| 1955 | 94.82 million | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 97.42 million | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 100.15 million | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 103.16 million | +3.0% |
| 1959 | 106.94 million | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 110.25 million | +3.1% |
| 1961 | 112.85 million | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 116.91 million | +3.6% |
| 1963 | 119.86 million | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 124.09 million | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 127.47 million | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 124.34 million | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 129.05 million | +3.8% |
| 1968 | 133.18 million | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 139.24 million | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 140.84 million | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 137.81 million | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 159.75 million | +15.9% |
| 1973 | 143.16 million | -10.4% |
| 1974 | 149.99 million | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 156.89 million | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 171.00 million | +9.0% |
| 1977 | 166.91 million | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 146.25 million | -12.4% |
| 1979 | 160.55 million | +9.8% |
| 1980 | 164.22 million | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 140.36 million | -14.5% |
| 1982 | 158.33 million | +12.8% |
| 1983 | 142.86 million | -9.8% |
| 1984 | 146.86 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 168.79 million | +14.9% |
| 1986 | 158.01 million | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 146.67 million | -7.2% |
| 1988 | 144.56 million | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 151.94 million | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 163.76 million | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 164.54 million | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 162.97 million | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 160.82 million | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 160.12 million | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 160.05 million | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 152.87 million | -4.5% |
| 1997 | 154.13 million | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 158.01 million | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 173.28 million | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 185.13 million | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 197.30 million | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 190.63 million | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 147.34 million | -22.7% |
| 2004 | 168.45 million | +14.3% |
| 2005 | 148.88 million | -11.6% |
| 2006 | 167.97 million | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 165.58 million | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 147.58 million | -10.9% |
| 2009 | 151.71 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 141.70 million | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 193.83 million | +36.8% |
| 2012 | 194.52 million | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 153.63 million | -21.0% |
| 2014 | 164.13 million | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 161.09 million | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 142.95 million | -11.3% |
| 2017 | 166.52 million | +16.5% |
| 2018 | 168.04 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 154.26 million | -8.2% |
| 2020 | 135.22 million | -12.3% |
| 2021 | 140.75 million | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 139.42 million | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 141.25 million | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 135.64 million | -4.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 135.64 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million, 16.2× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Australia's 135.64 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.80 million, 23.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +36.8% | 141.70 million | 193.83 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 5.66 million | 3.44 million | 7.87 million | 10 |
| 1860s | 10.39 million | 8.35 million | 12.41 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 14.72 million | 12.83 million | 16.68 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 20.39 million | 17.28 million | 23.59 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 26.64 million | 24.28 million | 29.02 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 33.47 million | 30.60 million | 36.16 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 41.46 million | 37.38 million | 44.74 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 49.80 million | 46.44 million | 52.44 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 56.33 million | 52.71 million | 61.76 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 69.84 million | 61.90 million | 76.96 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 93.51 million | 80.72 million | 106.94 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 123.72 million | 110.25 million | 139.24 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 153.31 million | 137.81 million | 171.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 152.26 million | 140.36 million | 168.79 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 161.06 million | 152.87 million | 173.28 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 167.06 million | 147.34 million | 197.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 164.07 million | 141.70 million | 194.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 138.46 million | 135.22 million | 141.25 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
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 in Australia?
- Methane emissions in Australia was 135.64 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 197.30 million in 2001.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.44 million in 1850.
- How does Australia rank for methane emissions?
- Australia ranks 12th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Methane emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).