Methane emissions in China
China: Methane emissions was 1.59 billion in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.59 billion
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
1st
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.59 billion
in 2024
All-time low
220.01 million
in 1870
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in China, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in China is 1.59 billion, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and up 18.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in China peaked at 1.59 billion in 2024 and was at its lowest, 220.01 million, in 1870.
That places China 1st 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 China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 253.10 million | — |
| 1851 | 250.93 million | -0.9% |
| 1852 | 248.78 million | -0.9% |
| 1853 | 246.62 million | -0.9% |
| 1854 | 244.47 million | -0.9% |
| 1855 | 242.32 million | -0.9% |
| 1856 | 240.18 million | -0.9% |
| 1857 | 238.04 million | -0.9% |
| 1858 | 235.91 million | -0.9% |
| 1859 | 233.77 million | -0.9% |
| 1860 | 231.64 million | -0.9% |
| 1861 | 230.47 million | -0.5% |
| 1862 | 229.31 million | -0.5% |
| 1863 | 228.14 million | -0.5% |
| 1864 | 226.98 million | -0.5% |
| 1865 | 225.81 million | -0.5% |
| 1866 | 224.65 million | -0.5% |
| 1867 | 223.49 million | -0.5% |
| 1868 | 222.33 million | -0.5% |
| 1869 | 221.17 million | -0.5% |
| 1870 | 220.01 million | -0.5% |
| 1871 | 220.63 million | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 221.24 million | +0.3% |
| 1873 | 221.86 million | +0.3% |
| 1874 | 222.48 million | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 223.09 million | +0.3% |
| 1876 | 223.71 million | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 224.33 million | +0.3% |
| 1878 | 224.95 million | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 225.56 million | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 226.18 million | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 226.91 million | +0.3% |
| 1882 | 227.65 million | +0.3% |
| 1883 | 228.39 million | +0.3% |
| 1884 | 229.12 million | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 229.86 million | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 230.60 million | +0.3% |
| 1887 | 231.33 million | +0.3% |
| 1888 | 232.07 million | +0.3% |
| 1889 | 232.81 million | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 233.55 million | +0.3% |
| 1891 | 234.77 million | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 236.00 million | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 237.22 million | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 238.45 million | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 239.68 million | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 240.91 million | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 242.13 million | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 243.36 million | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 244.61 million | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 245.82 million | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 247.13 million | +0.5% |
| 1902 | 248.46 million | +0.5% |
| 1903 | 250.12 million | +0.7% |
| 1904 | 251.45 million | +0.5% |
| 1905 | 252.81 million | +0.5% |
| 1906 | 256.85 million | +1.6% |
| 1907 | 258.12 million | +0.5% |
| 1908 | 260.53 million | +0.9% |
| 1909 | 261.51 million | +0.4% |
| 1910 | 262.45 million | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 267.01 million | +1.7% |
| 1912 | 266.59 million | -0.2% |
| 1913 | 269.65 million | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 273.35 million | +1.4% |
| 1915 | 276.43 million | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 279.69 million | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 282.95 million | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 286.10 million | +1.1% |
| 1919 | 289.63 million | +1.2% |
| 1920 | 293.04 million | +1.2% |
| 1921 | 293.72 million | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 294.92 million | +0.4% |
| 1923 | 296.88 million | +0.7% |
| 1924 | 298.38 million | +0.5% |
| 1925 | 299.00 million | +0.2% |
| 1926 | 299.27 million | +0.1% |
| 1927 | 300.94 million | +0.6% |
| 1928 | 301.99 million | +0.3% |
| 1929 | 303.24 million | +0.4% |
| 1930 | 304.56 million | +0.4% |
| 1931 | 306.93 million | +0.8% |
| 1932 | 308.57 million | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 311.17 million | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 314.29 million | +1.0% |
| 1935 | 317.62 million | +1.1% |
| 1936 | 320.32 million | +0.8% |
| 1937 | 320.89 million | +0.2% |
| 1938 | 321.39 million | +0.2% |
| 1939 | 324.90 million | +1.1% |
| 1940 | 329.73 million | +1.5% |
| 1941 | 335.38 million | +1.7% |
| 1942 | 338.23 million | +0.8% |
| 1943 | 337.04 million | -0.4% |
| 1944 | 338.95 million | +0.6% |
| 1945 | 330.92 million | -2.4% |
| 1946 | 328.05 million | -0.9% |
| 1947 | 329.11 million | +0.3% |
| 1948 | 327.99 million | -0.3% |
| 1949 | 334.96 million | +2.1% |
| 1950 | 338.88 million | +1.2% |
| 1951 | 350.23 million | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 360.73 million | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 366.68 million | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 375.94 million | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 385.25 million | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 393.42 million | +2.1% |
| 1957 | 404.68 million | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 455.78 million | +12.6% |
| 1959 | 493.15 million | +8.2% |
| 1960 | 505.63 million | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 471.06 million | -6.8% |
| 1962 | 452.96 million | -3.8% |
| 1963 | 462.46 million | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 481.63 million | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 496.67 million | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 516.57 million | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 509.64 million | -1.3% |
| 1968 | 518.81 million | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 541.44 million | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 586.17 million | +8.3% |
| 1971 | 605.29 million | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 620.73 million | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 627.29 million | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 633.57 million | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 660.49 million | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 667.76 million | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 684.62 million | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 702.11 million | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 708.92 million | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 711.55 million | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 708.87 million | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 721.29 million | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 739.48 million | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 760.82 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 770.23 million | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 787.32 million | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 805.22 million | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 822.78 million | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 850.84 million | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 867.34 million | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 870.12 million | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 873.36 million | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 876.82 million | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 900.15 million | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 949.91 million | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 970.80 million | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 928.91 million | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 934.07 million | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 937.71 million | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 950.03 million | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 957.32 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 961.78 million | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 1.01 billion | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 1.07 billion | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 1.12 billion | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 1.16 billion | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 1.18 billion | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 1.18 billion | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 1.20 billion | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 1.24 billion | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 1.32 billion | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 1.32 billion | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.33 billion | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.34 billion | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 1.34 billion | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.30 billion | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 1.32 billion | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.35 billion | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 1.37 billion | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 1.40 billion | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 1.45 billion | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 1.51 billion | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 1.54 billion | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 1.59 billion | +3.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.59 billion is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.73 million, 135.6× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 1.59 billion is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.80 million, 274.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 243.41 million | 233.77 million | 253.10 million | 10 |
| 1860s | 226.40 million | 221.17 million | 231.64 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 222.79 million | 220.01 million | 225.56 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 229.49 million | 226.18 million | 232.81 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 239.07 million | 233.55 million | 244.61 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 253.28 million | 245.82 million | 261.51 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 275.38 million | 262.45 million | 289.63 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 298.14 million | 293.04 million | 303.24 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 315.06 million | 304.56 million | 324.90 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 333.04 million | 327.99 million | 338.95 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 392.47 million | 338.88 million | 493.15 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 495.69 million | 452.96 million | 541.44 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 649.70 million | 586.17 million | 708.92 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 767.84 million | 708.87 million | 850.84 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 910.92 million | 867.34 million | 970.80 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.08 billion | 950.03 million | 1.20 billion | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 billion | 1.24 billion | 1.37 billion | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.50 billion | 1.40 billion | 1.59 billion | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in China?
- Methane emissions in China was 1.59 billion in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.59 billion in 2024.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 220.01 million in 1870.
- How does China rank for methane emissions?
- China ranks 1st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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).