Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Methane emissions was 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
34th
of 199 countries
All-time high
52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo is 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1852 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1853 | 1.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1854 | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1855 | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1856 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1857 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1858 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1859 | 1.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1860 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 1.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1862 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1863 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 1.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 1.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 1.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 1.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 1.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 1.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1881 | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 1.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 1.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 1.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 1.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 1.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 1.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1888 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 1.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1890 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1891 | 1.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1892 | 1.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1893 | 1.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1894 | 1.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1895 | 2.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 2.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 2.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 2.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 2.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1902 | 2.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1903 | 2.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1904 | 2.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1905 | 2.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 2.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1907 | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1908 | 2.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1909 | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 2.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1912 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 2.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1914 | 2.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1915 | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 2.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1917 | 2.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1918 | 2.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1919 | 2.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 2.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1921 | 2.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1922 | 2.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1923 | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1924 | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1925 | 2.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 2.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1927 | 3.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 3.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 3.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 3.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1931 | 3.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 3.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 3.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1934 | 3.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 3.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1936 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 1937 | 4.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1938 | 4.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1939 | 4.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1940 | 4.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1941 | 5.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1942 | 5.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1943 | 5.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1944 | 6.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1945 | 6.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1946 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1947 | 7.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1948 | 7.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1949 | 7.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1950 | 8.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1951 | 8.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1952 | 9.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1953 | 9.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 10.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 10.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 11.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 11.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 12.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 12.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 13.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 12.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 12.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 12.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 12.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 12.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 12.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 12.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 13.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 13.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 19.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +49.2% |
| 1971 | 11.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -43.4% |
| 1972 | 12.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 13.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 11.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.4% |
| 1975 | 13.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.5% |
| 1976 | 17.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.9% |
| 1977 | 18.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1978 | 18.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 23.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.2% |
| 1980 | 19.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.3% |
| 1981 | 18.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 20.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.0% |
| 1983 | 20.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 18.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 1985 | 19.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 19.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 23.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.4% |
| 1988 | 18.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.0% |
| 1989 | 20.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 26.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.3% |
| 1991 | 25.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 25.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 25.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 25.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 26.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 24.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 23.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 24.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 23.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 24.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 24.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 27.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 28.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 30.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 30.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 30.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 29.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 30.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 30.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 32.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 31.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 38.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.3% |
| 2013 | 40.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 42.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 43.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 44.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 46.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 45.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 46.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 48.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 48.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 50.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 51.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 4.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +49.2% | 13.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1971 | -43.4% | 19.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1979 | +27.2% | 18.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1990 | +27.3% | 20.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 10.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 31.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 46.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 48.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 31 Kazakhstan 54.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 32 Kenya 53.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 33 Uzbekistan 52.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 35 Ukraine 52.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 36 Egypt 49.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 37 Venezuela 47.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4511 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 28.16 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo was 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 52.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for methane emissions?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 34th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by 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).
About this data
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.