Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Methane emissions was 52.44 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
52.44 million
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
34th
of 199 countries
All-time high
52.44 million
in 2024
All-time low
1.49 million
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo is 52.44 million, 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 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.49 million, 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 | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1.49 million | — |
| 1851 | 1.50 million | +0.5% |
| 1852 | 1.50 million | +0.5% |
| 1853 | 1.51 million | +0.5% |
| 1854 | 1.52 million | +0.5% |
| 1855 | 1.53 million | +0.5% |
| 1856 | 1.54 million | +0.5% |
| 1857 | 1.54 million | +0.5% |
| 1858 | 1.55 million | +0.5% |
| 1859 | 1.56 million | +0.5% |
| 1860 | 1.57 million | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 1.58 million | +0.6% |
| 1862 | 1.59 million | +0.6% |
| 1863 | 1.60 million | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 1.61 million | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 1.62 million | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 1.63 million | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 1.64 million | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 1.65 million | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 1.66 million | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 1.67 million | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 1.69 million | +0.7% |
| 1872 | 1.70 million | +0.7% |
| 1873 | 1.71 million | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 1.72 million | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 1.73 million | +0.7% |
| 1876 | 1.74 million | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 1.76 million | +0.7% |
| 1878 | 1.77 million | +0.7% |
| 1879 | 1.78 million | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 1.79 million | +0.7% |
| 1881 | 1.81 million | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 1.82 million | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 1.83 million | +0.7% |
| 1884 | 1.85 million | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 1.86 million | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 1.87 million | +0.7% |
| 1887 | 1.89 million | +0.7% |
| 1888 | 1.90 million | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 1.92 million | +0.8% |
| 1890 | 1.93 million | +0.8% |
| 1891 | 1.95 million | +0.8% |
| 1892 | 1.96 million | +0.8% |
| 1893 | 1.98 million | +0.8% |
| 1894 | 1.99 million | +0.8% |
| 1895 | 2.01 million | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 2.02 million | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 2.04 million | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 2.05 million | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 2.07 million | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 2.09 million | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 2.11 million | +0.9% |
| 1902 | 2.12 million | +0.9% |
| 1903 | 2.14 million | +0.9% |
| 1904 | 2.16 million | +0.9% |
| 1905 | 2.18 million | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 2.20 million | +0.9% |
| 1907 | 2.22 million | +0.9% |
| 1908 | 2.24 million | +0.9% |
| 1909 | 2.26 million | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 2.28 million | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 2.32 million | +1.9% |
| 1912 | 2.37 million | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 2.41 million | +1.8% |
| 1914 | 2.45 million | +1.8% |
| 1915 | 2.50 million | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 2.54 million | +1.8% |
| 1917 | 2.59 million | +1.8% |
| 1918 | 2.63 million | +1.7% |
| 1919 | 2.68 million | +1.7% |
| 1920 | 2.72 million | +1.7% |
| 1921 | 2.62 million | -3.8% |
| 1922 | 2.69 million | +2.8% |
| 1923 | 2.83 million | +5.1% |
| 1924 | 2.88 million | +1.9% |
| 1925 | 2.93 million | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 2.98 million | +1.6% |
| 1927 | 3.04 million | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 3.11 million | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 3.18 million | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 3.24 million | +1.8% |
| 1931 | 3.28 million | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 3.32 million | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 3.36 million | +1.3% |
| 1934 | 3.42 million | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 3.52 million | +2.8% |
| 1936 | 3.83 million | +8.8% |
| 1937 | 4.11 million | +7.4% |
| 1938 | 4.39 million | +6.8% |
| 1939 | 4.66 million | +6.2% |
| 1940 | 4.94 million | +5.9% |
| 1941 | 5.26 million | +6.5% |
| 1942 | 5.59 million | +6.2% |
| 1943 | 5.91 million | +5.7% |
| 1944 | 6.23 million | +5.5% |
| 1945 | 6.56 million | +5.3% |
| 1946 | 6.90 million | +5.1% |
| 1947 | 7.24 million | +5.0% |
| 1948 | 7.60 million | +4.9% |
| 1949 | 7.96 million | +4.7% |
| 1950 | 8.33 million | +4.7% |
| 1951 | 8.73 million | +4.8% |
| 1952 | 9.15 million | +4.8% |
| 1953 | 9.58 million | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 10.04 million | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 10.52 million | +4.8% |
| 1956 | 11.02 million | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 11.55 million | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 12.10 million | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 12.68 million | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 13.29 million | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 12.84 million | -3.3% |
| 1962 | 12.82 million | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 12.77 million | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 12.75 million | -0.2% |
| 1965 | 12.69 million | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 12.79 million | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 12.86 million | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 13.02 million | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 13.11 million | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 19.56 million | +49.2% |
| 1971 | 11.07 million | -43.4% |
| 1972 | 12.07 million | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 13.06 million | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 11.57 million | -11.4% |
| 1975 | 13.83 million | +19.5% |
| 1976 | 17.13 million | +23.9% |
| 1977 | 18.55 million | +8.3% |
| 1978 | 18.47 million | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 23.50 million | +27.2% |
| 1980 | 19.91 million | -15.3% |
| 1981 | 18.06 million | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 20.42 million | +13.0% |
| 1983 | 20.76 million | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 18.66 million | -10.1% |
| 1985 | 19.34 million | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 19.05 million | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 23.70 million | +24.4% |
| 1988 | 18.97 million | -20.0% |
| 1989 | 20.43 million | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 26.01 million | +27.3% |
| 1991 | 25.84 million | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 25.76 million | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 25.64 million | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 25.98 million | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 26.82 million | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 24.25 million | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 23.95 million | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 24.25 million | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 23.16 million | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 24.03 million | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 24.63 million | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 27.35 million | +11.1% |
| 2003 | 28.86 million | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 30.16 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 30.06 million | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 30.73 million | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 29.93 million | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 30.90 million | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 30.87 million | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 32.21 million | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 31.90 million | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 38.70 million | +21.3% |
| 2013 | 40.91 million | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 42.11 million | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 43.66 million | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 44.62 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 46.83 million | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 45.54 million | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 46.82 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 48.03 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 48.91 million | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 50.46 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 51.20 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 52.44 million | +2.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 52.44 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.97 million, 2.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 52.44 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million, 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 | 19.56 million |
| 1971 | -43.4% | 19.56 million | 11.07 million |
| 1979 | +27.2% | 18.47 million | 23.50 million |
| 1990 | +27.3% | 20.43 million | 26.01 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.52 million | 1.49 million | 1.56 million | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.62 million | 1.57 million | 1.66 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.73 million | 1.67 million | 1.78 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.85 million | 1.79 million | 1.92 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.00 million | 1.93 million | 2.07 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.17 million | 2.09 million | 2.26 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.48 million | 2.28 million | 2.68 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.90 million | 2.62 million | 3.18 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.71 million | 3.24 million | 4.66 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.42 million | 4.94 million | 7.96 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 10.37 million | 8.33 million | 12.68 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.89 million | 12.69 million | 13.29 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.88 million | 11.07 million | 23.50 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.93 million | 18.06 million | 23.70 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.16 million | 23.16 million | 26.82 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.75 million | 24.03 million | 30.90 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.33 million | 31.90 million | 46.83 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.21 million | 48.03 million | 52.44 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Share co2 vs population 4.23 (2100)
- Co2 gdp growth, annual growth rate -5.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Co2 gdp pop growth, annual growth rate -1.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- Urban population 45.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Methane emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo was 52.44 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 52.44 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.49 million 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 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).