Methane emissions in Congo
Congo: Methane emissions was 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
84th
of 199 countries
All-time high
19.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2019
All-time low
99,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in 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 Congo is 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.7% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Congo peaked at 19.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2019 and was at its lowest, 99,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Congo ranks 84th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 99,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 99,561 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 99,952 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 100,345 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 100,741 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 101,141 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 101,542 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 101,947 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 102,355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 102,765 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 103,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 103,662 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1862 | 104,149 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1863 | 104,639 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1864 | 105,132 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1865 | 105,628 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1866 | 106,127 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 106,629 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 107,134 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1869 | 107,642 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 108,153 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1871 | 108,669 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1872 | 109,189 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1873 | 109,712 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1874 | 110,238 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1875 | 110,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1876 | 111,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1877 | 111,836 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1878 | 112,375 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1879 | 112,918 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1880 | 113,463 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1881 | 114,015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1882 | 114,570 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1883 | 115,128 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1884 | 115,690 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1885 | 116,256 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1886 | 116,825 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1887 | 117,397 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1888 | 117,973 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1889 | 118,553 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 119,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1891 | 119,725 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 120,318 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 120,915 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 121,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 122,119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 122,727 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 123,339 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 123,955 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 124,575 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 125,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 130,084 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1902 | 135,040 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1903 | 140,069 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1904 | 145,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1905 | 150,345 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1906 | 155,595 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1907 | 160,919 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1908 | 166,320 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1909 | 171,798 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1910 | 177,353 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1911 | 184,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1912 | 190,946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1913 | 197,862 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1914 | 204,861 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1915 | 211,941 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1916 | 219,105 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1917 | 226,354 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1918 | 233,688 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1919 | 241,108 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1920 | 248,615 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1921 | 246,011 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 258,088 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1923 | 270,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1924 | 283,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1925 | 297,704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1926 | 312,134 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1927 | 315,733 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1928 | 319,173 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1929 | 322,454 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 325,577 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1931 | 328,814 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1932 | 334,933 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1933 | 348,524 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1934 | 362,605 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1935 | 377,197 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1936 | 414,209 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1937 | 437,451 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1938 | 461,277 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1939 | 485,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1940 | 510,685 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1941 | 537,608 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1942 | 565,294 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1943 | 593,745 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1944 | 622,962 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1945 | 647,465 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1946 | 672,728 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1947 | 719,734 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1948 | 768,211 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1949 | 818,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1950 | 869,691 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1951 | 910,356 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1952 | 951,566 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1953 | 993,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1954 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1956 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1961 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 1962 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1963 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1967 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +52.2% |
| 1971 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -45.9% |
| 1972 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +36.6% |
| 1973 | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +111.9% |
| 1974 | 3.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 1976 | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 2.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 3.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.7% |
| 1979 | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.9% |
| 1980 | 4.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 5.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.6% |
| 1982 | 5.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 6.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.9% |
| 1985 | 6.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 6.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 7.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1988 | 7.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1989 | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.8% |
| 1990 | 9.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 8.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 8.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 8.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 8.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 1995 | 9.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.9% |
| 1996 | 11.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.6% |
| 1997 | 12.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 15.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.7% |
| 1999 | 15.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 16.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 2001 | 15.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 10.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -32.6% |
| 2003 | 11.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 12.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 2005 | 15.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.0% |
| 2006 | 17.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 14.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 14.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 15.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 17.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 16.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 16.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 14.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 15.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 14.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 14.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 16.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 18.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.1% |
| 2019 | 19.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 16.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 16.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 16.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 2024 | 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.7% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +111.9% | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1970 | +52.2% | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1971 | -45.9% | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1972 | +36.6% | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2002 | -32.6% | 15.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 100,952 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 99,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 102,765 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 105,392 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 103,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 107,642 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 110,516 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 108,153 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 112,918 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 115,987 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 113,463 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 118,553 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 121,832 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 119,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 124,575 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 148,054 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 125,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 171,798 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 208,733 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 177,353 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 241,108 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 287,453 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 246,011 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 322,454 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 387,627 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 325,577 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 485,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 645,660 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 510,685 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 818,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 869,691 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
- 81 Ireland 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 82 Afghanistan 16.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 83 Taiwan 15.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 85 Gabon 14.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 86 Zimbabwe 13.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 87 Central African Republic 13.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Congo
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 226,333 kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 762.73 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 278.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 484.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 13.23 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 6.62 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6.61 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.025 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Congo?
- Methane emissions in Congo was 15.13 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 19.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2019.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 99,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Congo rank for methane emissions?
- Congo ranks 84th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.