Methane emissions in Hong Kong

Hong Kong: Methane emissions was 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
130th
of 199 countries
All-time high
5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
6,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024

Methane emissions in Hong Kong, 1850–2024

02.0M4.0M6.0M185019372024

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 Hong Kong is 5.15 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 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, methane emissions in Hong Kong peaked at 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.

Hong Kong ranks 130th 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 Hong Kong, year by year

Annual values for Methane emissions in Hong Kong, 1850 to 2024.
Year tonnes of CO₂ equivalents Change
1850 6,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
1851 6,879 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +13.2%
1852 7,707 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +12.0%
1853 8,539 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +10.8%
1854 9,375 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +9.8%
1855 10,215 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +9.0%
1856 11,060 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.3%
1857 11,910 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.7%
1858 12,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.2%
1859 13,632 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.8%
1860 14,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.4%
1861 15,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.1%
1862 16,189 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.2%
1863 16,991 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.0%
1864 17,792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.7%
1865 18,594 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.5%
1866 19,396 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.3%
1867 20,207 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.2%
1868 21,018 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.0%
1869 21,829 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.9%
1870 22,641 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.7%
1871 23,460 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.6%
1872 24,288 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1873 25,116 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.4%
1874 25,945 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.3%
1875 26,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.2%
1876 27,604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.1%
1877 28,439 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.0%
1878 29,274 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.9%
1879 30,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.9%
1880 30,947 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.8%
1881 31,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.7%
1882 32,637 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.7%
1883 33,492 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.6%
1884 34,349 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.6%
1885 35,208 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.5%
1886 36,070 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.4%
1887 36,899 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.3%
1888 37,730 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.3%
1889 38,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.2%
1890 39,391 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.2%
1891 41,061 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.2%
1892 42,731 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.1%
1893 44,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.9%
1894 46,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.8%
1895 47,746 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.6%
1896 49,419 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1897 51,139 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1898 52,863 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.4%
1899 54,592 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.3%
1900 56,326 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.2%
1901 59,383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.4%
1902 62,503 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.3%
1903 65,613 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.0%
1904 68,713 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.7%
1905 71,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.5%
1906 74,884 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.3%
1907 77,978 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.1%
1908 81,062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.0%
1909 84,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.8%
1910 87,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.6%
1911 89,983 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.2%
1912 92,841 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.2%
1913 96,067 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1914 98,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.9%
1915 101,676 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.8%
1916 104,475 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.8%
1917 107,271 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.7%
1918 110,062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.6%
1919 112,850 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.5%
1920 115,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.5%
1921 118,315 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.3%
1922 121,183 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.4%
1923 124,134 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.4%
1924 127,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.5%
1925 126,432 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents -0.7%
1926 129,200 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.2%
1927 131,958 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.1%
1928 134,706 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.1%
1929 137,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.0%
1930 140,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.0%
1931 156,394 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +11.6%
1932 172,559 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +10.3%
1933 188,671 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +9.3%
1934 204,728 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.5%
1935 220,732 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.8%
1936 237,352 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.5%
1937 254,011 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.0%
1938 270,709 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.6%
1939 287,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.2%
1940 305,133 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.2%
1941 316,105 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.6%
1942 327,238 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1943 338,534 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1944 349,991 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.4%
1945 369,431 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.6%
1946 389,585 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.5%
1947 410,463 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.4%
1948 432,077 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.3%
1949 454,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.2%
1950 483,231 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +6.3%
1951 518,662 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.3%
1952 564,260 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.8%
1953 617,359 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +9.4%
1954 674,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +9.3%
1955 734,991 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.9%
1956 797,051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.4%
1957 860,123 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.9%
1958 925,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.6%
1959 998,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.9%
1960 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.1%
1961 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.4%
1962 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +7.6%
1963 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +8.0%
1964 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.5%
1965 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.9%
1966 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.1%
1967 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.1%
1968 1.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +5.0%
1969 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.7%
1970 1.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.7%
1971 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +11.6%
1972 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.1%
1973 2.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.7%
1974 2.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.9%
1975 2.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.0%
1976 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.0%
1977 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.8%
1978 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.7%
1979 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.7%
1980 2.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.1%
1981 2.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.2%
1982 2.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.1%
1983 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.3%
1984 2.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.3%
1985 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.7%
1986 3.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.5%
1987 3.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.8%
1988 3.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.4%
1989 3.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +4.4%
1990 3.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +3.2%
1991 3.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.6%
1992 3.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.0%
1993 3.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.3%
1994 3.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.9%
1995 3.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.2%
1996 3.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.8%
1997 3.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.8%
1998 3.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.9%
1999 4.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.7%
2000 4.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +2.7%
2001 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents -0.2%
2002 4.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.1%
2003 4.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.6%
2004 4.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.2%
2005 4.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.5%
2006 4.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.4%
2007 4.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.2%
2008 4.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.8%
2009 4.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.4%
2010 4.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.3%
2011 4.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.1%
2012 4.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.7%
2013 4.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.9%
2014 4.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.9%
2015 4.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.7%
2016 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.0%
2017 4.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.3%
2018 4.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.1%
2019 4.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.1%
2020 4.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.1%
2021 5.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.0%
2022 5.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.9%
2023 5.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +1.1%
2024 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents +0.9%

Hong Kong compared with similar countries

  • Hong Kong's 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 61% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
  • Hong Kong's 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 89% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1850s 9,816 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 6,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 13,632 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1860s 18,191 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 14,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 21,829 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1870s 26,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 22,641 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 30,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1880s 34,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 30,947 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 38,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1890s 46,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 39,391 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 54,592 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1900s 70,240 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 56,326 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 84,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1910s 100,130 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 87,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 112,850 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1920s 126,630 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 115,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 137,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1930s 213,278 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 140,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 287,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1940s 369,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 305,133 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 454,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1950s 717,486 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 483,231 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 998,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1960s 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1970s 2.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 1.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1980s 2.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 2.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 3.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
1990s 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 3.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 4.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
2000s 4.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 4.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
2010s 4.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 4.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 4.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 10
2020s 5.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 4.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 5

Countries ranked near Hong Kong

  1. 127 Costa Rica 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
  2. 128 Sierra Leone 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
  3. 129 Trinidad and Tobago 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
  4. 131 Rwanda 4.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
  5. 132 Eritrea 4.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
  6. 133 Burundi 4.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare

See the full ranking of 199 places →

More climate change data for Hong Kong

All data for Hong Kong →

Frequently asked questions

What is methane emissions in Hong Kong?
Methane emissions in Hong Kong was 5.15 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 Hong Kong?
The highest recorded value was 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Hong Kong?
The lowest recorded value was 6,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
How does Hong Kong rank for methane emissions?
Hong Kong ranks 130th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
Is methane emissions rising or falling in Hong Kong?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Hong Kong 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.

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Methane emissions in Hong Kong. Statizoid, drawing on Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/methane-emissions/hong-kong-sar-china/

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About this data

Indicator
Methane emissions
Unit
tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Source
Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
199 places, 34,825 data points, 1850–2024
Last refreshed

Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.