Methane emissions in Iraq
Iraq: Methane emissions was 156.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
156.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
10th
of 199 countries
All-time high
173.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2019
All-time low
907,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Iraq, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 156.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for methane emissions in 2024.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 31.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Iraq peaked at 173.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2019 and was at its lowest, 907,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Iraq 10th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 907,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 913,299 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 919,438 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 925,575 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 931,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 937,844 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 943,977 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 950,109 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1858 | 956,239 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1859 | 962,367 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 968,494 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1861 | 983,034 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1862 | 997,571 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1863 | 1.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1864 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1865 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1866 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1868 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1869 | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1870 | 1.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1871 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1872 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1873 | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1874 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1875 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1876 | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1877 | 1.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1878 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1879 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1880 | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1881 | 1.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1883 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1884 | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1885 | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1886 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 1.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1889 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1890 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1893 | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1894 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1895 | 1.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 1.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 1.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 1.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1902 | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1903 | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 1.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1905 | 1.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 1.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1907 | 1.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1908 | 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 1.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1911 | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1912 | 2.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1913 | 2.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1914 | 2.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 2.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 2.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1919 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 2.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1922 | 2.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1923 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1924 | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 2.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1928 | 2.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1929 | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1930 | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1931 | 2.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1932 | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1933 | 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1934 | 7.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +129.9% |
| 1935 | 11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +64.1% |
| 1936 | 12.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1937 | 12.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1938 | 12.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1939 | 22.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +80.3% |
| 1940 | 15.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -31.0% |
| 1941 | 11.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.9% |
| 1942 | 16.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +46.4% |
| 1943 | 20.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.1% |
| 1944 | 23.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 1945 | 28.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.2% |
| 1946 | 31.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1947 | 34.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1948 | 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -36.5% |
| 1949 | 22.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1950 | 23.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1951 | 24.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 24.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1953 | 25.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 26.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 26.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1956 | 27.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 26.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1958 | 30.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.9% |
| 1959 | 34.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.7% |
| 1960 | 39.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.9% |
| 1961 | 42.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1962 | 45.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1963 | 48.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1964 | 48.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 51.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1966 | 91.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +75.1% |
| 1967 | 48.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -46.5% |
| 1968 | 64.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +33.0% |
| 1969 | 73.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.1% |
| 1970 | 77.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 77.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 68.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.1% |
| 1973 | 90.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +33.0% |
| 1974 | 88.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 99.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.4% |
| 1976 | 106.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 103.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 113.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1979 | 150.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.8% |
| 1980 | 117.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.8% |
| 1981 | 51.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -56.5% |
| 1982 | 52.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 51.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 60.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.9% |
| 1985 | 70.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.0% |
| 1986 | 81.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.0% |
| 1987 | 98.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.0% |
| 1988 | 124.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +26.6% |
| 1989 | 133.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 97.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.8% |
| 1991 | 21.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -78.5% |
| 1992 | 27.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.7% |
| 1993 | 31.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.4% |
| 1994 | 34.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 35.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 33.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1997 | 51.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +54.5% |
| 1998 | 59.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.5% |
| 1999 | 69.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.4% |
| 2000 | 74.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 2001 | 75.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 67.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 64.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 76.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.7% |
| 2005 | 71.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 73.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 70.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 75.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 83.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 2010 | 92.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 101.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 113.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.9% |
| 2013 | 113.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 119.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 130.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 161.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.1% |
| 2017 | 164.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 167.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 173.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 152.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.5% |
| 2021 | 151.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 164.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 159.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 156.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 156.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 13.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 156.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 6.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | +129.9% | 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1991 | -78.5% | 97.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1939 | +80.3% | 12.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1966 | +75.1% | 51.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 91.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1935 | +64.1% | 7.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1981 | -56.5% | 117.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 934,772 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 907,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 962,367 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 968,494 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 9.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 22.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 34.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 27.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 34.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 55.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 39.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 91.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 97.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 68.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 150.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 84.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 133.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 97.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 64.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 133.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 92.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 173.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 156.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 151.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 164.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 7 Pakistan 228.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 8 Nigeria 193.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 9 Iran 171.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 11 Mexico 151.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 12 Australia 135.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 13 Ethiopia 119.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Iraq
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 672.48 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 10,634 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,750 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,884 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.15 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 245.84 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,859 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,294 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,565 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 16.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Iraq?
- Methane emissions in Iraq was 156.21 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 173.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2019.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 907,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Iraq rank for methane emissions?
- Iraq ranks 10th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.