Methane emissions in Ireland
Ireland: Methane emissions was 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
81st
of 199 countries
All-time high
39.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
All-time low
11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1960
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Ireland, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, methane emissions in Ireland stood at 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Ireland peaked at 39.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850 and was at its lowest, 11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1960.
Ireland ranks 81st of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 175 years of available data.
Methane emissions in Ireland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 39.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 38.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1852 | 37.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1853 | 36.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1854 | 36.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1855 | 35.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1856 | 35.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1857 | 34.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1858 | 34.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1859 | 33.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1860 | 33.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1861 | 32.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1862 | 32.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1863 | 32.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1864 | 32.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1865 | 32.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1866 | 31.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1867 | 31.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1868 | 31.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1869 | 31.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1870 | 30.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1871 | 30.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1872 | 30.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1873 | 30.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1874 | 30.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1875 | 30.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1876 | 30.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1877 | 30.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1878 | 30.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1879 | 29.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1880 | 29.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1881 | 29.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1882 | 29.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1883 | 28.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1884 | 28.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1885 | 28.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1886 | 28.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1887 | 27.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1888 | 27.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1889 | 27.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1890 | 27.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1891 | 26.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1892 | 26.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1893 | 26.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1894 | 26.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1895 | 26.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1896 | 26.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1897 | 26.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1898 | 26.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1899 | 25.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1900 | 25.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1901 | 25.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1902 | 25.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1903 | 25.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1904 | 25.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1905 | 25.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1906 | 25.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1907 | 25.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1908 | 25.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1909 | 24.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1910 | 24.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1911 | 24.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1912 | 24.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1913 | 24.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1914 | 24.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1915 | 24.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1916 | 24.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1917 | 24.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1918 | 24.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1919 | 24.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1920 | 24.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1921 | 22.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.3% |
| 1922 | 21.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1923 | 20.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1924 | 20.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1925 | 19.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1926 | 18.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1927 | 18.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1928 | 17.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1929 | 16.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1930 | 15.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1931 | 15.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1932 | 15.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1933 | 15.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 15.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1935 | 15.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1936 | 15.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1937 | 15.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1938 | 15.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1939 | 15.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1940 | 14.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1941 | 14.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1942 | 14.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1943 | 14.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1944 | 14.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1945 | 13.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1946 | 13.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1947 | 13.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1948 | 13.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1949 | 13.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1950 | 13.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1951 | 13.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 13.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1953 | 13.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1954 | 12.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1955 | 12.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1956 | 12.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1957 | 12.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1958 | 12.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1959 | 12.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1961 | 12.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1962 | 12.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 12.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 13.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1965 | 13.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1966 | 14.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 15.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 15.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 15.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 15.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 15.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 15.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 16.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 17.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 17.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 17.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 17.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 17.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 17.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 17.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 16.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 16.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 17.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 17.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 17.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 17.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 17.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 17.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 17.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 17.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 17.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 18.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 18.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 18.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 18.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 18.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 18.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 18.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 21.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.0% |
| 2000 | 22.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 22.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 22.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 22.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 21.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 20.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 20.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 19.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 2008 | 18.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 17.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 17.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 17.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 17.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 17.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 18.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 18.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 19.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 19.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 17.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 17.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 17.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 17.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 17.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 17.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.1× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 17.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 36.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 39.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 32.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 31.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 30.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 28.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 27.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 26.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 27.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 25.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 24.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 19.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 15.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 14.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 12.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 78 Chile 18.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 79 Belarus 18.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 80 Guatemala 18.39 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
- 84 Congo 15.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Ireland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 320.11 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 18,098 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,665 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 14,433 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.83 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 515.47 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,902 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,899 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.17 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Ireland?
- Methane emissions in Ireland was 17.63 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 39.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1960.
- How does Ireland rank for methane emissions?
- Ireland ranks 81st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.