Methane emissions in Lesotho
Lesotho: Methane emissions was 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
154th
of 199 countries
All-time high
1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1999
All-time low
57,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Lesotho, 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 Lesotho is 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Lesotho peaked at 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1999 and was at its lowest, 57,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Lesotho 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 57,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 58,142 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1852 | 59,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1853 | 60,161 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1854 | 61,176 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1855 | 62,195 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1856 | 63,218 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1857 | 64,244 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1858 | 65,275 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 66,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1860 | 67,348 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1861 | 69,122 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1862 | 70,900 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1863 | 72,682 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1864 | 74,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1865 | 76,260 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1866 | 78,055 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1867 | 79,854 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1868 | 81,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1869 | 83,467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1870 | 85,280 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1871 | 87,585 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1872 | 89,895 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1873 | 92,210 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1874 | 94,530 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1875 | 96,854 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1876 | 99,184 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1877 | 101,518 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1878 | 103,858 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1879 | 106,203 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1880 | 108,553 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1881 | 111,558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 114,569 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1883 | 117,585 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1884 | 120,607 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1885 | 123,634 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1886 | 126,667 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1887 | 129,706 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1888 | 132,751 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1889 | 135,801 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1890 | 139,006 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1891 | 142,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1892 | 146,919 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1893 | 150,886 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1894 | 154,859 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1895 | 158,840 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1896 | 162,601 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1897 | 166,364 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1898 | 170,130 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1899 | 173,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1900 | 177,668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1901 | 183,396 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1902 | 189,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1903 | 194,896 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1904 | 200,669 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 206,965 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 213,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1907 | 219,704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1908 | 226,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1909 | 232,647 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1910 | 239,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1911 | 250,427 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1912 | 261,725 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1913 | 273,082 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1914 | 284,498 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1915 | 295,977 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1916 | 307,518 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1917 | 319,125 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1918 | 330,798 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1919 | 342,540 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1920 | 354,351 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1921 | 370,893 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1922 | 386,425 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 401,979 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1924 | 417,554 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1925 | 433,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1926 | 448,769 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 464,410 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1928 | 480,073 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1929 | 495,759 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1930 | 511,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1931 | 534,146 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1932 | 556,850 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1933 | 579,579 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1934 | 602,335 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1935 | 625,118 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1936 | 645,847 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1937 | 667,567 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1938 | 689,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1939 | 710,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1940 | 732,250 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1941 | 740,423 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1942 | 748,623 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1943 | 756,853 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1944 | 765,112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1945 | 773,799 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1946 | 782,447 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1947 | 791,004 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1948 | 799,508 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1949 | 807,958 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1950 | 816,348 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1951 | 823,925 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 831,417 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1953 | 838,847 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 846,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 853,657 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1956 | 861,076 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 868,581 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 876,269 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 884,221 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 892,507 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 957,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1962 | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1963 | 976,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1964 | 936,819 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1965 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.5% |
| 1966 | 935,427 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.0% |
| 1967 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.7% |
| 1968 | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1969 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 1971 | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1977 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 1978 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 1.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 1.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.1% |
| 1988 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 1.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1993 | 1.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.5% |
| 2000 | 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 2003 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 1.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 1.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.4% |
| 2021 | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 11% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 10% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +28.5% | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 61,701 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 57,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 66,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 75,381 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67,348 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 95,712 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85,280 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 106,203 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 122,143 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 108,553 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 135,801 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 156,646 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 139,006 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 173,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 204,454 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 177,668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 232,647 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 290,489 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 239,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 342,540 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 425,336 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 354,351 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 495,759 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 612,288 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 511,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 710,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 769,798 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 732,250 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 807,958 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 850,059 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 816,348 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 884,221 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 892,507 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 151 Brunei 1.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 152 North Macedonia 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 153 Estonia 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 155 Djibouti 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 156 Gambia 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 157 Eswatini 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Lesotho?
- Methane emissions in Lesotho was 1.31 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1999.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Lesotho rank for methane emissions?
- Lesotho ranks 154th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.