Methane emissions in Libya
Libya: Methane emissions was 28.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
28.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
57th
of 199 countries
All-time high
133.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1969
All-time low
291,835 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Libya, 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 Libya is 28.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 89.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Libya peaked at 133.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1969 and was at its lowest, 291,835 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Libya 57th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Libya, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 291,835 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 292,064 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 292,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 292,523 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 292,752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 292,981 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 293,210 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 293,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 293,669 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 293,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 294,127 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 294,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 295,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 295,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 296,458 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 297,040 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 297,623 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 298,205 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 298,787 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 299,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 299,952 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 300,544 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1872 | 301,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 301,730 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1874 | 302,322 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1875 | 302,914 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1876 | 303,507 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1877 | 304,099 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1878 | 304,691 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1879 | 305,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1880 | 305,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1881 | 306,478 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1882 | 307,080 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1883 | 307,683 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1884 | 308,285 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1885 | 308,887 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 309,489 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 310,092 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1888 | 310,694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 311,296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 311,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 316,268 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 320,638 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1893 | 325,007 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1894 | 329,375 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 333,743 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 338,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 342,476 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 346,842 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 351,207 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 355,572 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 357,227 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1902 | 358,876 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1903 | 360,518 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1904 | 362,154 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1905 | 363,784 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1906 | 365,407 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1907 | 367,024 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1908 | 368,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1909 | 370,240 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1910 | 371,839 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 371,960 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1912 | 372,080 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 373,043 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1914 | 374,417 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1915 | 375,813 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1916 | 377,231 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1917 | 378,672 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1918 | 380,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1919 | 381,626 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1920 | 383,140 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1921 | 384,559 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 386,005 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1923 | 387,479 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 388,981 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 390,513 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 392,075 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 393,669 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1928 | 395,295 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1929 | 396,954 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1930 | 398,647 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1931 | 409,928 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1932 | 421,272 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1933 | 432,653 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1934 | 444,072 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1935 | 455,531 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1936 | 476,317 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1937 | 497,587 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1938 | 519,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1939 | 541,588 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1940 | 564,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1941 | 585,701 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1942 | 607,486 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1943 | 629,678 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1944 | 652,277 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1945 | 675,392 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1946 | 698,916 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1947 | 722,848 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1948 | 747,190 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1949 | 771,941 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +826.9% |
| 1951 | 8.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.9% |
| 1952 | 7.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 1953 | 10.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +42.6% |
| 1954 | 10.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 10.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1956 | 10.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1957 | 10.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1958 | 10.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1959 | 13.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.2% |
| 1960 | 21.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +61.1% |
| 1961 | 37.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +69.0% |
| 1962 | 33.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 1963 | 44.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.0% |
| 1964 | 19.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -55.1% |
| 1965 | 27.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +41.1% |
| 1966 | 67.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +141.5% |
| 1967 | 59.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.3% |
| 1968 | 66.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1969 | 133.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +100.2% |
| 1970 | 96.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.1% |
| 1971 | 96.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 79.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.4% |
| 1973 | 77.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 55.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.6% |
| 1975 | 54.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 70.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.1% |
| 1977 | 74.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 71.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 76.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1980 | 67.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 1981 | 44.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -34.4% |
| 1982 | 44.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 42.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 42.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 41.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 40.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 38.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 45.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.9% |
| 1989 | 44.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 52.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.5% |
| 1991 | 50.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 43.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.1% |
| 1993 | 37.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.8% |
| 1994 | 47.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +26.5% |
| 1995 | 52.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 54.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 45.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.3% |
| 1998 | 41.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1999 | 38.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.8% |
| 2000 | 40.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 37.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 36.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 42.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.5% |
| 2004 | 40.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 43.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 42.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 39.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 40.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 36.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 38.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 15.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -61.2% |
| 2012 | 33.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +120.1% |
| 2013 | 24.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.3% |
| 2014 | 14.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -38.9% |
| 2015 | 13.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.2% |
| 2016 | 12.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 22.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +70.5% |
| 2018 | 26.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.3% |
| 2019 | 28.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 2020 | 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -54.1% |
| 2021 | 28.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +113.8% |
| 2022 | 25.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 2023 | 28.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 2024 | 28.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 28.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Libya's 28.20 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, 1.1× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions in Libya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +826.9% | 771,941 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1966 | +141.5% | 27.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2012 | +120.1% | 15.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2021 | +113.8% | 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1969 | +100.2% | 66.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 133.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2017 | +70.5% | 12.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 292,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 291,835 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 293,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 296,749 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 294,127 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 299,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 302,618 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 299,952 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 305,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 308,586 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 305,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 311,296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 331,556 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 311,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 351,207 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 362,944 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 355,572 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 370,240 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 375,682 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 371,839 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 381,626 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 389,867 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 383,140 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 396,954 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 459,694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 398,647 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 541,588 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 665,575 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 564,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 771,941 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 10.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 51.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 133.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 75.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 96.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 45.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 37.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 36.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 54 Mali 29.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 55 Japan 28.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 56 Malaysia 28.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 58 Nepal 27.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 59 Bolivia 27.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 60 Mozambique 27.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Libya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 76.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,621 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,729 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.12 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 97.48 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 455.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 452.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.59 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.71 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Libya?
- Methane emissions in Libya was 28.20 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 133.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1969.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 291,835 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Libya rank for methane emissions?
- Libya ranks 57th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 89.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya 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.