Methane emissions in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Methane emissions was 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
128th
of 199 countries
All-time high
5.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2018
All-time low
462,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.2% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018 and was at its lowest, 462,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Sierra Leone 128th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 462,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 463,257 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 463,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 464,023 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 464,406 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 464,789 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 465,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 465,555 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 465,938 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 466,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 466,704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 467,649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 468,593 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 469,537 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 470,481 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 471,426 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 472,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 473,314 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 474,258 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 475,202 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 476,147 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 477,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1872 | 478,085 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 479,060 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1874 | 480,037 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1875 | 481,013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1876 | 481,991 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1877 | 482,969 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1878 | 483,947 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1879 | 484,926 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1880 | 485,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1881 | 486,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1882 | 487,897 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1883 | 488,889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1884 | 489,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1885 | 490,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 491,864 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 492,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1888 | 493,849 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 494,841 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 495,834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 496,846 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1892 | 497,974 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1893 | 499,139 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1894 | 500,352 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1895 | 501,629 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1896 | 502,987 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1897 | 504,452 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1898 | 514,414 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1899 | 527,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1900 | 544,917 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1901 | 568,352 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1902 | 585,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1903 | 590,714 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1904 | 596,271 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1905 | 601,986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1906 | 607,864 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1907 | 613,910 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1908 | 620,130 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 626,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1910 | 633,112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1911 | 640,689 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1912 | 652,379 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 665,639 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1914 | 678,957 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 692,334 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1916 | 705,773 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 719,272 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 732,833 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1919 | 746,458 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1920 | 760,146 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 776,907 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1922 | 794,418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1923 | 812,090 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1924 | 829,928 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1925 | 847,934 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1926 | 866,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1927 | 884,487 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 903,042 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 921,779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1930 | 940,700 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1931 | 962,114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1932 | 983,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1933 | 1.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1934 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1935 | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1936 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1937 | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1938 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1939 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1940 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1941 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1942 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1943 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1944 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1945 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1946 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1948 | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1949 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1950 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1951 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 1.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1953 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1956 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1957 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1961 | 1.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 1.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1963 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 1.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1966 | 1.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 1.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1971 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 2.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1975 | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1985 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 2.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.1% |
| 1991 | 2.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 2.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 2.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 1997 | 2.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 2.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 3.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 2004 | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 2005 | 4.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 2007 | 4.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.8% |
| 2008 | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 4.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 4.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 4.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 5.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 5.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 5.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 5.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 5.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 5.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 5.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.9% |
| 2019 | 4.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.1% |
| 2020 | 4.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 5.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 2022 | 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 5.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for low income countries, which is 18.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 29% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 5.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 464,598 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 462,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 466,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 470,953 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 466,704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 475,202 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 480,528 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 476,147 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 484,926 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 490,376 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 485,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 494,841 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 504,143 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 495,834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 527,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 595,598 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 544,917 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 626,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 686,745 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 633,112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 746,458 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 839,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 760,146 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 921,779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 940,700 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 125 Finland 5.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 126 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 127 Costa Rica 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 129 Trinidad and Tobago 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 130 Hong Kong 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 131 Rwanda 4.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 3.65 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 538.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,431 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 201.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.761 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in Sierra Leone?
- Methane emissions in Sierra Leone was 5.42 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 462,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for methane emissions?
- Sierra Leone ranks 128th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.