Methane emissions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Methane emissions was 43.81 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
43.81 million
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
40th
of 199 countries
All-time high
162.00 million
in 1965
All-time low
43.81 million
in 2024
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in United Kingdom, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 43.81 million for methane emissions in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in United Kingdom peaked at 162.00 million in 1965 and was at its lowest, 43.81 million, in 2024.
That places United Kingdom 40th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Methane emissions in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 57.72 million | — |
| 1851 | 56.40 million | -2.3% |
| 1852 | 56.37 million | -0.0% |
| 1853 | 56.31 million | -0.1% |
| 1854 | 60.95 million | +8.2% |
| 1855 | 59.33 million | -2.7% |
| 1856 | 61.23 million | +3.2% |
| 1857 | 60.69 million | -0.9% |
| 1858 | 60.12 million | -0.9% |
| 1859 | 62.87 million | +4.6% |
| 1860 | 66.15 million | +5.2% |
| 1861 | 67.47 million | +2.0% |
| 1862 | 66.42 million | -1.6% |
| 1863 | 68.38 million | +3.0% |
| 1864 | 70.86 million | +3.6% |
| 1865 | 72.95 million | +2.9% |
| 1866 | 73.95 million | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 74.84 million | +1.2% |
| 1868 | 73.94 million | -1.2% |
| 1869 | 75.70 million | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 76.39 million | +0.9% |
| 1871 | 78.85 million | +3.2% |
| 1872 | 81.14 million | +2.9% |
| 1873 | 82.87 million | +2.1% |
| 1874 | 81.52 million | -1.6% |
| 1875 | 84.10 million | +3.2% |
| 1876 | 84.06 million | -0.0% |
| 1877 | 84.98 million | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 84.15 million | -1.0% |
| 1879 | 84.47 million | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 88.89 million | +5.2% |
| 1881 | 91.61 million | +3.1% |
| 1882 | 92.11 million | +0.5% |
| 1883 | 94.39 million | +2.5% |
| 1884 | 92.90 million | -1.6% |
| 1885 | 92.21 million | -0.7% |
| 1886 | 91.69 million | -0.6% |
| 1887 | 93.11 million | +1.5% |
| 1888 | 95.34 million | +2.4% |
| 1889 | 97.45 million | +2.2% |
| 1890 | 98.88 million | +1.5% |
| 1891 | 100.28 million | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 99.08 million | -1.2% |
| 1893 | 92.61 million | -6.5% |
| 1894 | 100.94 million | +9.0% |
| 1895 | 101.68 million | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 103.60 million | +1.9% |
| 1897 | 105.47 million | +1.8% |
| 1898 | 105.66 million | +0.2% |
| 1899 | 110.64 million | +4.7% |
| 1900 | 111.62 million | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 110.19 million | -1.3% |
| 1902 | 113.13 million | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 113.91 million | +0.7% |
| 1904 | 114.42 million | +0.5% |
| 1905 | 115.63 million | +1.1% |
| 1906 | 118.67 million | +2.6% |
| 1907 | 122.52 million | +3.2% |
| 1908 | 120.65 million | -1.5% |
| 1909 | 121.64 million | +0.8% |
| 1910 | 122.59 million | +0.8% |
| 1911 | 124.69 million | +1.7% |
| 1912 | 120.08 million | -3.7% |
| 1913 | 126.53 million | +5.4% |
| 1914 | 123.76 million | -2.2% |
| 1915 | 125.28 million | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 128.76 million | +2.8% |
| 1917 | 127.22 million | -1.2% |
| 1918 | 120.34 million | -5.4% |
| 1919 | 119.42 million | -0.8% |
| 1920 | 123.45 million | +3.4% |
| 1921 | 96.27 million | -22.0% |
| 1922 | 115.31 million | +19.8% |
| 1923 | 123.33 million | +7.0% |
| 1924 | 127.30 million | +3.2% |
| 1925 | 122.66 million | -3.6% |
| 1926 | 87.49 million | -28.7% |
| 1927 | 125.86 million | +43.9% |
| 1928 | 120.36 million | -4.4% |
| 1929 | 124.74 million | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 121.19 million | -2.8% |
| 1931 | 116.22 million | -4.1% |
| 1932 | 113.66 million | -2.2% |
| 1933 | 113.05 million | -0.5% |
| 1934 | 118.45 million | +4.8% |
| 1935 | 119.77 million | +1.1% |
| 1936 | 124.15 million | +3.7% |
| 1937 | 126.81 million | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 123.06 million | -3.0% |
| 1939 | 124.94 million | +1.5% |
| 1940 | 129.05 million | +3.3% |
| 1941 | 129.47 million | +0.3% |
| 1942 | 131.10 million | +1.3% |
| 1943 | 129.99 million | -0.8% |
| 1944 | 129.34 million | -0.5% |
| 1945 | 126.38 million | -2.3% |
| 1946 | 130.35 million | +3.1% |
| 1947 | 135.82 million | +4.2% |
| 1948 | 138.98 million | +2.3% |
| 1949 | 141.52 million | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 142.54 million | +0.7% |
| 1951 | 149.51 million | +4.9% |
| 1952 | 148.32 million | -0.8% |
| 1953 | 151.24 million | +2.0% |
| 1954 | 154.04 million | +1.9% |
| 1955 | 158.27 million | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 159.14 million | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 158.48 million | -0.4% |
| 1958 | 156.27 million | -1.4% |
| 1959 | 152.28 million | -2.6% |
| 1960 | 157.87 million | +3.7% |
| 1961 | 161.04 million | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 160.24 million | -0.5% |
| 1963 | 161.68 million | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 160.50 million | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 162.00 million | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 160.08 million | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 155.55 million | -2.8% |
| 1968 | 156.82 million | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 158.10 million | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 156.67 million | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 156.45 million | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 145.83 million | -6.8% |
| 1973 | 152.87 million | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 145.17 million | -5.0% |
| 1975 | 150.22 million | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 146.58 million | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 142.84 million | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 142.13 million | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 144.17 million | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 144.78 million | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 144.04 million | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 142.40 million | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 140.97 million | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 113.33 million | -19.6% |
| 1985 | 129.45 million | +14.2% |
| 1986 | 137.84 million | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 134.69 million | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 133.07 million | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 130.09 million | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 134.69 million | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 137.45 million | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 132.88 million | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 128.39 million | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 122.82 million | -4.3% |
| 1995 | 126.43 million | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 124.82 million | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 122.62 million | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 114.57 million | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 106.58 million | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 100.30 million | -5.9% |
| 2001 | 97.01 million | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 92.26 million | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 87.62 million | -5.0% |
| 2004 | 83.16 million | -5.1% |
| 2005 | 76.80 million | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 71.09 million | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 66.37 million | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 61.31 million | -7.6% |
| 2009 | 58.19 million | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 53.28 million | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 51.07 million | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 49.96 million | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 47.80 million | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 46.74 million | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 46.30 million | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 45.94 million | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 46.57 million | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 46.40 million | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 45.69 million | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 44.53 million | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 44.92 million | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 44.67 million | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 44.02 million | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 43.81 million | -0.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 43.81 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million, 5.2× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 43.81 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.68 million, 5.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane emissions in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +43.9% | 87.49 million | 125.86 million |
| 1926 | -28.7% | 122.66 million | 87.49 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 59.20 million | 56.31 million | 62.87 million | 10 |
| 1860s | 71.07 million | 66.15 million | 75.70 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 82.25 million | 76.39 million | 84.98 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 92.97 million | 88.89 million | 97.45 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 101.88 million | 92.61 million | 110.64 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 116.24 million | 110.19 million | 122.52 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 123.87 million | 119.42 million | 128.76 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 116.68 million | 87.49 million | 127.30 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 120.13 million | 113.05 million | 126.81 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 132.20 million | 126.38 million | 141.52 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 153.01 million | 142.54 million | 159.14 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 159.39 million | 155.55 million | 162.00 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 148.29 million | 142.13 million | 156.67 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 135.07 million | 113.33 million | 144.78 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 125.12 million | 106.58 million | 137.45 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.41 million | 58.19 million | 100.30 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.98 million | 45.69 million | 53.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.39 million | 43.81 million | 44.92 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in United Kingdom?
- Methane emissions in United Kingdom was 43.81 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 162.00 million in 1965.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.81 million in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for methane emissions?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from 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).