Methane emissions in United States
United States: Methane emissions was 818.35 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
818.35 million
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
3rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
924.20 million
in 1980
All-time low
71.21 million
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in United States, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 818.35 million for methane emissions in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in United States peaked at 924.20 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 71.21 million, in 1850.
That places United States 3rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 71.21 million | — |
| 1851 | 73.68 million | +3.5% |
| 1852 | 75.88 million | +3.0% |
| 1853 | 78.23 million | +3.1% |
| 1854 | 80.57 million | +3.0% |
| 1855 | 83.14 million | +3.2% |
| 1856 | 85.31 million | +2.6% |
| 1857 | 87.41 million | +2.5% |
| 1858 | 89.47 million | +2.4% |
| 1859 | 91.90 million | +2.7% |
| 1860 | 94.16 million | +2.5% |
| 1861 | 95.37 million | +1.3% |
| 1862 | 96.97 million | +1.7% |
| 1863 | 99.22 million | +2.3% |
| 1864 | 101.09 million | +1.9% |
| 1865 | 102.53 million | +1.4% |
| 1866 | 103.96 million | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 106.89 million | +2.8% |
| 1868 | 109.35 million | +2.3% |
| 1869 | 112.01 million | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 113.95 million | +1.7% |
| 1871 | 115.96 million | +1.8% |
| 1872 | 120.07 million | +3.5% |
| 1873 | 123.03 million | +2.5% |
| 1874 | 123.95 million | +0.7% |
| 1875 | 125.64 million | +1.4% |
| 1876 | 126.81 million | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 129.88 million | +2.4% |
| 1878 | 130.99 million | +0.9% |
| 1879 | 135.98 million | +3.8% |
| 1880 | 139.93 million | +2.9% |
| 1881 | 142.21 million | +1.6% |
| 1882 | 146.02 million | +2.7% |
| 1883 | 149.16 million | +2.2% |
| 1884 | 151.70 million | +1.7% |
| 1885 | 153.19 million | +1.0% |
| 1886 | 155.72 million | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 158.81 million | +2.0% |
| 1888 | 167.06 million | +5.2% |
| 1889 | 163.85 million | -1.9% |
| 1890 | 172.10 million | +5.0% |
| 1891 | 175.85 million | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 179.40 million | +2.0% |
| 1893 | 180.78 million | +0.8% |
| 1894 | 178.53 million | -1.2% |
| 1895 | 185.53 million | +3.9% |
| 1896 | 186.13 million | +0.3% |
| 1897 | 188.86 million | +1.5% |
| 1898 | 194.45 million | +3.0% |
| 1899 | 203.83 million | +4.8% |
| 1900 | 208.51 million | +2.3% |
| 1901 | 216.21 million | +3.7% |
| 1902 | 222.07 million | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 237.50 million | +6.9% |
| 1904 | 237.14 million | -0.2% |
| 1905 | 249.69 million | +5.3% |
| 1906 | 256.74 million | +2.8% |
| 1907 | 276.45 million | +7.7% |
| 1908 | 261.63 million | -5.4% |
| 1909 | 275.44 million | +5.3% |
| 1910 | 288.43 million | +4.7% |
| 1911 | 288.57 million | +0.1% |
| 1912 | 299.36 million | +3.7% |
| 1913 | 311.39 million | +4.0% |
| 1914 | 299.33 million | -3.9% |
| 1915 | 306.20 million | +2.3% |
| 1916 | 323.77 million | +5.7% |
| 1917 | 341.53 million | +5.5% |
| 1918 | 351.30 million | +2.9% |
| 1919 | 323.23 million | -8.0% |
| 1920 | 351.83 million | +8.8% |
| 1921 | 319.68 million | -9.1% |
| 1922 | 322.18 million | +0.8% |
| 1923 | 373.07 million | +15.8% |
| 1924 | 353.60 million | -5.2% |
| 1925 | 360.25 million | +1.9% |
| 1926 | 377.88 million | +4.9% |
| 1927 | 373.79 million | -1.1% |
| 1928 | 371.80 million | -0.5% |
| 1929 | 386.85 million | +4.0% |
| 1930 | 366.07 million | -5.4% |
| 1931 | 340.06 million | -7.1% |
| 1932 | 317.58 million | -6.6% |
| 1933 | 327.76 million | +3.2% |
| 1934 | 337.69 million | +3.0% |
| 1935 | 343.92 million | +1.8% |
| 1936 | 367.23 million | +6.8% |
| 1937 | 375.14 million | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 347.05 million | -7.5% |
| 1939 | 363.78 million | +4.8% |
| 1940 | 385.44 million | +6.0% |
| 1941 | 408.55 million | +6.0% |
| 1942 | 431.39 million | +5.6% |
| 1943 | 444.83 million | +3.1% |
| 1944 | 468.44 million | +5.3% |
| 1945 | 466.23 million | -0.5% |
| 1946 | 462.44 million | -0.8% |
| 1947 | 493.51 million | +6.7% |
| 1948 | 510.48 million | +3.4% |
| 1949 | 477.18 million | -6.5% |
| 1950 | 519.00 million | +8.8% |
| 1951 | 534.10 million | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 535.71 million | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 551.37 million | +2.9% |
| 1954 | 550.42 million | -0.2% |
| 1955 | 585.62 million | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 610.40 million | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 620.83 million | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 626.99 million | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 648.83 million | +3.5% |
| 1960 | 670.00 million | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 680.00 million | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 707.14 million | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 735.74 million | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 763.12 million | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 786.26 million | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 811.73 million | +3.2% |
| 1967 | 837.64 million | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 865.98 million | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 898.70 million | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 890.70 million | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 899.54 million | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 914.08 million | +1.6% |
| 1973 | 917.97 million | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 915.03 million | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 912.79 million | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 907.63 million | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 897.51 million | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 890.41 million | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 913.74 million | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 924.20 million | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 921.39 million | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 916.41 million | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 885.41 million | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 898.97 million | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 890.47 million | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 878.68 million | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 876.75 million | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 881.60 million | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 881.15 million | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 865.68 million | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 858.31 million | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 861.01 million | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 860.64 million | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 866.24 million | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 849.76 million | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 843.44 million | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 839.52 million | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 823.26 million | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 809.28 million | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 799.68 million | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 776.11 million | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 757.57 million | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 764.52 million | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 765.33 million | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 772.65 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 785.02 million | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 793.94 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 810.64 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 772.48 million | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 756.19 million | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 764.38 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 749.64 million | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 748.07 million | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 763.22 million | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 754.89 million | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 733.37 million | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 749.26 million | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 777.60 million | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 799.06 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 761.17 million | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 789.44 million | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 801.91 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 819.06 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 818.35 million | -0.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 818.35 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million, 97.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 81.68 million | 71.21 million | 91.90 million | 10 |
| 1860s | 102.15 million | 94.16 million | 112.01 million | 10 |
| 1870s | 124.63 million | 113.95 million | 135.98 million | 10 |
| 1880s | 152.77 million | 139.93 million | 167.06 million | 10 |
| 1890s | 184.54 million | 172.10 million | 203.83 million | 10 |
| 1900s | 244.14 million | 208.51 million | 276.45 million | 10 |
| 1910s | 313.31 million | 288.43 million | 351.30 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 359.09 million | 319.68 million | 386.85 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 348.63 million | 317.58 million | 375.14 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 454.85 million | 385.44 million | 510.48 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 578.33 million | 519.00 million | 648.83 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 775.63 million | 670.00 million | 898.70 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 905.94 million | 890.41 million | 917.97 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 895.50 million | 876.75 million | 924.20 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 847.71 million | 809.28 million | 866.24 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 779.80 million | 757.57 million | 810.64 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 759.57 million | 733.37 million | 799.06 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 797.99 million | 761.17 million | 819.06 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is methane emissions in United States?
- Methane emissions in United States was 818.35 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 924.20 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.21 million in 1850.
- How does United States rank for methane emissions?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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).