Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana
Botswana: Nitrous oxide emissions by sector was 6.48 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Botswana recorded 6.48 million tonnes for nitrous oxide emissions by sector in 2023.
The figure is up 34.2% on the previous year and up 97.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana peaked at 10.54 million tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1.04 million tonnes, in 2019.
Botswana ranks 57th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.17 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 3.94 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1992 | 3.84 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 3.74 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 3.86 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 4.13 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 4.67 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1997 | 4.40 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1998 | 3.94 million tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1999 | 3.83 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 3.64 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 5.07 million tonnes | +39.3% |
| 2002 | 5.25 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 1.55 million tonnes | -70.5% |
| 2004 | 1.73 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 2005 | 2.29 million tonnes | +32.4% |
| 2006 | 3.30 million tonnes | +44.1% |
| 2007 | 2.44 million tonnes | -26.1% |
| 2008 | 6.72 million tonnes | +175.4% |
| 2009 | 2.21 million tonnes | -67.1% |
| 2010 | 8.06 million tonnes | +264.7% |
| 2011 | 10.54 million tonnes | +30.8% |
| 2012 | 3.95 million tonnes | -62.5% |
| 2013 | 3.28 million tonnes | -17.0% |
| 2014 | 2.05 million tonnes | -37.5% |
| 2015 | 1.78 million tonnes | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 1.39 million tonnes | -21.9% |
| 2017 | 2.96 million tonnes | +112.9% |
| 2018 | 1.92 million tonnes | -35.1% |
| 2019 | 1.04 million tonnes | -45.8% |
| 2020 | 2.56 million tonnes | +146.2% |
| 2021 | 6.36 million tonnes | +148.4% |
| 2022 | 4.83 million tonnes | -24.1% |
| 2023 | 6.48 million tonnes | +34.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 6.48 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.82 million tonnes, 3.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 6.48 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.80 million tonnes, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +264.7% | 2.21 million tonnes | 8.06 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.05 million tonnes | 3.74 million tonnes | 4.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.42 million tonnes | 1.55 million tonnes | 6.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.70 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes | 10.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.06 million tonnes | 2.56 million tonnes | 6.48 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More climate change data for Botswana
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 17.55 million kg (2023)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,640 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,846 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 137.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 14.07 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0531 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana?
- Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Botswana was 6.48 million tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 10.54 million tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.04 million tonnes in 2019.
- How does Botswana rank for nitrous oxide emissions by sector?
- Botswana ranks 57th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions by sector rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Nitrous oxide emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents.