Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq
Iraq: Nitrous oxide emissions by sector was 3.68 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 3.68 million tonnes for nitrous oxide emissions by sector in 2023.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq peaked at 4.62 million tonnes in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.94 million tonnes, in 2003.
Iraq ranks 81st of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.06 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 1.96 million tonnes | -35.9% |
| 1992 | 2.44 million tonnes | +24.5% |
| 1993 | 3.28 million tonnes | +34.4% |
| 1994 | 3.18 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 2.93 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1996 | 2.85 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1997 | 3.01 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1998 | 3.14 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 3.04 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 3.03 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 4.44 million tonnes | +46.5% |
| 2002 | 4.62 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 1.94 million tonnes | -58.0% |
| 2004 | 2.18 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 2005 | 2.64 million tonnes | +21.1% |
| 2006 | 2.58 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 2.49 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 2.79 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2009 | 3.35 million tonnes | +20.1% |
| 2010 | 3.20 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 3.43 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 3.58 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 3.61 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 3.24 million tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 2.41 million tonnes | -25.6% |
| 2016 | 2.70 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2017 | 3.15 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2018 | 3.05 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 3.83 million tonnes | +25.6% |
| 2020 | 3.89 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 3.64 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 3.58 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 3.68 million tonnes | +2.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 3.68 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.82 million tonnes, 2.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 3.68 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.59 million tonnes, 2.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | -58.0% | 4.62 million tonnes | 1.94 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.89 million tonnes | 1.96 million tonnes | 3.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.01 million tonnes | 1.94 million tonnes | 4.62 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.22 million tonnes | 2.41 million tonnes | 3.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.70 million tonnes | 3.58 million tonnes | 3.89 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More climate change data for Iraq
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 672.48 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 10,634 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,750 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,884 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.15 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 245.84 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,859 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,294 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,565 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 16.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq?
- Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iraq was 3.68 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 4.62 million tonnes in 2002.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.94 million tonnes in 2003.
- How does Iraq rank for nitrous oxide emissions by sector?
- Iraq ranks 81st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions by sector rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.