Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Nitrous oxide emissions by sector was 20.12 million tonnes in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
20.12 million tonnes
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
23rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
26.51 million tonnes
in 1990
All-time low
20.12 million tonnes
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom is 20.12 million tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom peaked at 26.51 million tonnes in 1990 and was at its lowest, 20.12 million tonnes, in 2023.
United Kingdom ranks 23rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26.51 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 25.57 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 24.78 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 24.69 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 25.31 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 25.21 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 26.01 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 25.39 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 24.95 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 24.70 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 23.61 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 22.96 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 22.93 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 22.46 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 22.45 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 21.98 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 21.50 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 21.18 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 21.28 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 20.60 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 20.92 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 20.96 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 20.75 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 20.85 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 21.57 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 21.55 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 21.39 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 21.66 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 21.38 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 21.57 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 20.63 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 21.17 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 20.44 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 20.12 million tonnes | -1.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 20.12 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.79 million tonnes, 11.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 20.12 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.65 million tonnes, 7.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.31 million tonnes | 24.69 million tonnes | 26.51 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.09 million tonnes | 20.60 million tonnes | 23.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.26 million tonnes | 20.75 million tonnes | 21.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.59 million tonnes | 20.12 million tonnes | 21.17 million tonnes | 4 |
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 nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom?
- Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United Kingdom was 20.12 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 26.51 million tonnes in 1990.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.12 million tonnes in 2023.
- How does United Kingdom rank for nitrous oxide emissions by sector?
- United Kingdom ranks 23rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions by sector rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.