Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United States
United States: Nitrous oxide emissions by sector was 151.93 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
151.93 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
4th
of 193 countries
All-time high
157.16 million tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
137.82 million tonnes
in 1991
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United States, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
United States recorded 151.93 million tonnes for nitrous oxide emissions by sector in 2023.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United States peaked at 157.16 million tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 137.82 million tonnes, in 1991.
United States ranks 4th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 141.70 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 137.82 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 142.04 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 142.70 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 147.39 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 145.13 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 149.59 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 149.09 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 149.43 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 148.06 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 145.26 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 144.04 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 144.06 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 150.80 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 149.78 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 147.78 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 152.90 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 152.47 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 146.97 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 150.62 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 152.26 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 154.51 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 152.65 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 153.81 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 152.83 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 153.20 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 156.82 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 155.05 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 157.16 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 154.47 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 156.72 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 155.95 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 151.51 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 151.93 million tonnes | +0.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 151.93 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.79 million tonnes, 84.9× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 145.29 million tonnes | 137.82 million tonnes | 149.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 148.47 million tonnes | 144.04 million tonnes | 152.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 154.28 million tonnes | 152.26 million tonnes | 157.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 154.03 million tonnes | 151.51 million tonnes | 156.72 million tonnes | 4 |
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 nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United States?
- Nitrous oxide emissions by sector in United States was 151.93 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 157.16 million tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 137.82 million tonnes in 1991.
- How does United States rank for nitrous oxide emissions by sector?
- United States ranks 4th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions by sector rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.