Nitrous oxide emissions in Canada
Canada: Nitrous oxide emissions was 44.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
44.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
11th
of 201 countries
All-time high
48.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1996
All-time low
3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide emissions in Canada, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nitrous oxide emissions in Canada is 44.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in Canada peaked at 48.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1996 and was at its lowest, 3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Canada ranks 11th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrous oxide emissions in Canada, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 3.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1852 | 3.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1853 | 3.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 3.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1855 | 3.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1856 | 3.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1857 | 3.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 3.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 3.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 3.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 3.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 3.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1864 | 3.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 3.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 3.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 3.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 3.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 4.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1873 | 4.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1874 | 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1875 | 4.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1876 | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1877 | 5.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1878 | 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1879 | 5.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1880 | 5.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1881 | 5.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 5.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 5.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 5.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 5.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 5.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 6.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1891 | 6.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1892 | 6.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1893 | 6.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 6.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 6.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 6.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 6.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 7.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 7.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 7.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 7.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 7.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1903 | 7.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1904 | 7.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1905 | 7.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1906 | 7.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1907 | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 7.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 8.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 8.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1911 | 8.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1912 | 8.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1913 | 8.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1914 | 8.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 8.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 8.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1917 | 8.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 8.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1919 | 8.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 9.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1921 | 9.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1922 | 9.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1923 | 9.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1924 | 9.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1925 | 9.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1926 | 9.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1927 | 9.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1928 | 9.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1929 | 9.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1930 | 10.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1931 | 10.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1932 | 10.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1933 | 10.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 10.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1935 | 10.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 10.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1937 | 10.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1938 | 10.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1939 | 10.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 11.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1941 | 11.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1942 | 11.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1943 | 12.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1944 | 13.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1945 | 14.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1946 | 15.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1947 | 16.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1948 | 16.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1949 | 17.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1950 | 17.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1951 | 18.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 18.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 18.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 19.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 19.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 20.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1957 | 20.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1958 | 21.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1959 | 22.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 22.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1961 | 23.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 24.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1963 | 25.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 26.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 27.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 28.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 28.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 29.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 29.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 28.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 30.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 31.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 35.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.7% |
| 1974 | 36.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1975 | 34.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 1976 | 36.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 39.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1978 | 42.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1979 | 41.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1980 | 40.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 38.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 39.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 47.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.2% |
| 1984 | 45.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1985 | 39.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.8% |
| 1986 | 36.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1987 | 38.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1988 | 38.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 44.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 44.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 42.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 42.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 43.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 47.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1995 | 47.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 48.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 41.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.6% |
| 1998 | 41.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 40.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 38.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 37.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 38.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 39.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 38.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 39.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 37.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 40.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 2008 | 39.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 37.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 38.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 41.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 42.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 42.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 42.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 42.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 41.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 41.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 43.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 42.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 44.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 43.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 43.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 44.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 44.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 44.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 17.5× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 3.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 3.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 7.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 9.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 10.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 13.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 19.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 26.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 35.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 42.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 36.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 47.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 43.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 40.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 48.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 37.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 40.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 44.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 8 Australia 67.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 9 Argentina 52.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 10 Ethiopia 51.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 12 Nigeria 41.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 13 Turkey 40.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 14 Mexico 39.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Canada
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.27 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 44,359 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,631 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,728 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,240 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,823 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 406.39 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 63.48 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions in Canada?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in Canada was 44.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 48.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1996.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Canada rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- Canada ranks 11th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Nitrous oxide 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).
About this data
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.