Nitrous oxide emissions in Namibia
Namibia: Nitrous oxide emissions was 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 14.7%
World rank
100th
of 201 countries
All-time high
6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2012
All-time low
168,425 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide emissions in Namibia, 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 Namibia is 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 14.7% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in Namibia peaked at 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2012 and was at its lowest, 168,425 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Namibia 100th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 in Namibia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 168,425 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 171,924 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1852 | 175,333 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1853 | 178,597 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1854 | 181,660 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1855 | 184,466 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1856 | 186,960 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1857 | 189,086 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 190,788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 192,011 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 192,700 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 193,053 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 193,320 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 193,523 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 193,685 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 193,827 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 193,971 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 194,140 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 194,356 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 194,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 195,015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 198,267 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1872 | 206,412 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1873 | 218,317 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1874 | 232,848 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1875 | 248,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1876 | 265,256 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1877 | 280,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1878 | 294,570 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1879 | 305,232 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1880 | 311,722 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1881 | 315,408 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 318,497 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 321,110 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 323,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 325,384 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 327,286 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 329,192 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 331,220 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 333,492 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 350,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1891 | 354,141 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 357,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 361,289 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 365,097 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1895 | 369,051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 373,144 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1897 | 377,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 381,720 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 386,189 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 390,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 395,266 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 399,592 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1903 | 403,897 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1904 | 408,328 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1905 | 413,036 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 418,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 423,877 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1908 | 430,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 437,611 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 445,936 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1911 | 458,243 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 476,673 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1913 | 500,143 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1914 | 527,569 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1915 | 557,870 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1916 | 589,962 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1917 | 622,762 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1918 | 655,187 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1919 | 686,155 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 714,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1921 | 743,686 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1922 | 776,377 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1923 | 811,112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1924 | 846,349 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1925 | 880,544 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1926 | 912,156 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 939,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1928 | 961,455 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 976,058 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 981,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 978,897 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1932 | 969,094 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1933 | 954,204 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1934 | 935,932 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1935 | 915,983 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1936 | 896,064 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1937 | 877,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1938 | 863,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1939 | 853,538 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1940 | 850,792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1941 | 937,678 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1942 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.9% |
| 1943 | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.4% |
| 1944 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.6% |
| 1945 | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.6% |
| 1946 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.1% |
| 1947 | 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 1948 | 3.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 1949 | 3.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1950 | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1951 | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1952 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1953 | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1954 | 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 1955 | 3.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1956 | 3.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 1957 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1958 | 2.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1959 | 2.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1960 | 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1961 | 2.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 2.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 2.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 2.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1966 | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1968 | 2.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.3% |
| 1971 | 2.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -37.3% |
| 1972 | 2.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 2.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1974 | 2.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1975 | 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1976 | 2.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.8% |
| 1977 | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.7% |
| 1978 | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.0% |
| 1980 | 3.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.1% |
| 1981 | 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -19.8% |
| 1982 | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 2.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.2% |
| 1985 | 2.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 2.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 2.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.3% |
| 1988 | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -25.9% |
| 1989 | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.5% |
| 1990 | 3.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.3% |
| 1991 | 3.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 3.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 3.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 3.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 2.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 3.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1999 | 3.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 3.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 2002 | 2.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.1% |
| 2003 | 3.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 3.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 3.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 4.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.0% |
| 2007 | 3.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.2% |
| 2008 | 2.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.6% |
| 2009 | 4.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +50.6% |
| 2010 | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 6.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +61.7% |
| 2012 | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 3.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -51.0% |
| 2014 | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.1% |
| 2015 | 2.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 3.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.6% |
| 2020 | 3.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +64.6% |
| 2021 | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -25.7% |
| 2023 | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.7% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 96% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 57% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrous oxide emissions in Namibia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +64.6% | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2011 | +61.7% | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2013 | -51.0% | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2009 | +50.6% | 2.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1971 | -37.3% | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1970 | +37.3% | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 181,925 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 168,425 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 192,011 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 193,722 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 192,700 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 194,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 244,566 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 195,015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 305,232 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 323,668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 311,722 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 333,492 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 367,645 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 350,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 386,189 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 412,085 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 390,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 437,611 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 552,050 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 445,936 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 686,155 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 856,196 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 714,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 976,058 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 922,663 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 853,538 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 981,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 850,792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 97 Austria 3.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 98 Laos 3.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 99 Nicaragua 3.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 101 Tunisia 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 102 Slovakia 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 103 Benin 3.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Namibia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 5.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,137 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,384 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.62 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 120.84 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 57.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 54.43 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.2054 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions in Namibia?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in Namibia was 3.34 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2012.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 168,425 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Namibia rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- Namibia ranks 100th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.