Nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Nitrous oxide emissions was 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
131st
of 201 countries
All-time high
1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2015
All-time low
37,838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone stood at 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2015 and was at its lowest, 37,838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Sierra Leone 131st 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 37,838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 38,493 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1852 | 39,134 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1853 | 39,754 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 40,342 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1855 | 40,892 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1856 | 41,394 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1857 | 41,839 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 42,220 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 42,528 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 42,755 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 42,930 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 43,093 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 43,245 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1864 | 43,391 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 43,534 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 43,678 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 43,825 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 43,980 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 44,145 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 44,324 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 44,941 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 46,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1873 | 48,242 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1874 | 50,579 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1875 | 53,144 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1876 | 55,764 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1877 | 58,266 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1878 | 60,477 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1879 | 62,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1880 | 63,336 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1881 | 64,020 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 64,612 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 65,132 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 65,598 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 66,027 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1886 | 66,439 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 66,851 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 67,282 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 67,750 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 70,943 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1891 | 71,752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1892 | 72,603 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1893 | 73,493 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1894 | 74,422 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 75,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 76,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 77,422 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1898 | 78,487 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1899 | 79,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1900 | 80,705 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1901 | 81,868 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1902 | 83,081 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 84,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1904 | 85,655 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 87,015 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1906 | 88,421 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1907 | 89,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1908 | 91,372 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1909 | 92,914 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 94,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 96,520 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1912 | 99,282 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1913 | 102,654 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1914 | 106,507 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1915 | 110,709 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1916 | 115,131 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1917 | 119,643 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1918 | 124,113 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1919 | 128,412 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1920 | 132,410 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1921 | 136,497 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1922 | 141,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1923 | 145,808 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1924 | 150,656 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1925 | 155,382 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1926 | 159,799 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1927 | 163,718 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 166,951 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1929 | 169,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 170,610 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1931 | 170,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1932 | 170,483 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 169,559 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1934 | 168,323 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1935 | 166,969 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1936 | 165,692 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1937 | 164,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1938 | 164,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1939 | 164,275 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1940 | 165,259 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1941 | 177,653 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1942 | 208,797 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.5% |
| 1943 | 254,061 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.7% |
| 1944 | 308,818 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.6% |
| 1945 | 368,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.3% |
| 1946 | 428,299 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.2% |
| 1947 | 483,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.0% |
| 1948 | 530,215 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1949 | 563,016 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1950 | 577,542 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 576,179 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1952 | 565,886 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1953 | 548,890 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1954 | 527,418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1955 | 503,698 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1956 | 479,957 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1957 | 458,423 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1958 | 441,323 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1959 | 430,886 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1960 | 429,338 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1961 | 456,499 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1962 | 468,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 483,024 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 495,559 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 512,045 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 525,779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 539,501 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 543,749 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 559,227 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 612,119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.5% |
| 1971 | 598,138 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 596,182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 632,703 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 543,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.0% |
| 1975 | 583,214 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1976 | 602,896 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 673,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 1978 | 615,441 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.7% |
| 1979 | 647,188 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 745,153 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.1% |
| 1981 | 664,387 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.8% |
| 1982 | 769,026 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1983 | 714,796 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.1% |
| 1984 | 696,778 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 652,531 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1986 | 672,555 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 692,224 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 650,712 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 704,085 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 797,584 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.3% |
| 1991 | 793,920 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 788,944 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 787,117 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 815,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 814,466 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 665,268 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.3% |
| 1997 | 652,355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 630,011 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 623,167 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 590,798 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 617,187 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 667,201 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 883,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.4% |
| 2004 | 964,891 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 972,965 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.7% |
| 2007 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 2008 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.1% |
| 2009 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 2011 | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 2012 | 1.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.1% |
| 2013 | 1.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 1.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 1.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 24% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 25% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +37.7% | 972,965 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2003 | +32.4% | 667,201 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 883,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 40,443 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 37,838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 42,528 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 43,458 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 42,755 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 44,145 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 52,427 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 44,324 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 62,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 65,705 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 63,336 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67,750 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 75,048 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 70,943 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 86,525 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 80,705 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 92,914 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 109,747 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 94,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 128,412 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 152,156 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 132,410 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 169,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 167,565 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 164,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 170,898 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 348,832 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 165,259 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 563,016 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 511,020 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 430,886 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 577,542 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 501,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 429,338 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 559,227 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 610,564 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 543,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 673,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 696,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 650,712 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 769,026 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 736,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 623,167 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 815,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 942,854 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 590,798 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 128 Rwanda 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 129 Jordan 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 130 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 132 Oman 1.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 133 Singapore 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 134 Trinidad and Tobago 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 3.65 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 538.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,431 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 201.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.761 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in Sierra Leone was 1.46 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2015.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 37,838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- Sierra Leone ranks 131st out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.