Nitrous oxide emissions in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Nitrous oxide emissions was 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
116th
of 201 countries
All-time high
2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2020
All-time low
372,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide emissions in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in Sri Lanka peaked at 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020 and was at its lowest, 372,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Sri Lanka 116th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 372,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 380,077 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1852 | 387,289 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1853 | 394,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1854 | 400,718 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1855 | 406,711 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1856 | 412,073 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1857 | 416,692 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 420,456 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 423,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 424,967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 426,004 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 426,868 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 427,603 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 428,254 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 428,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 429,482 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 430,148 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 430,908 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 431,807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 432,889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 439,782 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 456,561 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1873 | 480,934 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1874 | 510,614 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1875 | 543,309 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1876 | 576,731 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1877 | 608,590 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1878 | 636,597 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1879 | 658,462 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 671,895 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1881 | 679,666 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 686,232 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 691,834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 696,715 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 701,118 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 705,285 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 709,458 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 713,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 718,794 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 746,545 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1891 | 749,041 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1892 | 751,654 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1893 | 754,378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1894 | 757,211 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1895 | 760,148 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1896 | 763,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1897 | 766,320 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1898 | 769,547 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1899 | 772,863 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1900 | 776,264 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 779,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1902 | 784,043 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1903 | 788,432 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1904 | 793,003 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1905 | 797,641 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1906 | 802,233 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1907 | 806,664 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1908 | 810,819 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1909 | 814,586 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1910 | 817,851 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 820,690 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1912 | 823,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1913 | 825,711 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1914 | 827,995 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1915 | 830,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1916 | 832,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1917 | 834,562 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1918 | 836,828 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1919 | 839,217 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1920 | 841,781 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1921 | 844,672 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1922 | 847,938 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1923 | 851,475 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 855,177 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1925 | 858,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 862,665 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 866,241 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1928 | 869,566 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1929 | 872,537 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1930 | 875,048 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1931 | 877,360 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1932 | 879,797 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1933 | 882,351 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1934 | 885,013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1935 | 887,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1936 | 890,629 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1937 | 893,567 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1938 | 896,581 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1939 | 899,662 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1940 | 902,803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1941 | 908,392 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1942 | 918,212 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1943 | 931,346 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1944 | 946,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 963,897 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 981,481 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1947 | 998,716 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 1.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1950 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1951 | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 1.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1955 | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1958 | 1.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1959 | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1962 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1965 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1969 | 1.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 1.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 1.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 1.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1976 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1979 | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1981 | 1.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 1.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 1.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 1.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 1.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 2.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1994 | 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 2.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 2.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 2000 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 2.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 2003 | 2.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.5% |
| 2004 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 2.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 2.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 2.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 2.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 2013 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.1% |
| 2015 | 2.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.2% |
| 2016 | 2.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 1.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 2.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.7% |
| 2020 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.9% |
| 2021 | 2.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.2% |
| 2022 | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 2.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2024 | 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 81% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 45% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 401,416 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 372,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 423,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 428,491 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 424,967 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 431,807 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 534,447 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 432,889 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 658,462 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 697,488 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 671,895 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 718,794 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 759,089 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 746,545 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 772,863 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 795,363 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 776,264 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 814,586 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 828,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 817,851 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 839,217 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 857,099 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 841,781 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 872,537 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 886,778 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 875,048 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 899,662 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 959,489 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 902,803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 113 Switzerland 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 114 Latvia 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 115 Croatia 2.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 117 North Korea 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 118 Kyrgyzstan 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 119 Congo 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Sri Lanka
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 327.09 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,418 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 618.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,800 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,168 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,071 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,097 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is nitrous oxide emissions in Sri Lanka?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in Sri Lanka was 2.04 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 372,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- Sri Lanka ranks 116th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.