Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector was 36.57 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
36.57 kilograms per person
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
143rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
51.41 kilograms per person
in 2020
All-time low
6.12 kilograms per person
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka is 36.57 kilograms per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka peaked at 51.41 kilograms per person in 2020 and was at its lowest, 6.12 kilograms per person, in 1990.
Sri Lanka ranks 143rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.12 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 6.68 kilograms per person | +9.2% |
| 1992 | 7.77 kilograms per person | +16.3% |
| 1993 | 9.4 kilograms per person | +21.0% |
| 1994 | 10.42 kilograms per person | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 12.53 kilograms per person | +20.2% |
| 1996 | 13.96 kilograms per person | +11.5% |
| 1997 | 15.34 kilograms per person | +9.9% |
| 1998 | 17.21 kilograms per person | +12.1% |
| 1999 | 20.59 kilograms per person | +19.6% |
| 2000 | 18.14 kilograms per person | -11.9% |
| 2001 | 16.84 kilograms per person | -7.2% |
| 2002 | 19.19 kilograms per person | +14.0% |
| 2003 | 19.55 kilograms per person | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 17.92 kilograms per person | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 19.79 kilograms per person | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 19.65 kilograms per person | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 20.5 kilograms per person | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 20.84 kilograms per person | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 17.83 kilograms per person | -14.5% |
| 2010 | 21.55 kilograms per person | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 23.32 kilograms per person | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 25.51 kilograms per person | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 26.22 kilograms per person | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 25.53 kilograms per person | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 30.37 kilograms per person | +19.0% |
| 2016 | 36.51 kilograms per person | +20.2% |
| 2017 | 43.01 kilograms per person | +17.8% |
| 2018 | 46.29 kilograms per person | +7.6% |
| 2019 | 47.3 kilograms per person | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 51.41 kilograms per person | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 48.46 kilograms per person | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 38.1 kilograms per person | -21.4% |
| 2023 | 36.57 kilograms per person | -4.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 36.57 kilograms per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 167.33 kilograms per person, 22% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 36.57 kilograms per person is below the median for South Asia, which is 54.82 kilograms per person, 67% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12 kilograms per person | 6.12 kilograms per person | 20.59 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.02 kilograms per person | 16.84 kilograms per person | 20.84 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.56 kilograms per person | 21.55 kilograms per person | 47.3 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.63 kilograms per person | 36.57 kilograms per person | 51.41 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Sri Lanka was 36.57 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 51.41 kilograms per person in 2020.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.12 kilograms per person in 1990.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for per capita co₂ emissions by sector?
- Sri Lanka ranks 143rd out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by sector rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita CO₂ 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 kilograms per person.