Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
74th
of 199 countries
All-time high
29.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1960
All-time low
-2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1916
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
In 2024, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.7% on the previous year and down 37.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 29.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1960 and was at its lowest, -2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1916.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 74th of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 2.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -31.8% |
| 1852 | 1.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.8% |
| 1853 | 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.1% |
| 1854 | 1.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.6% |
| 1855 | 1.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.8% |
| 1856 | 1.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.2% |
| 1857 | 1.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1858 | 1.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.4% |
| 1859 | 1.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1860 | 2.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +96.4% |
| 1861 | 3.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +41.3% |
| 1862 | 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.0% |
| 1863 | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.2% |
| 1864 | 4.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.5% |
| 1865 | 5.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1866 | 5.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1867 | 5.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.3% |
| 1868 | 5.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1869 | 5.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1870 | 6.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.7% |
| 1871 | 6.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.7% |
| 1872 | 6.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1873 | 7.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.5% |
| 1874 | 7.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.5% |
| 1875 | 7.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1876 | 7.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.4% |
| 1877 | 8.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1878 | 7.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.7% |
| 1879 | 7.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1880 | 6.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -14.2% |
| 1881 | 5.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.9% |
| 1882 | 5.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 1883 | 5.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1884 | 4.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.7% |
| 1885 | 4.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 4.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1887 | 4.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.9% |
| 1888 | 4.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1889 | 4.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1890 | 2.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -36.3% |
| 1891 | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -26.9% |
| 1892 | 1.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -28.1% |
| 1893 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.7% |
| 1894 | 0.9741 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -23.3% |
| 1895 | 0.7493 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -23.1% |
| 1896 | 0.4732 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -36.9% |
| 1897 | 0.2782 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -41.2% |
| 1898 | 0.0439 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -84.2% |
| 1899 | -0.1067 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -343.2% |
| 1900 | -0.2874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +169.5% |
| 1901 | -0.5158 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +79.5% |
| 1902 | -0.7729 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +49.8% |
| 1903 | -0.9752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +26.2% |
| 1904 | -1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +21.8% |
| 1905 | -1.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +18.0% |
| 1906 | -1.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.6% |
| 1907 | -1.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.8% |
| 1908 | -1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.7% |
| 1909 | -2.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.0% |
| 1910 | -2.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1911 | -2.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1912 | -2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 1913 | -2.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1914 | -2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1915 | -2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1916 | -2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1917 | -2.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1918 | -2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.3% |
| 1919 | -2.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.6% |
| 1920 | 1.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -161.0% |
| 1921 | 2.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +99.0% |
| 1922 | 4.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +46.6% |
| 1923 | 4.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +15.1% |
| 1924 | 5.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.8% |
| 1925 | 5.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.5% |
| 1926 | 6.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 1927 | 6.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.8% |
| 1928 | 6.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.5% |
| 1929 | 7.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.4% |
| 1930 | 7.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.9% |
| 1931 | 7.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1932 | 8.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 8.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1934 | 8.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1935 | 8.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1936 | 8.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1937 | 8.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1938 | 8.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1939 | 9.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1940 | 10.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +18.5% |
| 1941 | 11.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.3% |
| 1942 | 11.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1943 | 12.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1944 | 12.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 12.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1946 | 13.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.1% |
| 1947 | 13.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 13.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 13.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1950 | 15.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.7% |
| 1951 | 16.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.7% |
| 1952 | 17.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 17.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 19.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.0% |
| 1955 | 19.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.4% |
| 1956 | 20.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 21.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 1958 | 22.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 21.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 29.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +34.9% |
| 1961 | 19.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -33.3% |
| 1962 | 15.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -22.7% |
| 1963 | 11.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -24.7% |
| 1964 | 9.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.7% |
| 1965 | 8.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.0% |
| 1966 | 7.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.2% |
| 1967 | 7.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.0% |
| 1968 | 7.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1969 | 7.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1970 | 7.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 6.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.1% |
| 1972 | 5.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 5.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1974 | 5.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.4% |
| 1975 | 5.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 5.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 5.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 5.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 5.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.3% |
| 1980 | 5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1981 | 5.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.8% |
| 1982 | 5.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 5.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 4.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1985 | 4.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 4.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.7% |
| 1987 | 4.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.7% |
| 1989 | 4.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 4.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.9% |
| 1991 | 4.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 4.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.6% |
| 1993 | 4.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +15.4% |
| 1994 | 4.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 4.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 4.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 5.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +17.1% |
| 1998 | 5.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 5.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 5.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 4.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -14.6% |
| 2002 | 4.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 4.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 3.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.2% |
| 2005 | 3.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 3.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 7.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +94.9% |
| 2009 | 10.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +42.6% |
| 2010 | 11.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.1% |
| 2011 | 12.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 11.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 11.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 9.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.0% |
| 2015 | 8.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.3% |
| 2016 | 8.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 8.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 6.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.1% |
| 2020 | 6.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 7.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +20.1% |
| 2022 | 7.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 6.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 3.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 2.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | -343.2% | 0.0439 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1067 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1900 | -169.5% | -0.1067 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1920 | +161.0% | -2.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1921 | +99.0% | 1.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1860 | +96.4% | 1.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 2008 | +94.9% | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 7.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 8.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1067 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | -1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | -2.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 5.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 8.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 9.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 12.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 13.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 19.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 15.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 22.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 29.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 71 Thailand 6.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 72 Serbia 6.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 73 Saint Kitts and Nevis 6.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 75 Chad 6.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 76 Equatorial Guinea 6.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 77 Italy 6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4511 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 28.16 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Democratic Republic of Congo was 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 29.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1960.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1916.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 74th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita greenhouse gas emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.