Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho
Lesotho: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
153rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
5.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1939
All-time low
0.8744 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho, 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
The most recent figure for per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho is 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and up 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho peaked at 5.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1939 and was at its lowest, 0.8744 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1850.
Lesotho ranks 153rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 0.8744 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 0.9388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 1852 | 0.9876 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 1853 | 1.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1854 | 1.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1855 | 1.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1856 | 1.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1857 | 1.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 1.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 1.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 1.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1861 | 1.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1862 | 1.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1863 | 1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1864 | 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1865 | 1.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 1.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1870 | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1871 | 1.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1872 | 1.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1873 | 1.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.0% |
| 1874 | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1875 | 1.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1876 | 1.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1877 | 1.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1878 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1879 | 1.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1880 | 1.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1881 | 1.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1882 | 1.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1883 | 1.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1884 | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1885 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1890 | 1.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1891 | 1.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1892 | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1893 | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1895 | 1.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 1.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1897 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1899 | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1900 | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 1901 | 2.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.7% |
| 1902 | 2.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1903 | 2.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1904 | 2.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 1905 | 2.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.3% |
| 1906 | 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1907 | 2.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.5% |
| 1908 | 2.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1909 | 2.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.8% |
| 1910 | 2.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.1% |
| 1911 | 2.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1912 | 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1913 | 2.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1914 | 2.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1915 | 2.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1916 | 2.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1917 | 3.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1918 | 3.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1919 | 2.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1920 | 3.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.5% |
| 1921 | 3.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.9% |
| 1922 | 3.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1923 | 3.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1924 | 3.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1925 | 3.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 3.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1927 | 3.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1928 | 3.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1929 | 3.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 4.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.5% |
| 1931 | 4.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +11.7% |
| 1932 | 5.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.6% |
| 1933 | 5.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.8% |
| 1934 | 5.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.1% |
| 1935 | 5.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1936 | 5.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1937 | 5.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1938 | 5.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1939 | 5.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1940 | 5.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.7% |
| 1941 | 4.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.7% |
| 1942 | 4.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1943 | 4.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1944 | 4.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.7% |
| 1945 | 4.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1946 | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1947 | 4.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1948 | 4.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1949 | 4.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1950 | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.8% |
| 1951 | 4.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.8% |
| 1952 | 4.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 4.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1954 | 4.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1955 | 4.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 4.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1957 | 4.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1958 | 4.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 1959 | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1960 | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1961 | 3.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -20.6% |
| 1962 | 2.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.0% |
| 1963 | 2.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.1% |
| 1964 | 2.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -18.2% |
| 1965 | 2.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.1% |
| 1967 | 2.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +22.9% |
| 1968 | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -11.3% |
| 1969 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +11.6% |
| 1970 | 2.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.0% |
| 1972 | 2.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.4% |
| 1974 | 2.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +26.5% |
| 1975 | 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -13.4% |
| 1976 | 1.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -32.3% |
| 1977 | 1.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -20.9% |
| 1978 | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +30.5% |
| 1979 | 1.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.1% |
| 1980 | 1.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 1.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.9% |
| 1983 | 1.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +20.5% |
| 1984 | 1.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1985 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.0% |
| 1986 | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +51.8% |
| 1987 | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 1.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -21.3% |
| 1989 | 1.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +37.9% |
| 1991 | 2.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +11.3% |
| 1992 | 2.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.4% |
| 1993 | 2.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 2.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 2.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 2.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 2.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 2.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 2.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 2.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -13.4% |
| 2002 | 2.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +22.2% |
| 2003 | 3.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +20.5% |
| 2004 | 2.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -13.4% |
| 2006 | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +36.5% |
| 2007 | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 2.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.2% |
| 2009 | 2.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 2.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 2.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.7% |
| 2013 | 2.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +18.8% |
| 2014 | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -24.0% |
| 2015 | 3.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +111.7% |
| 2016 | 4.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 4.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 3.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -24.8% |
| 2019 | 2.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 2.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 3.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +18.0% |
| 2022 | 2.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.2% |
| 2023 | 2.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
| 2024 | 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 91% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +111.7% | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1986 | +51.8% | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1990 | +37.9% | 1.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 2006 | +36.5% | 2.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1976 | -32.3% | 2.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1978 | +30.5% | 1.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.8744 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 2.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 3.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 5.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.02 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 150 Mali 2.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 151 Morocco 2.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 152 Sudan 2.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 154 Philippines 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 155 Tonga 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 156 Burkina Faso 2.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho was 2.64 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 5.79 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1939.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8744 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850.
- How does Lesotho rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Lesotho ranks 153rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lesotho 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
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.