Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria
Nigeria: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
177th
of 199 countries
All-time high
5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1994
All-time low
0.3383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria, 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
Nigeria recorded 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person for per capita greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria peaked at 5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.3383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1850.
That places Nigeria 177th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 0.3383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 0.4624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +36.7% |
| 1852 | 0.5217 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.8% |
| 1853 | 0.5649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.3% |
| 1854 | 0.6019 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 1855 | 0.6358 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.6% |
| 1856 | 0.6631 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1857 | 0.6904 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1858 | 0.7162 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1859 | 0.7481 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.5% |
| 1860 | 0.7846 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.9% |
| 1861 | 0.8118 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1862 | 0.8349 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1863 | 0.8477 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1864 | 0.8651 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1865 | 0.8727 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1866 | 0.8983 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1867 | 0.8944 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1868 | 0.9031 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1869 | 0.9039 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 0.974 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.8% |
| 1871 | 1.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1872 | 1.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1873 | 1.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1874 | 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1875 | 1.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 1.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1877 | 1.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 1.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1879 | 1.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.2% |
| 1881 | 1.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 1.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1883 | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1891 | 1.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1892 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1893 | 1.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1895 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1896 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1897 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.0% |
| 1898 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1899 | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1900 | 1.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +16.7% |
| 1901 | 1.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.4% |
| 1902 | 1.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.9% |
| 1903 | 1.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 1.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1905 | 1.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1906 | 1.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1907 | 1.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1908 | 1.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1909 | 1.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1910 | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.8% |
| 1911 | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1912 | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1913 | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1914 | 1.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1915 | 1.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1916 | 1.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 1917 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 1918 | 1.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1919 | 1.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1920 | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +22.0% |
| 1921 | 2.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.0% |
| 1922 | 2.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1923 | 2.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1924 | 2.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1925 | 2.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.9% |
| 1926 | 3.04 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 3.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 3.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 3.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1930 | 3.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1931 | 3.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 3.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1933 | 3.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.6% |
| 1934 | 3.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 1935 | 3.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1936 | 3.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1937 | 3.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 1938 | 3.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1939 | 3.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 3.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.5% |
| 1941 | 3.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.8% |
| 1942 | 3.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1943 | 3.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.9% |
| 1944 | 3.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1945 | 3.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1946 | 3.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1947 | 3.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1948 | 4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1949 | 3.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.2% |
| 1950 | 3.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.3% |
| 1951 | 3.56 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 1952 | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1953 | 3.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.5% |
| 1954 | 3.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 3.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.7% |
| 1956 | 3.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1957 | 3.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 4.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 4.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 4.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 3.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.3% |
| 1962 | 3.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.6% |
| 1963 | 3.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1964 | 3.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 4.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.5% |
| 1966 | 4.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 4.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.8% |
| 1968 | 3.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -24.3% |
| 1969 | 3.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 4.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +16.1% |
| 1971 | 4.47 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 4.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 5.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 5.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 4.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -17.3% |
| 1976 | 4.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 4.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1978 | 4.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 4.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +14.1% |
| 1980 | 4.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.9% |
| 1981 | 3.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -17.7% |
| 1982 | 3.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
| 1983 | 3.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 3.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 3.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 3.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1987 | 3.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.8% |
| 1988 | 3.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 3.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 3.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.3% |
| 1991 | 4.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 4.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 4.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +24.2% |
| 1995 | 5.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 5.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 4.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 4.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 4.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -12.0% |
| 2000 | 4.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 4.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.7% |
| 2002 | 3.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.9% |
| 2003 | 3.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 3.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 3.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 2.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 2.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.7% |
| 2008 | 2.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 2.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -24.4% |
| 2010 | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 2.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 2.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.2% |
| 2013 | 1.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 1.9 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 1.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 1.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 1.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 1.65 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, 57% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | +36.7% | 0.3383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.4624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 0.5943 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.3383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7481 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.8616 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.7846 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.9039 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 0.974 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.29 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.27 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 3.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 2.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 174 Djibouti 1.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 175 Kenya 1.76 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 176 Mozambique 1.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 178 Macao 1.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 179 Cape Verde 1.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 180 Syria 1.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
More climate change data for Nigeria
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 608.40 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 66,810 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 24,814 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 41,996 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 93.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,500 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 22,614 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,292 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15,322 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 27.52 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria was 1.65 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 5.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1994.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3383 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1850.
- How does Nigeria rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Nigeria ranks 177th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.