Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions was 1.43 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.43 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
162nd
of 215 countries
All-time high
1.48 million tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
95,264 tonnes
in 1951
Years of data
75
1950–2024
Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone, 1950–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone is 1.43 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.48 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 95,264 tonnes, in 1951.
That places Sierra Leone 162nd out of 215 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.
Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 157,552 tonnes | — |
| 1951 | 95,264 tonnes | -39.5% |
| 1952 | 179,536 tonnes | +88.5% |
| 1953 | 168,544 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1954 | 124,576 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 1955 | 183,200 tonnes | +47.1% |
| 1956 | 179,536 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1957 | 388,384 tonnes | +116.3% |
| 1958 | 208,848 tonnes | -46.2% |
| 1959 | 234,496 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1960 | 714,480 tonnes | +204.7% |
| 1961 | 289,456 tonnes | -59.5% |
| 1962 | 326,096 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1963 | 370,064 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1964 | 304,112 tonnes | -17.8% |
| 1965 | 282,128 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1966 | 300,448 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1967 | 252,816 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1968 | 362,736 tonnes | +43.5% |
| 1969 | 1.08 million tonnes | +199.0% |
| 1970 | 857,376 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 1971 | 802,416 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 677,840 tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1973 | 538,608 tonnes | -20.5% |
| 1974 | 520,288 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 523,952 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 450,672 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 1977 | 512,960 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1978 | 710,816 tonnes | +38.6% |
| 1979 | 677,840 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 608,224 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1981 | 692,496 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1982 | 553,264 tonnes | -20.1% |
| 1983 | 688,832 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 1984 | 615,552 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1985 | 663,184 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 674,176 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 498,304 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 1988 | 458,000 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1989 | 373,728 tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1990 | 498,304 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1991 | 556,928 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1992 | 282,128 tonnes | -49.3% |
| 1993 | 263,808 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 274,800 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 223,504 tonnes | -18.7% |
| 1996 | 230,832 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 205,184 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1998 | 219,840 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1999 | 175,872 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2000 | 271,136 tonnes | +54.2% |
| 2001 | 373,728 tonnes | +37.8% |
| 2002 | 501,968 tonnes | +34.3% |
| 2003 | 538,608 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 520,288 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 432,352 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 2006 | 575,248 tonnes | +33.1% |
| 2007 | 487,312 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2008 | 505,632 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 501,968 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 545,936 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2011 | 714,480 tonnes | +30.9% |
| 2012 | 831,728 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 2013 | 1.05 million tonnes | +26.4% |
| 2014 | 1.13 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 1.08 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 1.14 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 1.10 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 1.04 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 1.12 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 1.19 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 1.48 million tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2022 | 1.44 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 1.38 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2024 | 1.43 million tonnes | +3.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.43 million tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.17 million tonnes, 45% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.43 million tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.96 million tonnes, 29% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +204.7% | 234,496 tonnes | 714,480 tonnes |
| 1969 | +199.0% | 362,736 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes |
| 1957 | +116.3% | 179,536 tonnes | 388,384 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 191,994 tonnes | 95,264 tonnes | 388,384 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 428,688 tonnes | 252,816 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 627,277 tonnes | 450,672 tonnes | 857,376 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 582,576 tonnes | 373,728 tonnes | 692,496 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 293,120 tonnes | 175,872 tonnes | 556,928 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 470,824 tonnes | 271,136 tonnes | 575,248 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 974,583 tonnes | 545,936 tonnes | 1.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.39 million tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 1.48 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 3.65 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 538.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,431 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 201.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.761 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone?
- Territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions in Sierra Leone was 1.43 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.48 million tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 95,264 tonnes in 1951.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions?
- Sierra Leone ranks 162nd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is territorial and consumption-based co₂ emissions rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Territorial and consumption-based CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 75 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.