Share of global nitrous oxide emissions in United States
United States: Share of global nitrous oxide emissions was 8.2% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
8.2%
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
3rd
of 201 countries
All-time high
22.2%
in 1870
All-time low
8.2%
in 2024
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Share of global nitrous oxide emissions in United States, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 8.2% for share of global nitrous oxide emissions in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global nitrous oxide emissions in United States peaked at 22.2% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2024.
United States ranks 3rd of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 175 years of available data.
Share of global nitrous oxide emissions in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 22.1% | — |
| 1851 | 22.1% | -0.1% |
| 1852 | 22.1% | -0.1% |
| 1853 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 1854 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 1855 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 1856 | 22.0% | -0.1% |
| 1857 | 22.0% | -0.0% |
| 1858 | 22.0% | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 22.0% | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 22.0% | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 22.0% | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 22.0% | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 22.1% | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 22.2% | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 22.2% | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 22.2% | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 22.2% | -0.1% |
| 1872 | 22.1% | -0.4% |
| 1873 | 22.0% | -0.6% |
| 1874 | 21.8% | -0.7% |
| 1875 | 21.7% | -0.7% |
| 1876 | 21.5% | -0.6% |
| 1877 | 21.4% | -0.5% |
| 1878 | 21.3% | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 21.3% | -0.3% |
| 1880 | 21.2% | -0.1% |
| 1881 | 21.2% | -0.0% |
| 1882 | 21.2% | -0.0% |
| 1883 | 21.2% | -0.0% |
| 1884 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 21.3% | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 1892 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 1893 | 21.1% | -0.3% |
| 1894 | 21.0% | -0.3% |
| 1895 | 21.0% | -0.2% |
| 1896 | 21.0% | -0.2% |
| 1897 | 20.9% | -0.1% |
| 1898 | 20.9% | -0.1% |
| 1899 | 20.9% | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 21.0% | +0.1% |
| 1901 | 21.0% | +0.1% |
| 1902 | 21.0% | +0.1% |
| 1903 | 21.0% | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 21.0% | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 21.0% | -0.0% |
| 1906 | 21.0% | -0.0% |
| 1907 | 21.0% | -0.1% |
| 1908 | 21.0% | -0.1% |
| 1909 | 21.0% | -0.1% |
| 1910 | 20.9% | -0.0% |
| 1911 | 20.9% | -0.1% |
| 1912 | 20.9% | -0.3% |
| 1913 | 20.8% | -0.4% |
| 1914 | 20.7% | -0.5% |
| 1915 | 20.5% | -0.6% |
| 1916 | 20.4% | -0.7% |
| 1917 | 20.2% | -0.8% |
| 1918 | 20.1% | -0.8% |
| 1919 | 19.9% | -0.8% |
| 1920 | 19.7% | -0.9% |
| 1921 | 19.5% | -1.1% |
| 1922 | 19.2% | -1.4% |
| 1923 | 18.9% | -1.6% |
| 1924 | 18.6% | -1.7% |
| 1925 | 18.3% | -1.8% |
| 1926 | 18.0% | -1.7% |
| 1927 | 17.7% | -1.6% |
| 1928 | 17.4% | -1.3% |
| 1929 | 17.3% | -1.0% |
| 1930 | 17.1% | -0.6% |
| 1931 | 17.1% | -0.3% |
| 1932 | 17.1% | -0.0% |
| 1933 | 17.1% | +0.1% |
| 1934 | 17.2% | +0.3% |
| 1935 | 17.2% | +0.3% |
| 1936 | 17.3% | +0.4% |
| 1937 | 17.4% | +0.3% |
| 1938 | 17.4% | +0.3% |
| 1939 | 17.4% | +0.2% |
| 1940 | 17.4% | -0.0% |
| 1941 | 17.3% | -0.9% |
| 1942 | 16.9% | -2.0% |
| 1943 | 16.5% | -2.5% |
| 1944 | 16.1% | -2.6% |
| 1945 | 15.7% | -2.4% |
| 1946 | 15.4% | -2.1% |
| 1947 | 15.1% | -1.7% |
| 1948 | 14.9% | -1.3% |
| 1949 | 14.8% | -0.9% |
| 1950 | 14.7% | -0.5% |
| 1951 | 14.7% | -0.0% |
| 1952 | 14.8% | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 14.8% | +0.5% |
| 1954 | 14.9% | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 15.1% | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 15.2% | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 15.3% | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 15.4% | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 15.5% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 15.6% | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 15.5% | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 15.8% | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 16.1% | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 16.3% | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 16.5% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 16.6% | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 16.8% | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 16.7% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 16.7% | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 16.0% | -4.3% |
| 1971 | 16.3% | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 16.0% | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 16.1% | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 15.6% | -2.8% |
| 1975 | 15.3% | -2.5% |
| 1976 | 15.6% | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 15.0% | -3.8% |
| 1978 | 14.8% | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 14.3% | -3.5% |
| 1980 | 13.5% | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 13.7% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 12.6% | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 12.5% | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 12.6% | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 12.4% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 12.0% | -2.6% |
| 1987 | 11.7% | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 11.6% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 11.5% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 11.1% | -4.0% |
| 1991 | 10.9% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 11.2% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 11.4% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 11.7% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 11.4% | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 11.4% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 11.6% | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 11.4% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 11.2% | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 11.2% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 11.0% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 10.6% | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 10.4% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 10.2% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 9.9% | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 9.8% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 9.5% | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 9.2% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 9.1% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 8.8% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 8.9% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 8.7% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 8.4% | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 8.2% | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 8.2% | -0.9% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 8.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 93.7× the median. (67 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 22.0% | 22.0% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 1860s | 22.1% | 22.0% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 1870s | 21.7% | 21.3% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 1880s | 21.2% | 21.2% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 1890s | 21.0% | 20.9% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 1900s | 21.0% | 21.0% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 1910s | 20.5% | 19.9% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 1920s | 18.5% | 17.3% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 1930s | 17.2% | 17.1% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 1940s | 16.0% | 14.8% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 1950s | 15.0% | 14.7% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.3% | 15.5% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.5% | 14.3% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.4% | 11.5% | 13.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.3% | 10.9% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.5% | 9.8% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 8.7% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.3% | 8.2% | 8.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global nitrous oxide emissions in United States?
- Share of global nitrous oxide emissions in United States was 8.2% in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global nitrous oxide emissions recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 22.2% in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of global nitrous oxide emissions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2024.
- How does United States rank for share of global nitrous oxide emissions?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of global nitrous oxide 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
Measured as a percentage of the world's nitrous oxide emissions.