Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
151st
of 198 countries
All-time high
4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2022
All-time low
162,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sierra Leone, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2022 and was at its lowest, 162,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Sierra Leone 151st out of 198 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.
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 162,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 163,046 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1852 | 163,380 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1853 | 163,709 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1854 | 164,033 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1855 | 164,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1856 | 164,659 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1857 | 164,958 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1858 | 165,245 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1859 | 165,520 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1860 | 165,780 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1861 | 166,207 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1862 | 166,631 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1863 | 167,053 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1864 | 167,473 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 167,894 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 168,314 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 168,735 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 169,158 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 169,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 170,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 170,518 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 171,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 171,927 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 172,754 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1875 | 173,622 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1876 | 174,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1877 | 175,358 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1878 | 176,165 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1879 | 176,891 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 177,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 178,049 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1882 | 178,569 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1883 | 179,076 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1884 | 179,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 180,066 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 180,555 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1887 | 181,044 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1888 | 181,536 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1889 | 182,035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 183,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 184,085 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 184,937 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 185,846 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 186,823 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 187,881 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 189,039 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1897 | 190,319 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1898 | 200,113 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1899 | 213,351 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1900 | 230,325 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1901 | 253,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1902 | 270,587 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1903 | 276,016 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1904 | 281,631 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1905 | 287,418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1906 | 293,361 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1907 | 299,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1908 | 305,657 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1909 | 311,980 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1910 | 318,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1911 | 319,379 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1912 | 324,437 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 331,039 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1914 | 337,680 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 344,368 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1916 | 351,109 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1917 | 357,912 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 364,783 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1919 | 371,730 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1920 | 378,760 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1921 | 387,451 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1922 | 396,881 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1923 | 406,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1924 | 416,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1925 | 426,158 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1926 | 436,278 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 446,622 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1928 | 457,175 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1929 | 467,946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1930 | 478,945 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1931 | 490,850 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1932 | 503,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1933 | 515,931 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1934 | 528,934 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1935 | 542,246 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1936 | 555,847 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1937 | 569,791 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1938 | 584,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1939 | 598,358 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1940 | 606,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 617,100 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1942 | 627,763 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 638,730 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1944 | 649,971 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 657,943 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1946 | 665,641 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1947 | 673,125 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1948 | 699,092 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1949 | 711,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 896,075 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.9% |
| 1951 | 845,160 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1952 | 941,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 1953 | 942,429 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 910,676 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 981,585 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 1956 | 990,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.4% |
| 1958 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.0% |
| 1959 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1960 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +45.7% |
| 1961 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.7% |
| 1962 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1965 | 1.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1968 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +57.6% |
| 1970 | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 1971 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1972 | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.1% |
| 1973 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 1.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1978 | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.6% |
| 1979 | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1981 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.4% |
| 1983 | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1984 | 1.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1985 | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 1988 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1990 | 2.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.7% |
| 1991 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.0% |
| 1993 | 1.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 1.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 2.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 2.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 2000 | 2.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 2001 | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 2.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 2.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 3.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 3.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 3.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 3.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 3.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 3.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 3.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 3.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 4.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 4.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for low income countries, which is 10.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 42% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 42% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | +57.6% | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1960 | +45.7% | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1990 | +37.7% | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1961 | -26.7% | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1950 | +25.9% | 711,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 896,075 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 164,161 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 162,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 165,520 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 167,683 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 165,780 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 169,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 173,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 170,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 176,891 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 179,801 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 177,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 182,035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 190,576 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 183,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 213,351 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 281,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 230,325 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 311,980 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 342,084 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 318,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 371,730 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 421,996 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 378,760 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 467,946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 536,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 478,945 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 598,358 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 654,799 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 606,768 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 711,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 984,074 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 845,160 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 148 Rwanda 5.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 149 Mauritius 5.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 150 Namibia 5.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 152 Burundi 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 153 Iceland 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 154 Suriname 3.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
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 total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sierra Leone?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sierra Leone was 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2022.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 162,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- Sierra Leone ranks 151st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry. 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 of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.