Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 6.6%
World rank
92nd
of 198 countries
All-time high
28.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2016
All-time low
422,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1851
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sri Lanka, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.6% on the previous year and up 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sri Lanka peaked at 28.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2016 and was at its lowest, 422,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1851.
That places Sri Lanka 92nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 440,019 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 422,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1852 | 427,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1853 | 433,399 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1854 | 439,033 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1855 | 443,810 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1856 | 448,571 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1857 | 453,302 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 459,522 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1859 | 465,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1860 | 471,975 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1861 | 478,235 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1862 | 484,224 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1863 | 490,245 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1864 | 496,299 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1865 | 501,181 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1866 | 506,083 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 510,991 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1868 | 523,338 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1869 | 536,488 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1870 | 550,523 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1871 | 551,395 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1872 | 552,230 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 553,353 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1874 | 554,740 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 556,294 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1876 | 557,940 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 559,519 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1878 | 560,972 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 562,162 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1880 | 562,992 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 568,112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1882 | 573,410 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 578,857 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 584,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1885 | 589,479 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 594,675 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 599,986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 605,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1889 | 612,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1890 | 619,738 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 630,434 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 641,378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 651,919 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1894 | 662,742 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 672,931 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1896 | 684,319 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1897 | 695,451 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1898 | 706,974 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 718,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1900 | 728,476 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1901 | 742,885 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1902 | 754,483 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1903 | 767,950 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 781,212 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1905 | 797,307 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1906 | 810,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1907 | 821,386 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 833,706 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 846,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 859,406 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1911 | 873,541 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1912 | 885,245 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1913 | 896,893 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1914 | 908,493 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1915 | 921,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1916 | 934,666 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1917 | 947,843 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1918 | 961,006 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1919 | 974,202 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1920 | 987,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 1.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1922 | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1923 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1924 | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1925 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1926 | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1927 | 1.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1928 | 1.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1929 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1931 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1932 | 1.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1933 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1934 | 1.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1935 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 1.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1937 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1938 | 1.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1939 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1940 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1942 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1943 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1944 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1945 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1946 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1947 | 1.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1948 | 1.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1949 | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1950 | 3.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +110.1% |
| 1951 | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1952 | 4.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.9% |
| 1953 | 4.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1954 | 4.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 1955 | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1956 | 3.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1957 | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.0% |
| 1958 | 4.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1959 | 4.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 4.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1961 | 4.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 5.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 5.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 5.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1965 | 5.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1966 | 5.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 5.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1968 | 6.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1969 | 7.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.3% |
| 1970 | 6.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.7% |
| 1971 | 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1972 | 6.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 7.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 6.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.0% |
| 1975 | 6.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 6.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 6.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 7.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1979 | 7.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1980 | 7.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 8.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 8.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 9.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.7% |
| 1985 | 8.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 8.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1987 | 8.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 8.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.1% |
| 1989 | 8.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 8.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 9.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.7% |
| 1993 | 9.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 10.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 10.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 12.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 1997 | 12.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 12.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 13.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 15.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 2001 | 15.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 16.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 16.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 17.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 17.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 17.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 17.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 17.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 18.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 18.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 20.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 21.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 20.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 23.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.0% |
| 2015 | 25.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 28.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 28.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 26.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 27.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 26.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 27.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 24.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 25.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 93% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for South Asia, which is 26.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +110.1% | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1957 | +29.0% | 3.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 443,331 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 422,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 465,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 499,906 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 471,975 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 536,488 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 555,913 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 550,523 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 562,162 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 586,973 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 562,992 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 612,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 668,389 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 619,738 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 718,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 788,436 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 728,476 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 846,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 916,288 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 859,406 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 974,202 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 987,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 27.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 89 Cuba 30.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 90 Jordan 29.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 91 Laos 28.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 93 Mozambique 27.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 94 Uganda 26.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 95 Nepal 26.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Sri Lanka
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 327.09 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,418 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 618.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,800 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,168 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,071 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,097 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sri Lanka?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Sri Lanka was 27.31 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 28.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2016.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 422,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1851.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- Sri Lanka ranks 92nd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.