Greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Greenhouse gas emissions was 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
109th
of 199 countries
All-time high
39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan stood at 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan peaked at 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Afghanistan 109th out of 199 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 175 years of available data.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 7.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1852 | 7.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 7.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 7.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 7.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 7.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 7.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 8.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 8.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 8.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1861 | 8.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 8.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1863 | 8.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 8.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1866 | 8.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 8.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 8.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1869 | 8.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 8.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1871 | 9.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1872 | 9.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1873 | 9.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1874 | 9.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1875 | 9.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1876 | 9.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1877 | 9.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 9.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1879 | 10.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 10.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1881 | 10.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1882 | 10.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1883 | 10.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1884 | 11.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1885 | 11.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 11.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 11.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1888 | 11.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 11.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 11.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1891 | 11.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1892 | 12.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 12.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 12.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1895 | 12.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 12.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 12.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1898 | 12.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1899 | 12.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1900 | 12.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1901 | 13.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1902 | 13.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 13.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1904 | 13.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1905 | 13.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1906 | 13.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1907 | 13.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1908 | 14.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 14.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 14.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1911 | 14.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1912 | 14.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1913 | 14.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1914 | 14.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1915 | 14.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1916 | 14.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1917 | 14.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1918 | 14.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1919 | 14.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1920 | 14.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1921 | 14.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1922 | 14.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1923 | 14.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 14.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1925 | 14.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1926 | 14.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1927 | 14.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1928 | 15.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1929 | 15.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1930 | 15.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1931 | 15.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1932 | 15.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 15.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 15.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1935 | 15.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 15.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1937 | 16.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1938 | 16.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1939 | 16.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1940 | 16.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1941 | 16.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1942 | 17.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1943 | 17.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1944 | 17.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1945 | 17.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1946 | 18.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1947 | 18.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1948 | 18.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1949 | 18.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1950 | 19.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1951 | 21.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1952 | 22.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 23.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 24.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1955 | 25.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1956 | 26.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1957 | 28.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1958 | 29.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1959 | 30.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 30.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1961 | 27.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.4% |
| 1962 | 26.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1963 | 26.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1964 | 24.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 1965 | 25.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1966 | 24.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 23.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1968 | 23.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 22.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1970 | 23.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1971 | 22.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 19.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.2% |
| 1973 | 19.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 20.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 20.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 20.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 20.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 19.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 19.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 18.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1981 | 19.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 18.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 18.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 17.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1985 | 16.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 14.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.3% |
| 1987 | 14.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 14.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 14.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 13.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1991 | 13.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 11.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.8% |
| 1993 | 10.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.4% |
| 1994 | 10.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 12.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1996 | 14.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.6% |
| 1997 | 18.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.6% |
| 1998 | 16.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 18.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 2000 | 16.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.7% |
| 2001 | 14.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 20.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +34.5% |
| 2003 | 20.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 18.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 19.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 19.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 20.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 23.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.9% |
| 2009 | 25.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 29.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 32.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.5% |
| 2012 | 30.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 30.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 30.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 30.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 29.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 33.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 33.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 36.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 35.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 33.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 36.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 2023 | 38.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for low income countries, which is 52.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 77% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 98.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 41% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +34.5% | 14.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 20.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 7.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 9.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 11.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 12.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 13.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 14.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 14.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 15.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 17.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 25.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 16.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 36.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 106 Benin 40.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 107 Bulgaria 40.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 108 Switzerland 40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 110 Cuba 39.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 111 Hong Kong 38.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 112 Nicaragua 38.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Afghanistan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 79.22 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23,854 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,965 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 17,889 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 22.51 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 638.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,345 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,090 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,255 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.11 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Afghanistan was 39.89 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 greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Afghanistan rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Afghanistan ranks 109th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of 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 of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.