Greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium
Belgium: Greenhouse gas emissions was 107.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
107.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
55th
of 199 countries
All-time high
168.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1973
All-time low
21.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium, 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 Belgium stood at 107.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium peaked at 168.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1973 and was at its lowest, 21.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Belgium ranks 55th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Belgium, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 21.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 22.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1852 | 23.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1853 | 24.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1854 | 25.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1855 | 25.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1856 | 26.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1857 | 26.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1858 | 27.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 27.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1860 | 28.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1861 | 29.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1862 | 29.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1863 | 29.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1864 | 30.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1865 | 31.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1866 | 32.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1867 | 35.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1868 | 33.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.1% |
| 1869 | 34.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1870 | 38.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.3% |
| 1871 | 37.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1872 | 39.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1873 | 42.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1874 | 40.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1875 | 41.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1876 | 41.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1877 | 40.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1878 | 42.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1879 | 42.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 46.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1881 | 46.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1882 | 48.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1883 | 50.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1884 | 50.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1885 | 48.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1886 | 47.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1887 | 50.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1888 | 52.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1889 | 53.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1890 | 57.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1891 | 55.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1892 | 54.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1893 | 53.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1894 | 57.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1895 | 57.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1896 | 59.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1897 | 61.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1898 | 62.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 63.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1900 | 68.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1901 | 64.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1902 | 66.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1903 | 70.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1904 | 68.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1905 | 68.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1906 | 75.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1907 | 76.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1908 | 75.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1909 | 75.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 77.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1911 | 79.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1912 | 81.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1913 | 84.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1914 | 55.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -34.5% |
| 1915 | 48.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.2% |
| 1916 | 60.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.6% |
| 1917 | 49.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.4% |
| 1918 | 47.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1919 | 58.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.9% |
| 1920 | 69.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.5% |
| 1921 | 65.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 1922 | 71.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1923 | 87.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.9% |
| 1924 | 91.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1925 | 93.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 93.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1927 | 106.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.5% |
| 1928 | 104.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1929 | 114.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1930 | 110.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1931 | 100.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.3% |
| 1932 | 82.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.1% |
| 1933 | 88.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1934 | 90.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1935 | 86.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1936 | 90.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1937 | 106.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.6% |
| 1938 | 95.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.7% |
| 1939 | 89.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1940 | 76.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.7% |
| 1941 | 80.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1942 | 75.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1943 | 72.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1944 | 46.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -35.6% |
| 1945 | 53.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1946 | 72.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +36.1% |
| 1947 | 99.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.9% |
| 1948 | 103.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1949 | 99.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1950 | 94.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1951 | 108.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.1% |
| 1952 | 102.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 1953 | 102.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1954 | 106.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 113.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1956 | 119.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 119.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 109.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.8% |
| 1959 | 111.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 114.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1961 | 117.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 123.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1963 | 132.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1964 | 129.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 131.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 132.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 135.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 147.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1969 | 152.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 153.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 150.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 159.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 168.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 165.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1975 | 150.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.3% |
| 1976 | 158.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 155.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 164.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 167.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 162.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1981 | 151.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 1982 | 144.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1983 | 129.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.5% |
| 1984 | 134.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 133.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 131.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 130.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 126.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 133.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 145.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1991 | 151.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 148.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1993 | 149.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 151.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 152.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 156.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 150.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1998 | 156.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 152.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 152.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 150.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 151.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 151.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 153.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 148.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 146.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 143.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 142.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 129.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 2010 | 137.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 127.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 125.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 125.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 120.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 125.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 122.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 122.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 123.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 123.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 114.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 118.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 111.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 107.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 107.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 107.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 107.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | -35.6% | 72.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 46.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1947 | +37.9% | 72.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 99.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1914 | -34.5% | 84.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1946 | +36.1% | 53.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 72.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 25.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 27.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 31.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 40.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 37.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 42.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 49.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 46.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 53.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 58.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 53.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 63.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 70.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 64.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 76.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 64.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 47.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 84.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 89.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 65.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 114.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 94.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 82.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 110.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 77.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 46.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 103.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 108.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 94.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 119.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 131.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 114.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 152.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 159.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 150.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 168.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 137.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 126.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 162.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 151.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 145.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 156.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 147.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 129.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 153.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 125.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 120.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 137.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 111.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 107.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 118.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 52 Chad 125.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 53 Turkmenistan 118.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 54 Oman 117.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 56 Chile 104.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 57 Morocco 101.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 58 Kenya 99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Belgium
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 143.51 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 8,360 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,597 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.65 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 235.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,004 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 993.72 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 10.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.75 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium was 107.95 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 168.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1973.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Belgium rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Belgium ranks 55th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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.