Greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Greenhouse gas emissions was 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
135th
of 199 countries
All-time high
60.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1972
All-time low
2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1857
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica is 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica peaked at 60.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1972 and was at its lowest, 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1857.
That places Costa Rica 135th out of 199 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.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.1% |
| 1852 | 2.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1853 | 2.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1854 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1855 | 2.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1856 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1857 | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1858 | 2.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1859 | 2.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1860 | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.9% |
| 1861 | 3.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1862 | 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1863 | 3.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1864 | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1865 | 3.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1866 | 3.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1867 | 3.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1868 | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1869 | 4.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1871 | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1872 | 4.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1873 | 4.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 4.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 4.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1876 | 4.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1877 | 4.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1878 | 4.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 4.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1880 | 4.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1881 | 5.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1882 | 4.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1883 | 4.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1884 | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1885 | 4.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1886 | 4.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 4.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 5.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1889 | 4.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1890 | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.0% |
| 1891 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1892 | 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1893 | 6.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1894 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1896 | 6.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1897 | 6.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 7.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1899 | 7.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1900 | 7.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1901 | 7.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1902 | 7.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1903 | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1904 | 8.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.7% |
| 1905 | 7.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1906 | 8.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1907 | 7.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.7% |
| 1908 | 7.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1909 | 8.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.6% |
| 1910 | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1911 | 9.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.7% |
| 1912 | 7.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.4% |
| 1913 | 8.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1914 | 8.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 1915 | 8.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1916 | 8.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1917 | 8.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1918 | 9.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1919 | 8.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.9% |
| 1920 | 8.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1921 | 7.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.5% |
| 1922 | 7.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1923 | 6.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 1924 | 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1925 | 7.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1926 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 1927 | 7.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.3% |
| 1928 | 7.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1929 | 7.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1930 | 9.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.2% |
| 1931 | 11.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.3% |
| 1932 | 15.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +31.8% |
| 1933 | 13.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.9% |
| 1934 | 14.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1935 | 17.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.2% |
| 1936 | 17.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1937 | 15.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.8% |
| 1938 | 19.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.2% |
| 1939 | 17.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.7% |
| 1940 | 22.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.3% |
| 1941 | 26.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.4% |
| 1942 | 26.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1943 | 27.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1944 | 26.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1945 | 24.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 1946 | 28.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 1947 | 26.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1948 | 25.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1949 | 27.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1950 | 27.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1951 | 25.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.7% |
| 1952 | 25.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1953 | 28.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 1954 | 30.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1955 | 32.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 32.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 34.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1958 | 35.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 42.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.7% |
| 1960 | 26.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -38.4% |
| 1961 | 24.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1962 | 21.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.9% |
| 1963 | 31.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +45.4% |
| 1964 | 35.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.8% |
| 1965 | 40.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.7% |
| 1966 | 25.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -37.4% |
| 1967 | 38.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +51.4% |
| 1968 | 40.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1969 | 41.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 33.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.6% |
| 1971 | 24.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.7% |
| 1972 | 60.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +146.1% |
| 1973 | 31.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -47.3% |
| 1974 | 44.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +38.7% |
| 1975 | 48.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 52.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1977 | 51.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 56.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1979 | 58.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 55.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 57.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 32.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -43.4% |
| 1983 | 47.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +47.0% |
| 1984 | 27.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -43.3% |
| 1985 | 22.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.1% |
| 1986 | 19.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.4% |
| 1987 | 18.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1988 | 14.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.3% |
| 1989 | 12.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.1% |
| 1990 | 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.5% |
| 1991 | 13.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.3% |
| 1992 | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 14.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1994 | 19.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +38.5% |
| 1995 | 15.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.5% |
| 1996 | 15.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 13.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.0% |
| 1998 | 13.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 13.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 15.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.9% |
| 2001 | 15.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 17.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 2003 | 17.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 12.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 13.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 13.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.5% |
| 2008 | 19.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.6% |
| 2009 | 19.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 18.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 16.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 2012 | 16.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 17.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 16.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 18.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 17.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 18.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 16.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.6% |
| 2019 | 16.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 14.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.6% |
| 2021 | 14.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 13.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 14.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 32% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 18.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 83% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +146.1% | 24.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 60.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1967 | +51.4% | 25.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 2.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 3.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 4.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 7.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 8.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 7.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 15.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 26.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 31.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 42.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 32.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 41.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 46.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 60.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 57.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 132 Slovenia 18.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 133 Namibia 17.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 134 Sierra Leone 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 136 Brunei 14.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 137 Latvia 13.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 138 Guyana 13.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Costa Rica
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 108.28 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,751 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 942.79 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,808 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 688.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 623.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 65.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.35 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Costa Rica was 14.98 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 60.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1972.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1857.
- How does Costa Rica rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Costa Rica ranks 135th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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.