Greenhouse gas emissions in Ghana
Ghana: Greenhouse gas emissions was 52.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
52.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
94th
of 199 countries
All-time high
58.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1996
All-time low
1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Ghana, 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 Ghana stood at 52.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Ghana peaked at 58.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Ghana ranks 94th of 199 countries on this measure, 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 2.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +33.9% |
| 1852 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.8% |
| 1853 | 2.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.0% |
| 1854 | 2.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1855 | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1856 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1857 | 3.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 1858 | 3.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1859 | 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1860 | 3.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 1861 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1862 | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1863 | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 2.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1868 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 3.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 3.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.3% |
| 1871 | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1872 | 3.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1873 | 3.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1874 | 3.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1875 | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1876 | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1877 | 4.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1878 | 4.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1879 | 4.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1880 | 4.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 1881 | 4.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1882 | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1883 | 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1884 | 5.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1885 | 5.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1886 | 5.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1887 | 5.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1888 | 5.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 5.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1891 | 5.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1892 | 6.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 6.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 6.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1895 | 6.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 6.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 6.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 6.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 6.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1902 | 6.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1903 | 6.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1904 | 6.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 6.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1906 | 6.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1907 | 6.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1908 | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1909 | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1910 | 6.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1911 | 6.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1912 | 6.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1913 | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1914 | 6.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1915 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 6.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1917 | 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1918 | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1919 | 6.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1920 | 10.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +50.1% |
| 1921 | 11.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.8% |
| 1922 | 13.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.8% |
| 1923 | 14.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1924 | 13.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1925 | 13.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1926 | 14.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1927 | 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1928 | 15.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1929 | 15.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 15.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1931 | 15.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1932 | 15.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 15.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1934 | 15.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1935 | 15.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1936 | 15.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1937 | 15.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1938 | 15.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1939 | 15.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1940 | 18.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.1% |
| 1941 | 19.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1942 | 21.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1943 | 22.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1944 | 23.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1945 | 23.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1946 | 23.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1947 | 23.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1948 | 24.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1949 | 25.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1950 | 28.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.3% |
| 1951 | 32.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.4% |
| 1952 | 39.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.1% |
| 1953 | 40.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 46.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1955 | 49.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 50.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 50.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 51.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1959 | 52.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1960 | 32.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -37.6% |
| 1961 | 24.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.4% |
| 1962 | 20.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.8% |
| 1963 | 18.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1964 | 16.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.6% |
| 1965 | 15.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.2% |
| 1966 | 13.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.5% |
| 1967 | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 12.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1969 | 11.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.5% |
| 1970 | 12.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 12.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1972 | 12.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 13.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 20.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +53.6% |
| 1975 | 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.4% |
| 1976 | 15.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 1977 | 23.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +54.3% |
| 1978 | 18.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.8% |
| 1979 | 16.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.5% |
| 1980 | 16.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1981 | 29.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +80.4% |
| 1982 | 22.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -23.8% |
| 1983 | 35.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +53.3% |
| 1984 | 32.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 25.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.0% |
| 1986 | 28.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 31.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.0% |
| 1988 | 23.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.3% |
| 1989 | 28.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.1% |
| 1990 | 30.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 25.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.2% |
| 1992 | 28.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.9% |
| 1993 | 33.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.3% |
| 1994 | 42.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.2% |
| 1995 | 46.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 58.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.4% |
| 1997 | 47.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.1% |
| 1998 | 44.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 41.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 40.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 39.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 39.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 41.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 38.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 40.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 41.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 43.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 43.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 42.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 45.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 49.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 50.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 52.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 53.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 53.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 53.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 53.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 54.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 55.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 54.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 49.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.5% |
| 2022 | 51.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 51.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 52.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 52.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 52.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +80.4% | 16.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1977 | +54.3% | 15.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1974 | +53.6% | 13.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 20.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1983 | +53.3% | 22.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1920 | +50.1% | 6.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1960 | -37.6% | 52.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 32.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 2.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 6.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 6.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 13.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 15.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 22.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 44.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 52.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 32.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 25.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 58.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 45.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 49.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 91 Norway 56.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 92 Portugal 54.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 93 Niger 52.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 95 Dominican Republic 48.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 96 Somalia 47.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 97 Hungary 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Ghana
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 63.84 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 6,671 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,693 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,979 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 10.16 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 142.09 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,417 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 670.16 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 746.8 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.53 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Ghana?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Ghana was 52.01 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 58.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1996.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Ghana rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Ghana ranks 94th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.