Greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya
Kenya: Greenhouse gas emissions was 99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
58th
of 199 countries
All-time high
104.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2020
All-time low
2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1909
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya peaked at 104.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1909.
Kenya ranks 58th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1852 | 5.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 6.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1854 | 6.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.5% |
| 1855 | 6.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1856 | 6.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1857 | 6.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.5% |
| 1858 | 6.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1859 | 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1860 | 6.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1861 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1862 | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1863 | 6.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1864 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1865 | 6.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1866 | 6.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1867 | 6.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1868 | 6.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1869 | 6.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1870 | 6.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1872 | 7.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1873 | 7.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1874 | 7.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1875 | 7.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1876 | 7.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 7.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1878 | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1879 | 7.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1880 | 7.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1881 | 8.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1882 | 8.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1883 | 7.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1884 | 7.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1885 | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1886 | 7.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 8.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1888 | 8.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1889 | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1890 | 6.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.1% |
| 1891 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.0% |
| 1892 | 5.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 1893 | 5.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1894 | 4.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 1895 | 4.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1896 | 4.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1897 | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1898 | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1899 | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1900 | 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1901 | 3.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1902 | 3.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1903 | 3.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1904 | 3.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1905 | 3.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1906 | 3.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1907 | 2.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 1908 | 2.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1909 | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1910 | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1911 | 3.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1912 | 3.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.5% |
| 1913 | 3.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1914 | 3.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1915 | 4.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1916 | 4.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1917 | 4.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1918 | 4.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1919 | 4.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1920 | 7.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +63.4% |
| 1921 | 9.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.6% |
| 1922 | 10.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.7% |
| 1923 | 11.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1924 | 11.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1925 | 12.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1926 | 13.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1927 | 13.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1928 | 14.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1929 | 14.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1930 | 15.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1931 | 15.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1932 | 15.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1933 | 16.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1934 | 16.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1935 | 16.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 17.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1937 | 17.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 17.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 18.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1940 | 19.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1941 | 21.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1942 | 22.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1943 | 23.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1944 | 24.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1945 | 25.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1946 | 27.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1947 | 28.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1948 | 29.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1949 | 30.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1950 | 33.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1951 | 35.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1952 | 36.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1953 | 38.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1954 | 39.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 41.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1956 | 42.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1957 | 44.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 44.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 46.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 61.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +31.0% |
| 1961 | 50.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.9% |
| 1962 | 43.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.3% |
| 1963 | 38.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 1964 | 37.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1965 | 35.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1966 | 35.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1967 | 34.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 33.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1969 | 33.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 33.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1971 | 33.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 34.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 34.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 56.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +63.9% |
| 1975 | 48.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 43.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.8% |
| 1977 | 40.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1978 | 42.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 43.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 45.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 49.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 1982 | 50.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 51.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 87.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +70.6% |
| 1985 | 73.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.0% |
| 1986 | 69.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1987 | 74.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 89.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.0% |
| 1989 | 77.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.7% |
| 1990 | 71.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 67.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1992 | 62.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1993 | 67.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1994 | 58.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.4% |
| 1995 | 52.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.2% |
| 1996 | 52.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 51.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 62.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.7% |
| 1999 | 58.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.7% |
| 2000 | 56.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 54.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 56.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 58.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 59.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 62.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2006 | 66.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 2007 | 84.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.6% |
| 2008 | 88.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 88.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 100.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.8% |
| 2011 | 102.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 94.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 87.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 85.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 91.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 87.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 97.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 2018 | 95.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 97.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 104.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 95.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 96.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 100.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 99.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +70.6% | 51.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 87.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1974 | +63.9% | 34.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 56.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1920 | +63.4% | 4.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 6.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 7.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 8.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 3.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 11.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 16.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 40.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 46.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 40.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 61.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 41.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 56.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 66.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 45.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 89.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 71.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 88.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 93.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 102.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 95.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 104.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 55 Belgium 107.95 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
- 59 Zambia 99.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 60 Mongolia 98.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 61 Libya 94.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Kenya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 276.34 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 50,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,186 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,454 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 61.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,231 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,372 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 255.67 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.99 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya was 99.48 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 104.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2020.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1909.
- How does Kenya rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Kenya ranks 58th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.