Greenhouse gas emissions in Laos
Laos: Greenhouse gas emissions was 61.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
61.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
81st
of 199 countries
All-time high
85.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2014
All-time low
3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1860
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Laos, 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 Laos stood at 61.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Laos peaked at 85.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1860.
That places Laos 81st 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 4.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.3% |
| 1852 | 4.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.9% |
| 1853 | 3.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.9% |
| 1854 | 4.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.1% |
| 1855 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.8% |
| 1856 | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1857 | 3.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1858 | 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1859 | 3.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 1860 | 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1861 | 3.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.8% |
| 1862 | 3.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 1863 | 3.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1864 | 3.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1865 | 3.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1866 | 3.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1867 | 3.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 1868 | 3.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 3.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 4.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.4% |
| 1871 | 4.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1872 | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 1873 | 5.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1874 | 5.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1875 | 5.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1876 | 5.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1877 | 5.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1878 | 5.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.5% |
| 1879 | 5.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 5.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1881 | 6.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1882 | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.9% |
| 1883 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1884 | 7.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1885 | 9.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.8% |
| 1886 | 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.5% |
| 1887 | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1888 | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1889 | 8.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1890 | 8.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1891 | 8.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.5% |
| 1892 | 8.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1893 | 8.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1894 | 8.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1895 | 7.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1896 | 8.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1897 | 8.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1898 | 10.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.8% |
| 1899 | 9.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.3% |
| 1900 | 7.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.5% |
| 1901 | 7.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1902 | 6.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.3% |
| 1903 | 6.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1904 | 6.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1905 | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1906 | 6.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1907 | 6.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1908 | 6.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 6.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1910 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1911 | 6.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1912 | 7.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1913 | 8.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.3% |
| 1914 | 8.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1915 | 8.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1916 | 8.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1917 | 7.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1918 | 8.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1919 | 8.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.4% |
| 1920 | 8.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1921 | 10.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.1% |
| 1922 | 11.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 1923 | 13.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.5% |
| 1924 | 12.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.4% |
| 1925 | 12.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1926 | 14.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.3% |
| 1927 | 14.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 14.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1929 | 13.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1930 | 16.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.6% |
| 1931 | 19.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.3% |
| 1932 | 19.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1933 | 19.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1934 | 19.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1935 | 21.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1936 | 21.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1937 | 21.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1938 | 21.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1939 | 21.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1940 | 18.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.0% |
| 1941 | 19.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1942 | 18.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1943 | 19.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1944 | 19.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1945 | 19.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1946 | 18.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1947 | 18.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1948 | 19.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1949 | 17.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 1950 | 19.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.5% |
| 1951 | 22.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 1952 | 20.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.6% |
| 1953 | 23.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.3% |
| 1954 | 23.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 29.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.0% |
| 1956 | 31.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1957 | 29.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1958 | 31.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 61.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +93.8% |
| 1960 | 41.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -31.8% |
| 1961 | 30.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.6% |
| 1962 | 25.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.7% |
| 1963 | 23.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1964 | 23.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 23.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 22.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 23.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 21.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1969 | 21.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1970 | 21.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 25.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.8% |
| 1972 | 26.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1973 | 29.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 28.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 28.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 26.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.2% |
| 1977 | 26.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 26.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1979 | 24.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.0% |
| 1980 | 24.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 25.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 24.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 24.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 25.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 25.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 25.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 26.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 25.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 26.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 28.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1991 | 27.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 27.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 29.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 30.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 31.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 37.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.5% |
| 1997 | 34.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1998 | 35.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 40.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 51.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.4% |
| 2001 | 51.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 53.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 56.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 62.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.1% |
| 2005 | 65.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2006 | 60.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 69.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.1% |
| 2008 | 73.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 79.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 69.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.5% |
| 2011 | 71.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 77.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 84.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 2014 | 85.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 76.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.7% |
| 2016 | 73.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 70.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 68.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 58.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.2% |
| 2020 | 57.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 67.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.0% |
| 2022 | 64.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 63.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 61.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 61.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Laos's 61.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | +93.8% | 31.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 61.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 4.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 3.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 7.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 8.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 6.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 7.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 12.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 20.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 18.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 29.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 19.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 61.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 25.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 41.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 26.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 24.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 27.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 40.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 58.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 57.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 67.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 78 Ecuador 63.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 79 Bahrain 62.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 80 Madagascar 61.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 82 Singapore 61.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 83 Mozambique 60.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 84 Ireland 60.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Laos
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 11,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,980 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,484 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 11.25 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 303.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,806 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 581.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,224 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.19 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 79.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Laos?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Laos was 61.39 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 85.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2014.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1860.
- How does Laos rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Laos ranks 81st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.