Greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho
Lesotho: Greenhouse gas emissions was 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
158th
of 199 countries
All-time high
9.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2016
All-time low
157,865 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho, 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 Lesotho is 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 61.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho peaked at 9.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2016 and was at its lowest, 157,865 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Lesotho ranks 158th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 157,865 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 168,992 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1852 | 178,144 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1853 | 184,333 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1854 | 189,908 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1855 | 195,289 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1856 | 200,186 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1857 | 203,002 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1858 | 206,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1859 | 209,933 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1860 | 214,970 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1861 | 220,666 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1862 | 226,122 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1863 | 231,022 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1864 | 235,724 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1865 | 240,111 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1866 | 244,270 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1867 | 245,554 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 250,051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1869 | 256,162 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 267,507 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1871 | 279,556 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1872 | 291,656 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1873 | 302,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1874 | 311,401 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 322,202 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1876 | 332,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1877 | 342,761 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1878 | 352,083 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1879 | 360,771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1880 | 365,364 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1881 | 369,997 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1882 | 374,116 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 378,301 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 385,246 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1885 | 389,045 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1886 | 392,393 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 395,477 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1888 | 398,453 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1889 | 401,032 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1890 | 413,185 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1891 | 423,535 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1892 | 433,189 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1893 | 441,606 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1894 | 449,996 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1895 | 458,733 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1896 | 466,992 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1897 | 475,115 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1898 | 483,197 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 491,323 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1900 | 527,788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1901 | 563,812 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1902 | 580,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1903 | 579,032 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1904 | 612,214 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1905 | 652,869 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1906 | 674,544 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1907 | 720,380 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1908 | 705,926 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1909 | 762,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1910 | 748,377 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1911 | 777,017 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1912 | 779,095 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1913 | 798,393 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 842,665 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1915 | 878,675 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1916 | 883,190 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1917 | 931,344 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1918 | 934,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1919 | 923,512 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1920 | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.4% |
| 1921 | 1.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1922 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1923 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1924 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1925 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1926 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 1.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1928 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1929 | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1930 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 1931 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.0% |
| 1932 | 2.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1933 | 2.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1934 | 2.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1935 | 2.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1937 | 2.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1938 | 2.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1939 | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1940 | 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.9% |
| 1941 | 2.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1942 | 2.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1944 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1945 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1946 | 2.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1947 | 2.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1948 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1949 | 2.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1950 | 2.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1951 | 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1952 | 2.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1953 | 2.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 2.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1955 | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1956 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1957 | 2.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1958 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1959 | 3.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1960 | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1961 | 2.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.2% |
| 1962 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.5% |
| 1963 | 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1964 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.7% |
| 1965 | 1.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1966 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.4% |
| 1968 | 2.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1969 | 2.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1970 | 2.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1972 | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.9% |
| 1975 | 2.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.4% |
| 1976 | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -30.1% |
| 1977 | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.5% |
| 1978 | 1.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +34.2% |
| 1979 | 1.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.6% |
| 1980 | 1.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 1981 | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 2.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.0% |
| 1984 | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 2.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1986 | 3.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +55.7% |
| 1987 | 3.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1988 | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -19.6% |
| 1989 | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 3.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +40.6% |
| 1991 | 4.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.3% |
| 1992 | 4.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 4.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 3.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 4.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 4.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 4.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.4% |
| 2000 | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.6% |
| 2002 | 4.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.8% |
| 2003 | 5.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.9% |
| 2004 | 5.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 4.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 6.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +35.9% |
| 2007 | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 5.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.6% |
| 2009 | 5.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 4.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 4.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 4.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.1% |
| 2014 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -23.1% |
| 2015 | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +114.2% |
| 2016 | 9.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 8.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 6.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -23.8% |
| 2019 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 7.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.4% |
| 2022 | 6.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 6.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 14% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 15% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +114.2% | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1986 | +55.7% | 2.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1990 | +40.6% | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2006 | +35.9% | 4.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1978 | +34.2% | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1976 | -30.1% | 2.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 189,417 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 157,865 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 209,933 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 236,465 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 214,970 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 256,162 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 316,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 267,507 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 360,771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 384,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 365,364 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 401,032 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 453,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 413,185 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 491,323 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 637,996 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 527,788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 762,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 849,715 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 748,377 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 934,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 155 Bhutan 7.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 156 Albania 6.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 157 Moldova 6.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 159 Suriname 5.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 160 Mauritius 5.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 161 Iceland 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Lesotho was 6.17 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 9.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2016.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 157,865 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Lesotho rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Lesotho ranks 158th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.