Greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia
Malaysia: Greenhouse gas emissions was 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
24th
of 199 countries
All-time high
512.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2013
All-time low
7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1867
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia peaked at 512.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2013 and was at its lowest, 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1867.
Malaysia ranks 24th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 10.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 11.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1852 | 18.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +63.3% |
| 1853 | 11.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -36.7% |
| 1854 | 13.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.9% |
| 1855 | 12.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1856 | 13.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1857 | 16.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +29.9% |
| 1858 | 13.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.8% |
| 1859 | 13.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1860 | 12.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1861 | 21.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +71.1% |
| 1862 | 13.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -40.7% |
| 1863 | 14.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.6% |
| 1864 | 20.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.6% |
| 1865 | 17.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.1% |
| 1866 | 20.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.1% |
| 1867 | 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -66.4% |
| 1868 | 11.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +61.9% |
| 1869 | 22.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +98.0% |
| 1870 | 23.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1871 | 12.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -48.5% |
| 1872 | 21.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +77.6% |
| 1873 | 14.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -30.3% |
| 1874 | 17.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.5% |
| 1875 | 14.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.0% |
| 1876 | 15.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 1877 | 20.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.0% |
| 1878 | 14.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.9% |
| 1879 | 12.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.9% |
| 1880 | 33.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +172.7% |
| 1881 | 37.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.4% |
| 1882 | 37.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 45.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.1% |
| 1884 | 36.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.2% |
| 1885 | 39.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1886 | 37.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1887 | 51.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +38.9% |
| 1888 | 29.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -44.1% |
| 1889 | 42.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +45.3% |
| 1890 | 36.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.6% |
| 1891 | 37.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1892 | 8.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -77.7% |
| 1893 | 28.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +238.6% |
| 1894 | 26.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.4% |
| 1895 | 20.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -23.5% |
| 1896 | 23.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.5% |
| 1897 | 29.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.2% |
| 1898 | 9.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -66.3% |
| 1899 | 21.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +118.3% |
| 1900 | 22.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1901 | 51.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +128.6% |
| 1902 | 36.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -29.6% |
| 1903 | 37.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 51.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +38.6% |
| 1905 | 37.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -27.0% |
| 1906 | 54.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +45.8% |
| 1907 | 24.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -55.5% |
| 1908 | 21.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.7% |
| 1909 | 33.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +61.4% |
| 1910 | 62.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +85.0% |
| 1911 | 86.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.5% |
| 1912 | 64.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -25.6% |
| 1913 | 90.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +41.1% |
| 1914 | 73.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.9% |
| 1915 | 70.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1916 | 60.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.2% |
| 1917 | 90.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +48.6% |
| 1918 | 55.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -38.0% |
| 1919 | 87.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +57.4% |
| 1920 | 66.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.7% |
| 1921 | 51.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.3% |
| 1922 | 36.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -29.3% |
| 1923 | 64.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +78.0% |
| 1924 | 42.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -34.6% |
| 1925 | 37.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.2% |
| 1926 | 21.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -42.1% |
| 1927 | 29.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +35.5% |
| 1928 | 33.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.4% |
| 1929 | 31.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.3% |
| 1930 | 36.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.0% |
| 1931 | 53.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +48.3% |
| 1932 | 63.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.6% |
| 1933 | 53.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.7% |
| 1934 | 62.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.1% |
| 1935 | 16.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -72.9% |
| 1936 | 70.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +313.2% |
| 1937 | 64.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 1938 | 63.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1939 | 59.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1940 | 64.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1941 | 84.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.8% |
| 1942 | 88.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1943 | 81.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1944 | 79.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1945 | 85.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1946 | 84.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1947 | 76.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.6% |
| 1948 | 77.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1949 | 87.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.3% |
| 1950 | 61.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -29.6% |
| 1951 | 51.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.6% |
| 1952 | 51.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1953 | 46.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.6% |
| 1954 | 47.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 50.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1956 | 47.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.4% |
| 1957 | 39.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.0% |
| 1958 | 39.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1959 | 33.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.5% |
| 1960 | 36.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 1961 | 65.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +80.3% |
| 1962 | 92.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +42.4% |
| 1963 | 81.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.1% |
| 1964 | 126.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +54.7% |
| 1965 | 77.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -38.5% |
| 1966 | 91.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.9% |
| 1967 | 122.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +34.2% |
| 1968 | 105.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.2% |
| 1969 | 134.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +27.4% |
| 1970 | 140.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 165.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.0% |
| 1972 | 143.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.5% |
| 1973 | 139.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 152.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1975 | 147.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 181.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.5% |
| 1977 | 197.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 190.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1979 | 184.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1980 | 200.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1981 | 171.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.5% |
| 1982 | 183.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 160.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.3% |
| 1984 | 206.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.8% |
| 1985 | 295.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +42.8% |
| 1986 | 351.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.9% |
| 1987 | 371.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 392.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 294.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.8% |
| 1990 | 246.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.2% |
| 1991 | 232.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1992 | 256.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1993 | 282.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 288.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 276.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 265.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 258.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 263.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 222.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.5% |
| 2000 | 234.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 265.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.0% |
| 2002 | 277.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 277.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 296.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 296.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 306.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 325.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 360.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.6% |
| 2009 | 393.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 386.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 442.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.5% |
| 2012 | 448.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 512.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 506.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 439.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.1% |
| 2016 | 399.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 389.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 389.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 392.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 368.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 386.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 383.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 376.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 42.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 9.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 61.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 6.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | +313.2% | 16.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 70.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1893 | +238.6% | 8.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1880 | +172.7% | 12.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1901 | +128.6% | 22.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 13.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 16.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 16.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 38.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 29.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 24.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 37.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 37.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 74.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 90.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 41.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 66.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 54.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 70.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 81.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 64.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 88.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 46.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 61.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 93.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 36.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 134.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 164.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 139.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 197.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 262.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 160.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 392.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 259.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 222.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 288.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 303.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 234.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 393.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 430.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 386.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 512.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 380.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 368.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 388.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 21 Argentina 416.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 22 Iraq 398.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 23 United Kingdom 390.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 25 Nigeria 384.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 26 Kazakhstan 372.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 27 Italy 355.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Malaysia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 621.79 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,551 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,936 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,616 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 93.41 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,214 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3,573 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.74 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia was 388.69 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 512.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2013.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1867.
- How does Malaysia rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Malaysia ranks 24th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.