Greenhouse gas emissions in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Greenhouse gas emissions was 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
134th
of 199 countries
All-time high
79.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2002
All-time low
1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1917
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Sierra Leone, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Sierra Leone peaked at 79.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1917.
That places Sierra Leone 134th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 26.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 36.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.5% |
| 1852 | 42.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1853 | 44.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1854 | 44.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1855 | 48.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.8% |
| 1856 | 48.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1857 | 50.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1858 | 50.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 53.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1860 | 28.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -47.3% |
| 1861 | 19.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -32.3% |
| 1862 | 14.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.4% |
| 1863 | 12.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.9% |
| 1864 | 10.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.0% |
| 1865 | 9.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.8% |
| 1866 | 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.9% |
| 1867 | 7.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1868 | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.1% |
| 1869 | 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.7% |
| 1870 | 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1871 | 5.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1872 | 5.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 1873 | 4.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1874 | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1875 | 5.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1876 | 4.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.1% |
| 1877 | 4.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1878 | 4.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1879 | 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1880 | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1881 | 4.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1882 | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.9% |
| 1883 | 3.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1884 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1885 | 4.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1886 | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.2% |
| 1888 | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1889 | 3.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1890 | 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1891 | 3.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1892 | 3.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1893 | 3.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1894 | 3.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1895 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1896 | 2.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1897 | 2.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1898 | 2.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1899 | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1900 | 2.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1901 | 2.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1902 | 2.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1903 | 2.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1904 | 2.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1905 | 2.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1907 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.5% |
| 1908 | 2.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1909 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 1910 | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -19.6% |
| 1911 | 1.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.0% |
| 1912 | 1.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1913 | 1.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.5% |
| 1914 | 1.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.9% |
| 1915 | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1916 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1917 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.0% |
| 1918 | 1.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1919 | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1920 | 3.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +150.7% |
| 1921 | 4.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.4% |
| 1922 | 6.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.0% |
| 1923 | 6.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1924 | 6.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.0% |
| 1925 | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1926 | 6.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1927 | 7.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1928 | 8.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 1929 | 7.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1930 | 6.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.2% |
| 1931 | 7.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1932 | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1933 | 6.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1934 | 7.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1935 | 7.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1936 | 7.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 7.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1938 | 7.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1939 | 7.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1940 | 7.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1941 | 8.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1942 | 8.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1943 | 8.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1944 | 9.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1945 | 9.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1946 | 10.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1947 | 9.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1948 | 10.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1949 | 10.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 10.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1951 | 9.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 1952 | 7.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -15.6% |
| 1953 | 7.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1954 | 7.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1955 | 6.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1957 | 6.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1958 | 6.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.2% |
| 1959 | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1960 | 6.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1961 | 6.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 1962 | 7.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1963 | 7.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 7.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 7.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1966 | 8.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1967 | 8.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1968 | 8.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1969 | 9.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1970 | 8.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1971 | 8.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1972 | 8.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1973 | 8.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 8.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 8.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 8.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 9.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1978 | 9.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 9.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 9.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 10.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.7% |
| 1982 | 9.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 1983 | 11.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.0% |
| 1984 | 17.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +54.9% |
| 1985 | 12.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.3% |
| 1986 | 11.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.6% |
| 1987 | 9.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 1988 | 9.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 1989 | 9.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 9.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 8.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 8.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 8.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 8.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 8.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 8.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 8.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 9.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 11.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.0% |
| 2000 | 34.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +211.4% |
| 2001 | 55.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +60.8% |
| 2002 | 79.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +42.8% |
| 2003 | 77.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 64.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.1% |
| 2005 | 78.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.1% |
| 2006 | 46.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -40.6% |
| 2007 | 38.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.3% |
| 2008 | 36.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 40.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 38.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 29.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.6% |
| 2012 | 30.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 24.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.1% |
| 2014 | 21.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.2% |
| 2015 | 18.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.0% |
| 2016 | 18.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 17.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 17.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 15.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.3% |
| 2020 | 15.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 16.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.9% |
| 2022 | 16.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 16.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for low income countries, which is 52.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 31% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 16.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 41.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 39% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +211.4% | 11.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 34.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1920 | +150.7% | 1.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2001 | +60.8% | 34.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1984 | +54.9% | 11.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1860 | -47.3% | 53.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 2002 | +42.8% | 55.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 44.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 53.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 12.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 4.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 6.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 7.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 9.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 7.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 34.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 38.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 131 Mauritania 18.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 132 Slovenia 18.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 133 Namibia 17.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 135 Costa Rica 14.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 136 Brunei 14.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 137 Latvia 13.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Sierra Leone
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 3.65 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 538.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.02 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,431 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 201.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.761 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Sierra Leone?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Sierra Leone was 16.29 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 79.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2002.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1917.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Sierra Leone ranks 134th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.