Greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland
Switzerland: Greenhouse gas emissions was 40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
108th
of 199 countries
All-time high
57.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1973
All-time low
5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1859
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland stood at 40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 14.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland peaked at 57.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1973 and was at its lowest, 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1859.
That places Switzerland 108th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 5.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 5.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 5.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1853 | 5.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1854 | 5.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1855 | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1856 | 5.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1857 | 5.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1858 | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1859 | 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1860 | 5.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1861 | 5.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1862 | 5.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1863 | 5.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1864 | 5.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1865 | 5.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1866 | 5.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 5.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1868 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1869 | 5.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1870 | 5.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1871 | 6.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1872 | 6.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1873 | 6.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1874 | 6.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.2% |
| 1875 | 6.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1876 | 6.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1877 | 6.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1878 | 6.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1879 | 6.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1880 | 6.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.8% |
| 1881 | 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 1882 | 6.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1883 | 6.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1884 | 6.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1885 | 6.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1886 | 6.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1887 | 6.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1888 | 6.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 6.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1890 | 7.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1891 | 8.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.4% |
| 1892 | 8.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1893 | 8.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1894 | 8.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1895 | 9.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 1896 | 9.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1897 | 10.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1898 | 10.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1899 | 10.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1900 | 12.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1901 | 11.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1902 | 11.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1903 | 12.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1904 | 12.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1905 | 13.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1906 | 13.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 1907 | 15.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.0% |
| 1908 | 15.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 15.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 14.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.3% |
| 1911 | 15.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.0% |
| 1912 | 14.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1913 | 15.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 14.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1915 | 14.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1916 | 13.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1917 | 11.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.5% |
| 1918 | 10.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1919 | 9.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.9% |
| 1920 | 12.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.9% |
| 1921 | 9.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.3% |
| 1922 | 11.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1923 | 12.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.7% |
| 1924 | 12.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1925 | 12.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1926 | 12.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1927 | 13.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1928 | 13.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1929 | 14.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.1% |
| 1930 | 14.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1931 | 14.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1932 | 14.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1933 | 14.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1934 | 13.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1935 | 13.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1936 | 14.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1937 | 14.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1938 | 15.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1939 | 16.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1940 | 13.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -19.4% |
| 1941 | 11.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.6% |
| 1942 | 11.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1943 | 11.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1944 | 10.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.5% |
| 1945 | 7.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -25.5% |
| 1946 | 12.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +57.7% |
| 1947 | 16.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +33.0% |
| 1948 | 17.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1949 | 15.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1950 | 17.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.4% |
| 1951 | 20.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.7% |
| 1952 | 19.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1953 | 18.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1954 | 21.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.3% |
| 1955 | 22.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1956 | 26.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.5% |
| 1957 | 27.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1958 | 26.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1959 | 28.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1960 | 30.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1961 | 31.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 34.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.2% |
| 1963 | 39.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.3% |
| 1964 | 38.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1965 | 40.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1966 | 41.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 43.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 47.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1969 | 48.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 50.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 52.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 53.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 57.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 52.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 1975 | 50.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 51.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 52.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1978 | 54.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 51.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1980 | 52.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 50.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 48.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1983 | 51.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 50.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 51.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 53.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 51.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 51.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 50.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 55.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 57.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 56.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 53.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 52.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 53.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 53.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 52.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 54.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 53.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 53.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 54.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 52.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 53.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 53.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 54.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 53.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 51.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 53.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 51.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 52.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 48.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 49.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 51.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 46.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 46.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 46.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 46.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 44.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 44.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 41.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 43.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 40.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 39.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 84% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 40.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 79% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +57.7% | 7.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1947 | +33.0% | 12.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 5.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 5.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 6.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 9.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 13.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 13.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 15.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 12.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 14.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 16.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 12.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 22.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 28.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 39.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 48.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 52.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 50.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 57.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 51.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 48.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 53.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 52.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 57.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 51.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 44.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 52.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 39.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 43.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 105 Trinidad and Tobago 40.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 106 Benin 40.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 107 Bulgaria 40.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 109 Afghanistan 39.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 110 Cuba 39.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 111 Hong Kong 38.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
More climate change data for Switzerland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 72.47 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 6,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,192 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,816 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 4.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 171.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 476.97 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 472.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.78 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Switzerland was 40.11 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 57.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1973.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1859.
- How does Switzerland rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Switzerland ranks 108th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.