CO₂ emissions · Americas · 2024 data
Costa Rica CO₂ Emissions
Costa Rica emitted 8.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, or 1.71 t per person — #114 of 213 countries and 0.02% of global emissions. That is 36% of the world average of 4.73 t per person. Over the past ten years emissions rose by 14%.
CO₂ emissions of Costa Rica, 1950–2024
Million tonnes of CO₂ per year · fossil fuels and industry, excluding land use · Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Budget and Jones et al. (CC BY 4.0)
CO₂ emissions by year (table)
| Year | CO₂ (million t) | Per person (t) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8.8 | 1.71 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 8.5 | 1.66 | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 8.0 | 1.58 | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 7.7 | 1.52 | +13.5% |
| 2020 | 6.8 | 1.34 | -11.8% |
| 2019 | 7.7 | 1.53 | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 8.0 | 1.61 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 8.0 | 1.63 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 7.8 | 1.61 | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 7.4 | 1.53 | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 7.7 | 1.62 | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 7.6 | 1.61 | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 7.2 | 1.55 | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 7.3 | 1.58 | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 7.5 | 1.64 | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 7.7 | 1.71 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 7.9 | 1.79 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 7.9 | 1.81 | +13.3% |
| 2006 | 7.0 | 1.61 | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 6.7 | 1.56 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 6.8 | 1.62 | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 6.6 | 1.58 | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 6.2 | 1.53 | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 5.6 | 1.41 | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 5.4 | 1.36 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 5.4 | 1.40 | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 5.2 | 1.38 | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 4.9 | 1.32 | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 4.7 | 1.29 | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 4.8 | 1.36 | -7.7% |
| 1994 | 5.2 | 1.50 | +33.7% |
| 1993 | 3.9 | 1.15 | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 3.7 | 1.14 | +13.8% |
| 1991 | 3.3 | 1.03 | +12.8% |
| 1990 | 2.9 | 0.93 | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 2.9 | 0.96 | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 2.9 | 0.98 | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 2.7 | 0.94 | +5.7% |
| 1986 | 2.6 | 0.91 | +15.0% |
| 1985 | 2.2 | 0.82 | +13.2% |
| 1984 | 2.0 | 0.74 | -5.2% |
| 1983 | 2.1 | 0.80 | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 2.1 | 0.82 | -7.4% |
| 1981 | 2.2 | 0.91 | -8.7% |
| 1980 | 2.4 | 1.02 | -12.0% |
| 1979 | 2.8 | 1.20 | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 2.9 | 1.29 | +11.7% |
| 1977 | 2.6 | 1.18 | +25.2% |
| 1976 | 2.1 | 0.97 | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 2.0 | 0.97 | +6.9% |
| 1974 | 1.9 | 0.93 | -6.8% |
| 1973 | 2.0 | 1.03 | +16.0% |
| 1972 | 1.8 | 0.91 | +15.3% |
| 1971 | 1.5 | 0.81 | +22.3% |
| 1970 | 1.2 | 0.68 | +9.0% |
| 1969 | 1.1 | 0.64 | +10.6% |
| 1968 | 1.0 | 0.60 | +18.4% |
| 1967 | 0.9 | 0.52 | -11.8% |
| 1966 | 1.0 | 0.61 | +17.3% |
| 1965 | 0.8 | 0.53 | +25.5% |
| 1964 | 0.7 | 0.44 | +12.1% |
| 1963 | 0.6 | 0.41 | +9.3% |
| 1962 | 0.6 | 0.38 | +12.0% |
| 1961 | 0.5 | 0.36 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.5 | 0.37 | +27.5% |
| 1959 | 0.4 | 0.30 | -13.9% |
| 1958 | 0.4 | 0.36 | -3.2% |
| 1957 | 0.5 | 0.39 | -4.5% |
| 1956 | 0.5 | 0.42 | +39.1% |
| 1955 | 0.3 | 0.32 | -14.5% |
| 1954 | 0.4 | 0.38 | -5.8% |
| 1953 | 0.4 | 0.42 | +11.3% |
| 1952 | 0.4 | 0.39 | +24.4% |
| 1951 | 0.3 | 0.33 | +9.1% |
| 1950 | 0.3 | 0.31 | — |
Where Costa Rica's CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source. Oil dominates — mostly transport fuel, so electrifying vehicles matters most here.
Per person: Costa Rica vs the world
Production vs consumption
Counting the CO₂ embedded in the goods it imports and exports, Costa Rica's consumption-based footprint was 14.7 million tonnes (2.88 t per person) in 2023. Costa Rica is a net importer of emissions: its consumption causes 73% more CO₂ than it emits at home.
Primary energy use: 9,627 kWh per person (world 21,654 kWh).
All greenhouse gases (2024)
Frequently asked questions about CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica
How much CO₂ does Costa Rica emit?
What are Costa Rica's CO₂ emissions per capita?
Are Costa Rica's emissions going up or down?
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How much has Costa Rica contributed to climate change historically?
Data: Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Budget and Jones et al. (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ figures cover fossil fuels and industry (territorial), excluding land-use change unless stated.