CO₂ emissions · Asia · 2024 data
Sri Lanka CO₂ Emissions
Sri Lanka emitted 20.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, or 0.90 t per person — #88 of 213 countries and 0.05% of global emissions. That is 19% of the world average of 4.73 t per person. Emissions peaked in 2016 at 22.3 million tonnes and are now 7% lower.
CO₂ emissions of Sri Lanka, 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 | 20.8 | 0.90 | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 19.2 | 0.83 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 18.4 | 0.81 | -11.7% |
| 2021 | 20.8 | 0.92 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 20.4 | 0.91 | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 21.1 | 0.94 | +4.8% |
| 2018 | 20.1 | 0.91 | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 22.2 | 1.00 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 22.3 | 1.02 | +16.5% |
| 2015 | 19.2 | 0.88 | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 17.1 | 0.79 | +20.7% |
| 2013 | 14.1 | 0.66 | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 15.4 | 0.73 | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 14.5 | 0.69 | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 12.7 | 0.61 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 12.6 | 0.61 | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 11.6 | 0.57 | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 11.8 | 0.58 | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 11.5 | 0.57 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 11.7 | 0.58 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 11.9 | 0.59 | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 10.8 | 0.54 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 10.8 | 0.55 | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 10.2 | 0.52 | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 10.0 | 0.52 | +19.2% |
| 1999 | 8.4 | 0.44 | +10.0% |
| 1998 | 7.6 | 0.41 | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 7.4 | 0.41 | +7.8% |
| 1996 | 6.9 | 0.38 | +20.0% |
| 1995 | 5.7 | 0.33 | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 5.3 | 0.31 | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 4.9 | 0.29 | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 5.0 | 0.30 | +22.6% |
| 1991 | 4.1 | 0.25 | +8.0% |
| 1990 | 3.8 | 0.23 | +11.2% |
| 1989 | 3.4 | 0.21 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 3.4 | 0.21 | -14.0% |
| 1987 | 4.0 | 0.25 | +10.1% |
| 1986 | 3.6 | 0.23 | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 3.9 | 0.25 | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 3.8 | 0.25 | -20.8% |
| 1983 | 4.8 | 0.31 | +8.9% |
| 1982 | 4.4 | 0.29 | +11.6% |
| 1981 | 4.0 | 0.26 | +18.2% |
| 1980 | 3.4 | 0.23 | -11.1% |
| 1979 | 3.8 | 0.26 | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 3.4 | 0.24 | +17.7% |
| 1977 | 2.9 | 0.21 | +4.1% |
| 1976 | 2.8 | 0.20 | -3.4% |
| 1975 | 2.9 | 0.21 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 2.9 | 0.22 | -20.7% |
| 1973 | 3.7 | 0.28 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 3.5 | 0.28 | +10.7% |
| 1971 | 3.2 | 0.25 | -11.2% |
| 1970 | 3.6 | 0.29 | -16.7% |
| 1969 | 4.3 | 0.36 | +33.3% |
| 1968 | 3.2 | 0.28 | +9.9% |
| 1967 | 2.9 | 0.26 | +10.7% |
| 1966 | 2.7 | 0.24 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 2.7 | 0.24 | +17.0% |
| 1964 | 2.3 | 0.21 | -10.3% |
| 1963 | 2.5 | 0.24 | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 2.6 | 0.25 | +9.7% |
| 1961 | 2.3 | 0.24 | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 2.3 | 0.23 | +9.8% |
| 1959 | 2.1 | 0.22 | +5.4% |
| 1958 | 1.9 | 0.21 | -16.0% |
| 1957 | 2.3 | 0.26 | +63.5% |
| 1956 | 1.4 | 0.16 | -14.7% |
| 1955 | 1.7 | 0.19 | -6.8% |
| 1954 | 1.8 | 0.21 | -13.6% |
| 1953 | 2.1 | 0.25 | +6.6% |
| 1952 | 1.9 | 0.24 | +25.4% |
| 1951 | 1.5 | 0.19 | -5.0% |
| 1950 | 1.6 | 0.21 | — |
Where Sri Lanka's CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source. Oil dominates — mostly transport fuel, so electrifying vehicles matters most here.
Per person: Sri Lanka vs the world
Production vs consumption
Counting the CO₂ embedded in the goods it imports and exports, Sri Lanka's consumption-based footprint was 46.4 million tonnes (2.02 t per person) in 2023. Sri Lanka is a net importer of emissions: its consumption causes 142% more CO₂ than it emits at home.
Primary energy use: 4,819 kWh per person (world 21,654 kWh).
All greenhouse gases (2024)
Frequently asked questions about CO₂ emissions in Sri Lanka
How much CO₂ does Sri Lanka emit?
What are Sri Lanka's CO₂ emissions per capita?
Are Sri Lanka's emissions going up or down?
What is the main source of CO₂ in Sri Lanka?
How much has Sri Lanka 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.