Live estimate

Costa Rica CO₂ Emissions

Costa Rica emitted 8.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 0.0% of the world total, the 114th most of 213 countries. That is 1.7 tonnes per person, 64% below the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by Costa Rica in 2026 so far

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 0 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

8.8 Mt

8.8 million tonnes

World rank

#114

of 213 countries

Share of world

0.0%

world total 38.6 Gt

Per person

1.7 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+3.5%

2023: 8.5 Mt

Historical share

0.0%

#120 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 3.5% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 31%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

510

Million tonnes of CO₂ a year

Show yearly data (million tonnes)

Year	CO₂ (Mt)
2024	8.8
2023	8.5
2022	8.0
2021	7.7
2020	6.8
2019	7.7
2018	8.0
2017	8.0
2016	7.8
2015	7.4
2014	7.7
2013	7.6
2012	7.2
2011	7.3
2010	7.5
2009	7.7
2008	7.9
2007	7.9
2006	7.0
2005	6.7
2004	6.8
2003	6.6
2002	6.2
2001	5.6
2000	5.4

Where it comes from

Oil is the largest source of Costa Rica’s CO₂, at 95%.

Oil95%8.3 Mt
Cement5%0.4 Mt

Costa Rica in context

0.06% vs 0.02%

Share of people vs share of CO₂

Costa Rica is home to 0.06% of the world’s population and produces 0.02% of its fossil CO₂, so its share of emissions is smaller than its share of people.

+203%

Change since 1990

Emissions in 2024 were 203% higher than in 1990, the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol (2.9 Mt then). World emissions rose 70% over the same period.

15 Mt

Consumption-based CO₂ (2023)

Counting the CO₂ in goods it imports and exports, Costa Rica was responsible for 14.7 Mt in 2023, 73% more than the 8.5 Mt produced at home: it is a net importer of emissions.

177 g

CO₂ per kWh of energy

Each kilowatt-hour of primary energy used in Costa Rica came with about 177 g of CO₂ in 2024 (world: 218 g), pointing to a cleaner energy mix than the world average.

0.10 kg

CO₂ per dollar of GDP

Its economy emitted 0.10 kg of CO₂ for each dollar of output in 2022 (adjusted for purchasing power), 65% below the world average of 0.29 kg.

Figures from Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Project; latest year available for each measure.

How Costa Rica compares

Rank	Country	CO₂ 2024	Share	Per person
112	El Salvador	9.0 Mt	0.0%	1.4 t
113	Congo	8.8 Mt	0.0%	1.4 t
114	Costa Rica	8.8 Mt	0.0%	1.7 t
115	Mozambique	8.6 Mt	0.0%	0.2 t
116	Jamaica	8.4 Mt	0.0%	3.0 t

See all 213 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does Costa Rica emit?

Costa Rica emitted 8.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.0% of global emissions. That is about 0 tonnes every second.

What are Costa Rica’s CO₂ emissions per person?

Costa Rica emits 1.7 tonnes per person, 64% below the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (5.1 million people in 2024).

Are Costa Rica’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 3.5% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 31%. 2024 was the highest year on record.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica?

Oil is the largest source, at 95% of Costa Rica’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (8.3 million tonnes).

What are Costa Rica’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions?

About 14.7 million tonnes in 2023, 73% more than the 8.5 million tonnes emitted within its borders, because it imports more carbon-intensive goods than it exports. Consumption-based accounting adds the emissions embodied in imports and subtracts those in exports.

How much has Costa Rica contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, Costa Rica has emitted about 0 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 0.0% of the world total, the 120th largest historical contribution.