Live estimate

Sri Lanka CO₂ Emissions

Sri Lanka emitted 20.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 0.1% of the world total, the 88th most of 213 countries. That is 0.9 tonnes per person, 81% below the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by Sri Lanka in 2026 so far

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 1 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

20.8 Mt

20.8 million tonnes

World rank

#88

of 213 countries

Share of world

0.1%

world total 38.6 Gt

Per person

0.9 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+8.3%

2023: 19.2 Mt

Historical share

0.0%

#97 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 8.3% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 78%. Emissions peaked in 2016 at 22.3 million tonnes and are now 7% lower.

102030

Million tonnes of CO₂ a year

Show yearly data (million tonnes)

Year	CO₂ (Mt)
2024	20.8
2023	19.2
2022	18.4
2021	20.8
2020	20.4
2019	21.1
2018	20.1
2017	22.2
2016	22.3
2015	19.2
2014	17.1
2013	14.1
2012	15.4
2011	14.5
2010	12.7
2009	12.6
2008	11.6
2007	11.8
2006	11.5
2005	11.7
2004	11.9
2003	10.8
2002	10.8
2001	10.2
2000	10.0

Where it comes from

Oil is the largest source of Sri Lanka’s CO₂, at 68%.

Coal30%6.2 Mt
Oil68%14.1 Mt
Cement2%0.5 Mt

Sri Lanka in context

0.28% vs 0.05%

Share of people vs share of CO₂

Sri Lanka is home to 0.28% of the world’s population and produces 0.05% of its fossil CO₂, so its share of emissions is smaller than its share of people.

+447%

Change since 1990

Emissions in 2024 were 447% higher than in 1990, the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol (3.8 Mt then). World emissions rose 70% over the same period.

46 Mt

Consumption-based CO₂ (2023)

Counting the CO₂ in goods it imports and exports, Sri Lanka was responsible for 46.4 Mt in 2023, 142% more than the 19.2 Mt produced at home: it is a net importer of emissions.

187 g

CO₂ per kWh of energy

Each kilowatt-hour of primary energy used in Sri Lanka came with about 187 g of CO₂ in 2024 (world: 218 g), pointing to a cleaner energy mix than the world average.

0.07 kg

CO₂ per dollar of GDP

Its economy emitted 0.07 kg of CO₂ for each dollar of output in 2022 (adjusted for purchasing power), 75% 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 Sri Lanka compares

Rank	Country	CO₂ 2024	Share	Per person
86	Kenya	21.2 Mt	0.1%	0.4 t
87	Ghana	21.0 Mt	0.1%	0.6 t
88	Sri Lanka	20.8 Mt	0.1%	0.9 t
89	Tanzania	20.0 Mt	0.1%	0.3 t
90	Guatemala	19.9 Mt	0.1%	1.1 t

See all 213 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does Sri Lanka emit?

Sri Lanka emitted 20.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 0.1% of global emissions. That is about 1 tonnes every second.

What are Sri Lanka’s CO₂ emissions per person?

Sri Lanka emits 0.9 tonnes per person, 81% below the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (23.1 million people in 2024).

Are Sri Lanka’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 8.3% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 78%. Emissions peaked in 2016 at 22.3 million tonnes and are now 7% lower.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in Sri Lanka?

Oil is the largest source, at 68% of Sri Lanka’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (14.1 million tonnes).

What are Sri Lanka’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions?

About 46.4 million tonnes in 2023, 142% more than the 19.2 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 Sri Lanka contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, Sri Lanka has emitted about 1 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 0.0% of the world total, the 97th largest historical contribution.