Barbados CO₂ Emissions
Barbados emitted 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, less than 0.01% of the global total. That ranks it 163rd of 213 countries and territories and works out at 4.83 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Barbados emit?
Barbados produced 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Barbados accounts for less than 0.01% of it.
With a population of about 282,476, that is 4.83 tonnes per person, close to the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Barbados since 1990
Annual emissions in Barbados have risen by 32% since 1990, from 1.0 million tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have changed by less than 1%. Emissions peaked in 2008 at 1.7 million tonnes and are now 21% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Barbados, at about 90% of the total, followed by cement at 8% and gas at 3%.
How Barbados compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Barbados in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 161 | Fiji | 1.45 | <0.01% | 1.56 |
| 162 | Sierra Leone | 1.43 | <0.01% | 0.17 |
| 163 | Barbados | 1.37 | <0.01% | 4.83 |
| 164 | Somalia | 1.32 | <0.01% | 0.07 |
| 165 | Macao | 1.06 | <0.01% | 1.47 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Barbados has emitted about 64 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is less than 0.01% of the cumulative global total, compared with less than 0.01% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Barbados emit per year?
Barbados emitted 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is less than 0.01% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Barbados?
About 4.83 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is close to the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Barbados rising or falling?
They have changed by less than 1% over the last ten years and risen by 32% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2008 at 1.7 million tonnes and are now 21% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Barbados?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 90% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by cement at 8%.
About the data. Figures are annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and from industry, such as cement production. They are counted where the emissions happen and do not include land-use change, other greenhouse gases, or emissions from imported goods.
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025), processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Latest year available: 2024.
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