Costa Rica CO₂ Emissions
Costa Rica emitted 8.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 0.02% of the global total. That ranks it 114th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 1.71 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Costa Rica emit?
Costa Rica produced 8.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Costa Rica accounts for 0.02% of it.
With a population of about 5.1 million, that is 1.71 tonnes per person, 64% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica since 1990
Annual emissions in Costa Rica have risen by 201% since 1990, from 2.9 million tonnes to 8.8 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 14%. 2024 is the highest year on record.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Costa Rica, at about 95% of the total, followed by cement at 5% and coal at 1%.
How Costa Rica compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Costa Rica in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | El Salvador | 8.97 | 0.02% | 1.42 |
| 113 | Congo | 8.84 | 0.02% | 1.40 |
| 114 | Costa Rica | 8.76 | 0.02% | 1.71 |
| 115 | Mozambique | 8.61 | 0.02% | 0.25 |
| 116 | Jamaica | 8.40 | 0.02% | 2.96 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Costa Rica has emitted about 286 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 0.02% of the cumulative global total, compared with 0.02% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Costa Rica emit per year?
Costa Rica emitted 8.8 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 0.02% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Costa Rica?
About 1.71 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 64% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Costa Rica rising or falling?
They have risen by 14% over the last ten years and risen by 201% since 1990. 2024 is the highest year on record.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Costa Rica?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 95% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by cement at 5%.
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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