Eritrea CO₂ Emissions
Eritrea emitted 743 thousand tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, less than 0.01% of the global total. That ranks it 173rd of 213 countries and territories and works out at 0.21 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Eritrea emit?
Eritrea produced 743 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Eritrea accounts for less than 0.01% of it.
With a population of about 3.5 million, that is 0.21 tonnes per person, 96% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Eritrea since 1994
Annual emissions in Eritrea have risen by 5% since 1994, from 707 thousand tonnes to 743 thousand tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 31%. Emissions peaked in 1996 at 862 thousand tonnes and are now 14% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Eritrea, at about 91% of the total, followed by cement at 9%.
How Eritrea compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Eritrea in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171 | Gambia | 0.80 | <0.01% | 0.29 |
| 172 | Belize | 0.80 | <0.01% | 1.91 |
| 173 | Eritrea | 0.74 | <0.01% | 0.21 |
| 174 | Faroe Islands | 0.73 | <0.01% | 13.09 |
| 175 | Sint Maarten | 0.72 | <0.01% | 16.55 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Eritrea has emitted about 19 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 Eritrea emit per year?
Eritrea emitted 743 thousand 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 Eritrea?
About 0.21 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 96% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Eritrea rising or falling?
They have risen by 31% over the last ten years and risen by 5% since 1994. Emissions peaked in 1996 at 862 thousand tonnes and are now 14% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Eritrea?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 91% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by cement at 9%.
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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