Lesotho CO₂ Emissions
Lesotho emitted 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 0.01% of the global total. That ranks it 152nd of 213 countries and territories and works out at 1.1 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Lesotho emit?
Lesotho produced 2.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Lesotho accounts for 0.01% of it.
With a population of about 2.3 million, that is 1.1 tonnes per person, 77% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Lesotho since 1990
Annual emissions in Lesotho have risen by 75% since 1990, from 1.5 million tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 15%. Emissions peaked in 2021 at 3.1 million tonnes and are now 17% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Coal is the largest source of CO₂ in Lesotho, at about 64% of the total, followed by oil at 36%.
How Lesotho compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Lesotho in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | Chad | 2.83 | 0.01% | 0.14 |
| 151 | Togo | 2.75 | 0.01% | 0.33 |
| 152 | Lesotho | 2.57 | 0.01% | 1.10 |
| 153 | Montenegro | 2.38 | 0.01% | 3.72 |
| 154 | Maldives | 2.31 | 0.01% | 4.37 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Lesotho has emitted about 72 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is less than 0.01% of the cumulative global total, compared with 0.01% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Lesotho emit per year?
Lesotho emitted 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 0.01% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Lesotho?
About 1.1 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 77% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Lesotho rising or falling?
They have risen by 15% over the last ten years and risen by 75% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2021 at 3.1 million tonnes and are now 17% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Lesotho?
Coal is the largest source, responsible for about 64% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by oil at 36%.
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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