Libya CO₂ Emissions
Libya emitted 65 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 0.17% of the global total. That ranks it 51st of 213 countries and territories and works out at 8.84 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Libya emit?
Libya produced 65 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Libya accounts for 0.17% of it.
With a population of about 7.4 million, that is 8.84 tonnes per person, 1.9 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Libya since 1990
Annual emissions in Libya have risen by 79% since 1990, from 37 million tonnes to 65 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have fallen by 5%. Emissions peaked in 2019 at 74 million tonnes and are now 12% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Libya, at about 56% of the total, followed by gas at 24% and flaring at 18%.
How Libya compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Libya in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | Morocco | 69.06 | 0.18% | 1.81 |
| 50 | Romania | 68.55 | 0.18% | 3.60 |
| 51 | Libya | 65.26 | 0.17% | 8.84 |
| 52 | North Korea | 62.55 | 0.16% | 2.36 |
| 53 | Austria | 56.37 | 0.15% | 6.18 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Libya has emitted about 2.5 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 0.14% of the cumulative global total, compared with 0.17% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Libya emit per year?
Libya emitted 65 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 0.17% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Libya?
About 8.84 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 1.9 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Libya rising or falling?
They have fallen by 5% over the last ten years and risen by 79% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2019 at 74 million tonnes and are now 12% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Libya?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 56% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by gas at 24%.
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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