Sierra Leone CO₂ Emissions
Sierra Leone emitted 1.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, less than 0.01% of the global total. That ranks it 162nd of 213 countries and territories and works out at 0.17 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Sierra Leone emit?
Sierra Leone produced 1.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Sierra Leone accounts for less than 0.01% of it.
With a population of about 8.6 million, that is 0.17 tonnes per person, 96% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone since 1990
Annual emissions in Sierra Leone have risen by 188% since 1990, from 498 thousand tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 27%. Emissions peaked in 2021 at 1.5 million tonnes and are now 3% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the only recorded source of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in Sierra Leone.
How Sierra Leone compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Sierra Leone in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | Bhutan | 1.66 | <0.01% | 2.09 |
| 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 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Sierra Leone has emitted about 43 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 Sierra Leone emit per year?
Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone?
About 0.17 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 96% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Sierra Leone rising or falling?
They have risen by 27% over the last ten years and risen by 188% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2021 at 1.5 million tonnes and are now 3% below that level.
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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