Sri Lanka CO₂ Emissions
Sri Lanka emitted 21 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 0.05% of the global total. That ranks it 88th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 0.9 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Sri Lanka emit?
Sri Lanka produced 21 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Sri Lanka accounts for 0.05% of it.
With a population of about 23 million, that is 0.9 tonnes per person, 81% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Sri Lanka since 1990
Annual emissions in Sri Lanka have risen by 448% since 1990, from 3.8 million tonnes to 21 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 22%. Emissions peaked in 2016 at 22 million tonnes and are now 7% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Sri Lanka, at about 68% of the total, followed by coal at 30% and cement at 2%.
How Sri Lanka compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Sri Lanka in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | Kenya | 21.23 | 0.06% | 0.38 |
| 87 | Ghana | 21.02 | 0.05% | 0.61 |
| 88 | Sri Lanka | 20.83 | 0.05% | 0.90 |
| 89 | Tanzania | 20.02 | 0.05% | 0.29 |
| 90 | Guatemala | 19.88 | 0.05% | 1.08 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Sri Lanka has emitted about 568 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 0.03% of the cumulative global total, compared with 0.05% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Sri Lanka emit per year?
Sri Lanka emitted 21 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 0.05% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Sri Lanka?
About 0.9 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 81% below the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Sri Lanka rising or falling?
They have risen by 22% over the last ten years and risen by 448% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2016 at 22 million tonnes and are now 7% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Sri Lanka?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 68% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by coal at 30%.
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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