Global nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions reached a high of 2.97 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) in 2022. Emissions of N₂O - which has a far greater warming potential than CO₂ - have increased by more than 30 percent since 1990. China is the world's largest emitter of nitrous oxide, followed by India and the United States.
Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2022
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Characteristic
Emissions in MtCO₂e
2022
2,970
2021
2,943
2020
2,902
2019
2,853
2018
2,866
2017
2,870
2016
2,812
2015
2,794
2014
2,788
2013
2,754
2012
2,767
2011
2,739
2010
2,640
2009
2,580
2008
2,610
2007
2,637
2006
2,563
2005
2,523
2004
2,501
2003
2,419
2002
2,405
2001
2,369
2000
2,358
1999
2,374
1998
2,361
1997
2,345
1996
2,365
1995
2,318
1994
2,254
1993
2,215
1992
2,231
1991
2,215
1990
2,236
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Figures have been rounded. N₂O emissions have been converted to carbon-dioxide equivalents over a 100-year timescale using a conversion factor of 273 (as per the IPCC AR6 report).
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OWID. (January 31, 2024). Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID. "Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)." Chart. January 31, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID. (2024). Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID. "Annual Nitrous Oxide (N₂o) Emissions Worldwide from 1990 to 2022 (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID, Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2022 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph], OWID, January 31, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
