Global nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions reached a high of roughly three billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) in 2023. 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 2023
(in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)
Characteristic
Emissions in MtCO₂e
2023
2,996
2022
2,976
2021
2,950
2020
2,910
2019
2,870
2018
2,885
2017
2,889
2016
2,832
2015
2,817
2014
2,811
2013
2,777
2012
2,795
2011
2,767
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2,2002,4002,6002,8003,0003,200
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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. (November 21, 2024). Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 08, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID. "Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent)." Chart. November 21, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 08, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID. (2024). Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 08, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID. "Annual Nitrous Oxide (N₂o) Emissions Worldwide from 1990 to 2023 (in Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent)." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Nov 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
OWID, Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/ (last visited May 08, 2025)
Annual nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions worldwide from 1990 to 2023 (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) [Graph], OWID, November 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379448/annual-global-nitrous-oxide-emissions/
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