Estonia: Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Estonia's nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) rose 0.4% on 2023 (from 1.67 to 1.68).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 3.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 6.2% in 2007 and the biggest yearly fall was 7.4% in 1992. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 9% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Estonia had the 115th highest value of the 203 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Estonia in the 2024 ranking

• Kyrgyz Republic — 112th of 203: 1.77
• Costa Rica — 113th of 203: 1.75
• Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 114th of 203: 1.69
• Papua New Guinea — 116th of 203: 1.55
• Libya — 117th of 203: 1.47
• Burundi — 118th of 203: 1.46

What this measures

A measure of annual emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), one of the six Kyoto greenhouse gases (GHG), from the agriculture, energy, waste, and industrial sectors, excluding LULUCF.. The measure is standardized to carbon dioxide equivalent values using the Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors of IPCC's 5th Assessment Report (AR5).

Limitations: Global GHG emissions are currently not directly measurable, but approaches for their estimation exist, and numerous sources exist to supply data for this indicator. Reputable scientific organizations produce these data for use for research, policy analysis, climate negotiations, and broader public communications. The estimated accuracy from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes are quite high, as quantities of fossil fuels and other emissive materials (such as cement and steel) produced are well known. For these sectors, emissions estimates are roughly accurate to within 10% when aggregated to the global level and between 4% and 35% at the country level (Crippa et al., 2023).

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 55 values

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) in nearby economies

• Albania — 0.73 (2024)
• Armenia — 0.45 (2024)
• Austria — 3.21 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 2.53 (2024)
• Belarus — 14.79 (2024)
• Belgium — 7.45 (2024)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 1.15 (2024)
• Bulgaria — 3.81 (2024)
• Croatia — 2.21 (2024)

More environment data for Estonia

• Population in largest city — 457,657 (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 47.36% (2025)
• Rural population — 400,092 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 29.28% (2025)
• Urban population — 966,383 (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 70.72% (2025)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.51% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — -0.4% (2025)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 9,820 (2024)
• Surface area (sq. km) — 45,340 (2024)
• Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Estonia's nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e)?

1.68 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 6.35% from 1.58 in 1970 (0.11% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.87 in 1986 and the lowest 1.33 in 1997.

How does Estonia rank?

115th highest of 203 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) unusual for Estonia?

In 2024, Estonia's nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) rose 0.4% on 2023 (from 1.67 to 1.68). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 3.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.0 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator EN.GHG.N2O.MT.CE.AR5, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) Community GHG Database, Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission, uri: https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dataset_ghg2024, publisher: JRC European Commission, date published: 2024; International Energy Agency (IEA), uri: https://edgar.j… Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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