Switzerland: Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Switzerland's nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) rose 1.1% on 2023 (from 0.17 to 0.18).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +1.1% and a typical year strayed about 0.9% 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 3.9% in 1976 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.8% in 1979. 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 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.00194 a year. A straight line explains 93% of the movement over 10 observed years.

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

How it compares

In 2024, Switzerland had the 85th 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 Switzerland in the 2024 ranking

• Hungary — 82nd of 203: 0.19
• Zimbabwe — 83rd of 203: 0.19
• Cambodia — 84th of 203: 0.18
• Azerbaijan — 86th of 203: 0.18
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 87th of 203: 0.18
• Cuba — 88th of 203: 0.17

What this measures

A measure of annual emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), one of the six Kyoto greenhouse gases (GHG), from the waste sector. This includes emissions from solid waste (IPCC 2006 codes 4.A Solid Waste Disposal, 4.B Biological Treatment of Solid Waste, 4.C Incineration and Open Burning of Waste) and wastewater treatment (IPCC 2006 code 4.D Wastewater Treatment and Discharge). 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 from Waste (Mt CO2e) in nearby economies

• Albania — 0.1 (2024)
• Armenia — 0.05 (2024)
• Austria — 0.25 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 0.18 (2024)
• Belarus — 0.21 (2024)
• Belgium — 0.33 (2024)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 0.15 (2024)
• Bulgaria — 0.11 (2024)
• Croatia — 0.09 (2024)
• Cyprus — 0.03 (2024)

More environment data for Switzerland

• Population in largest city — 1.46 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 18.67% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 1.46 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 16% (2025)
• Rural population — 1.3 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 14.27% (2025)
• Urban population — 7.79 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 85.73% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 2,539 (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Switzerland's nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e)?

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

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 59.12% from 0.11 in 1970 (0.86% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 0.18 in 2024 and the lowest 0.11 in 1975.

How does Switzerland rank?

85th highest of 203 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) unusual for Switzerland?

In 2024, Switzerland's nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) rose 1.1% on 2023 (from 0.17 to 0.18). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +1.1% and a typical year strayed about 0.9% 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.WA.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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