United States: Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, United States' methane (CH4) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) rose 0.3% on 2023 (from 149.11 to 149.52).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −1.4% and a typical year strayed about 2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 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 7.5% in 1971 and the biggest yearly fall was 5.5% in 2011. 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 downward, about 0.66 a year. A straight line explains 33% 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, United States had the 3rd 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 United States in the 2024 ranking

• China — 1st of 203: 195.67
• India — 3rd of 203: 135.23
• Brazil — 4th of 203: 107.92
• Russian Federation — 5th of 203: 89.18

What this measures

A measure of annual emissions of methane (CH4), 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

Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) in nearby economies

• Bermuda — 0.02 (2024)
• Canada — 28.85 (2024)

More environment data for United States

• Population in largest city — 19.15 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 6.99% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 160.79 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 47.04% (2025)
• Rural population — 67.7 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 19.81% (2025)
• Urban population — 274.09 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 80.19% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 467,617 (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is United States's methane (CH4) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e)?

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

How has it changed since 1970?

It is down 27.64% from 206.65 in 1970 (0.6% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 248.9 in 1987 and the lowest 149.11 in 2023.

How does United States rank?

3rd highest of 203 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in methane (CH4) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) unusual for United States?

In 2024, United States' methane (CH4) emissions from Waste (Mt CO2e) rose 0.3% on 2023 (from 149.11 to 149.52). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −1.4% and a typical year strayed about 2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 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.CH4.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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