Environment · Europe & Central Asia · High income
Ireland: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 6.04 t (2024), 41st of 203 in the world and 18th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG per person is 11.06 t (2024), 28th of 203 in the world and 8th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG emissions is 59.7 Mt (2024), 70th of 203 in the world and 21st of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.
CO₂ per person
IrelandEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
GHG per person
IrelandEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: Ireland in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 6.04 t2024 | 41/203 | 18/49 | 11.52 t | 8.97 t | 6.80 t | −22%since 2014 | 6.62 t | 9.75 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 11.06 t2024 | 28/203 | 8/49 | 19.54 t | 15.39 t | 12.48 t | −22%since 2014 | 8.65 t | 12.50 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 59.7 Mt2024 | 70/203 | 21/49 | 74.4 Mt | 70.2 Mt | 62.9 Mt | −9.8%since 2014 | 7,953.3 Mt | 17,426.5 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 32.6 Mt2024 | 68/203 | 27/49 | 43.8 Mt | 40.9 Mt | 34.3 Mt | −9.9%since 2014 | 6,082.4 Mt | 13,596.6 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 18.1 Mt2024 | 79/203 | 15/49 | 19.9 Mt | 19.2 Mt | 18.9 Mt | −8.3%since 2014 | 1,278.5 Mt | 2,534.1 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 12.7%2021 | 129/212 | 38/54 | 2.0% | 5.3% | 13.7% | +5.7 ppsince 2011 | 15.1% | 12.8% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 37.2%2021 | 80/206 | 28/51 | 6.2% | 13.8% | 42.4% | +17.2 ppsince 2011 | 34.4% | 26.7% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³2023 | 172/200 | 44/52 | 12.3 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 7.8 µg/m³ | −18%since 2013 | 14.4 µg/m³ | 13.0 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 12.0%2024 | 158/214 | 42/57 | 9.2% | 10.5% | 11.5% | +1.1 ppsince 2014 | 38.6% | 36.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 65.1%2024 | 30/210 | 8/55 | 63.8% | 66.3% | 65.5% | +0.3 ppsince 2014 | 29.1% | 28.2% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 6.3%2024 | 126/206 | 44/53 | 7.1% | 6.4% | 6.4% | −0.5 ppsince 2014 | 12.3% | 9.0% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 4.0%2025 | 157/213 | 53/55 | · | · | 4.0% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 13.2% | 22.2% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 3.4%2022 | 116/177 | 36/47 | 2.0% | 1.7% | 3.2% | +1.4 ppsince 2012 | 6.7% | 6.4% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 9,400 m³2022 | 49/183 | 11/48 | 12,877 m³ | 10,745 m³ | 9,723 m³ | −12%since 2012 | 7,674 m³ | 10,983 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 7,325 kg/ha2024 | 12/179 | 1/48 | 7,796 kg/ha | 7,456 kg/ha | 7,125 kg/ha | −14%since 2014 | 4,045 kg/ha | 5,394 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person−22%6.04 t in 2024
- GHG per person−22%11.06 t in 2024
- GHG emissions−9.8%59.7 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions−9.9%32.6 Mt in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Water withdrawals+1.4 pp3.4% in 2022
- Freshwater per person−12%9,400 m³ in 2022
- Cereal yield−14%7,325 kg/ha in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Ireland and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Ireland. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Ireland | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 6.04 t2024 | 4.22 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 11.06 t2024 | 5.58 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 59.7 Mt2024 | 386.7 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 32.6 Mt2024 | 292.4 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 18.1 Mt2024 | 58.9 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 12.7%2021 | 12.2%2021 |
| Renewable power | 37.2%2021 | 40.2%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 7.5 µg/m³2023 | 9.5 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 12.0%2024 | 13.5%2024 |