Sri Lanka

Southern Asia, Asia

CO2 emissions per person
0.90
t CO2/person/year · 2024
161st of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.36
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
158th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
23.3
% of primary energy · 2024
23rd of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
20.7
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
78th of 241 countries
19402025

Sri Lanka in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

0241950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2024low 1942

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

20.8 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+290% since 199488th highest of 215 · 2024
010201960198020002020high 2016low 1956

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

0.90 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+192% since 1994161st highest of 213 · 2024
00.511960198020002020high 2016low 1956

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

0.36 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+0.4 °C since 1995158th highest of 193 · 2025
-1019401960198020002020Worldhigh 2024low 1942

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

11.1 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+10.0% since 199498th highest of 199 · 2024
05101850190019502000low 1851

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

42.7 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+24% since 1994103rd highest of 199 · 2024
0501850190019502000high 1962low 1879

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

2.04 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-2.1% since 1994116th highest of 201 · 2024
01231850190019502000high 2020

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Consumption-based CO2

46.4 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+1038% since 199361st highest of 120 · 2023
020401990200020102020

CO2 counted where goods are used rather than where they are made. Compare with production emissions to see who imports their footprint. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

72.5 kg CO2/person/year · 2018
+33% since 201370th highest of 144 · 2018
050100201320142015201620172018World

Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Renewable energy share

23.3 % of primary energy · 2024
-7.4 pp since 199423rd highest of 79 · 2024
0102030197019801990200020102020high 1995low 1973

The slice of a country's energy that comes from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Fossil fuel share

76.8 % of primary energy · 2024
+7.4 pp since 199448th highest of 79 · 2024
050197019801990200020102020high 1973low 1995

The slice of a country's energy still coming from coal, oil and gas. The number the world is trying to shrink. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Energy use per person

4,819 kWh/person/year · 2024
+120% since 199477th highest of 79 · 2024
02k4k197019801990200020102020high 2018

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

16.5 % of electricity · 2025
+16 pp since 199518th highest of 90 · 2025
0510151990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

5.39 % of electricity · 2025
+5.4 pp since 199539th highest of 88 · 2025
0241990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

27.5 % of electricity · 2025
+19 pp since 201122nd highest of 89 · 2025
02040201520202025high 2020

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

10.8 % of electricity · 2025
-42 pp since 20009th highest of 90 · 2025
0204060200020052010201520202025high 2004

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

11,720 ha/year · 2024
+217% since 200182nd highest of 197 · 2024
05k10k15k2005201020152020high 2016low 2003

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

34.3 % of land · 2025
-2.9 pp since 1995101st highest of 212 · 2025
020401990200020102020Worldlow 2015

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

34.1 deaths/year · 2021
+218% since 200027th highest of 194 · 2021
010k20k30k20002005201020152020high 2004low 2001

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.56 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-15% since 1994239th highest of 244 · 2024
00.20.40.6200020102020low 2022

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

30.0 % of land area · 2024
+8.0 pp since 201336th highest of 213 · 2024
0102030201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

11.6 kg/person/year · 2023
+153% since 1993163rd highest of 176 · 2023
02040198020002020Worldhigh 2021low 1988

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

46.5 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-24% since 199390th highest of 198 · 2023
050100198020002020high 2020low 1963

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

0.10 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2013134th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

20.5 % living in cities · 2025
+4.6 pp since 1995228th highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020Worldhigh 1972low 2001

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

90.8 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
-0.4 pp since 200019th highest of 179 · 2022
05020002005201020152020Worldlow 2005

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

2,380 m³/person/year · 2022
-25% since 199293rd highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

46.9 % of population · 2024
+1.7 pp since 2000123rd highest of 159 · 2024
020406020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2018

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

2,057 mm/year · 2025
+32% since 199528th highest of 192 · 2025
01k2k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 2023low 1950

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

25.7 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+31 pp since 19959th highest of 192 · 2025
019401960198020002020Worldhigh 2023low 1950

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

20.7 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+52% since 199878th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2018

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

8.58 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-96% since 199158th highest of 168 · 2021
02004006001990200020102020high 1996low 1989

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

Fossil fuels still supply 77% of the energy used here, so switching your home to a genuinely renewable tariff matters.

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

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