Latvia

Northern Europe, Europe

CO2 emissions per person
3.45
t CO2/person/year · 2024
102nd of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
1.19
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
24th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
29.7
% of primary energy · 2024
12th of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
12.7
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
141st of 241 countries
19402025

Latvia 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

051950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2024low 1941

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

6.46 Mt CO2/year · 2024
-38% since 1994129th highest of 215 · 2024
010201850190019502000high 1985

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

3.45 t CO2/person/year · 2024
-16% since 1994102nd highest of 213 · 2024
05101850190019502000high 1985

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

1.19 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+1.4 °C since 199524th highest of 193 · 2025
-20219401960198020002020Worldhigh 2024low 1941

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

2.29 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-24% since 1994146th highest of 199 · 2024
0241850190019502000high 1992low 2000

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

13.9 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+42% since 1994137th highest of 199 · 2024
01020301850190019502000high 1985low 2000

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

2.19 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+16% since 1994114th highest of 201 · 2024
0121850190019502000high 1987

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

13.4 Mt CO2/year · 2023
-4.5% since 199395th highest of 120 · 2023
010201990200020102020low 2009

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

224.3 kg CO2/person/year · 2019
+42% since 201738th highest of 111 · 2019
010020020172017.520182018.52019World

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

29.7 % of primary energy · 2024
+10 pp since 199412th highest of 79 · 2024
01020301990200020102020high 2023

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

70.3 % of primary energy · 2024
-10 pp since 199461st highest of 79 · 2024
0501990200020102020low 2023

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

20,722 kWh/person/year · 2024
+9.0% since 199457th highest of 79 · 2024
020k40k1990200020102020low 2000

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

13.1 % of electricity · 2025
+13 pp since 199524th highest of 90 · 2025
05101990200020102020

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

3.51 % of electricity · 2025
+3.5 pp since 199549th highest of 88 · 2025
0241990200020102020high 2024

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

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2025
+0.0 pp since 199561st highest of 89 · 2025
-1011990200020102020

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

Electric car sales

19.0 % of new cars · 2025
+19 pp since 201525th highest of 59 · 2025
0102020162018202020222024World

The share of newly sold cars that are electric. Norway crossed 90% in the early 2020s; most of the world is following. International Energy Agency via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.80 % of electricity · 2025
-12 pp since 199564th highest of 90 · 2025
010201990200020102020high 1996low 2006

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

Gas electricity

26.2 % of electricity · 2025
+13 pp since 199536th highest of 87 · 2025
020401990200020102020high 2019low 1994

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

56,604 ha/year · 2024
+128% since 200154th highest of 197 · 2024
020k40k60k2005201020152020high 2019low 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

55.7 % of land · 2025
+4.2 pp since 199544th highest of 212 · 2025
02040601990200020102020World

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

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
01220002005201020152020high 2007

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

0.99 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
+0.0% since 19942nd highest of 244 · 2024
00.51200020102020

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

18.5 % of land area · 2024
+0.3 pp since 201395th highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

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

82.7 kg/person/year · 2023
+25% since 199340th highest of 176 · 2023
050200020102020Worldlow 1999

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

58.6 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+151% since 199371st highest of 198 · 2023
0204060200020102020high 2020low 1995

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

16.4 % of territorial waters · 2024
-0.5 pp since 201334th 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

68.6 % living in cities · 2025
-0.6 pp since 1995110th highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020Worldhigh 1988

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

1.02 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
-0.7 pp since 2000164th highest of 179 · 2022
05101520002005201020152020Worldhigh 2009low 2014

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

9,014 m³/person/year · 2022
+39% since 199250th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k200020102020World

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

97.0 % of population · 2024
+4.5 pp since 200044th highest of 159 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldlow 2001

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

833.2 mm/year · 2025
+13% since 1995114th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1981low 1942

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

7.80 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+13 pp since 199540th highest of 192 · 2025
-2002019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1981low 1942

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

Safely managed sanitation

92.5 % of population · 2024
+13 pp since 200032nd highest of 145 · 2024
05020002005201020152020Worldlow 2001

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

12.7 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-37% since 1998141st highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2007low 2022

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

What can one person do?

Fossil fuels still supply 70% 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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