Methane Emissions by Country 2026

Methane emissions measure the amount of methane gas released into the atmosphere and are a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions vary widely by country based on differences in energy production, agriculture, waste management, and economic scale. The sections that follow focus on countries with the highest and lowest methane emissions and the factors behind those results. Methane emissions are commonly expressed in tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).

Countries with the Highest Methane Emissions

Countries with the highest methane emissions tend to be the world’s largest economies, led by China (1.8 billion tons CO₂e), followed by the United States (861.4 million tons CO₂e) and India (848.5 million tons CO₂e). In these countries, everyday systems that support large populations—such as energy production, food supply, and waste management—also generate significant methane emissions at scale. In other words, the same infrastructure that powers modern life in large nations helps explain why they appear at the top of global methane emissions.

Countries With the Lowest Methane Emissions

Countries with the lowest methane emissions are typically small island nations, such as Nauru (900 tons CO₂e), Tuvalu (2,600 tons CO₂e), and Kiribati (27,200 tons CO₂e). This is largely due to their small populations, minimal industrial activity, and limited energy and waste infrastructure. In most cases, low emissions are driven by limited economic scale rather than targeted efforts to reduce methane.

The United States and Methane Emissions

The United States is among the larger methane-emitting countries globally. This is largely driven by the country’s extensive energy production, large agricultural sector, and complex waste-management systems, showing how methane emissions tend to mirror the structure and scale of a country’s underlying systems.

Approaches to Reducing Methane Gas Emissions

Methane emissions can be reduced by targeting the primary sources across key economic sectors. This includes such measures as reducing leaks in energy infrastructure, improving agricultural practices, and capturing emissions from waste systems. Together, these approaches are meant to lower emissions without altering the essential systems that support modern economic activity.