Carbon Emissions
Bangladesh’s carbon footprint, per person and compared with its neighbours.
2 research articles · 3 data insights
Bangladesh's lights run on fossil fuels — and the gas that powered them is giving way to costlier coal and imports
In 2024, 97.7% of Bangladesh's electricity came from gas, coal and oil, and net imports met 48% of energy use. Demand keeps rising while the cheapest domestic fuel loses ground.
Bangladesh's air is cutting years off its people's lives
Bangladesh has some of the most polluted air on Earth. Fine particles at more than ten times the WHO guideline shorten the average life by around five years — more in Dhaka.
The average Bangladeshi emits about 0.7 tonnes of CO₂ a year — a sixth of the world average
Bangladesh's CO₂ emissions have grown more than fivefold since 1990, but at 0.72 tonnes per person in 2024 they remain far below South Asia (1.98) and the world (4.69).
Bangladesh's greenhouse gas emissions have tripled since 1990
Total greenhouse gas emissions rose from 75 to 221 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent between 1990 and 2024 — still under 0.5% of the global total.
Renewables' share of Bangladesh's energy has fallen from 72% to 25%
In 1990 almost three-quarters of Bangladesh's energy came from renewables — mostly firewood and dung. By 2021 the share was 25%, and modern renewables still supply under 2% of electricity.