Qatar: environment

What are Qatar's carbon emissions?

Qatar emitted 162.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, excluding land use and forestry, according to the World Bank. Carbon dioxide emissions were 47.3 tonnes per person, according to the World Bank per capita series.

The total covers the six Kyoto Protocol gases from energy, industry, waste and agriculture. Per capita figures divide by the resident population.

Official sources: World Bank API: Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF, Qatar · World Bank API: CO2 emissions per capita, Qatar

How much renewable energy does Qatar use?

Renewable sources supplied 0.72% of Qatar's total final energy consumption in 2023, up from 0.25% in 2022, according to the National Planning Council's SDG 7.2.1 dataset. KAHRAMAA reported electricity generation of 59,641 gigawatt hours in 2025, compared with 58,493 in 2024.

The renewable share measures energy actually consumed by end users that comes from sources such as solar, wind and biofuels; it is not installed capacity.

Official sources: Qatar Open Data API: Renewable energy share in total final energy consumption · Qatar Open Data API: Annual electricity generation

What is the air quality in Qatar?

People in Qatar were exposed to an average PM2.5 concentration of 107.8 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023, according to the World Bank.

PM2.5 refers to fine particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller. Mean annual exposure is a population-weighted average. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change publishes annual air quality ratings for monitoring stations in Doha on the open data portal.

Official sources: World Bank API: PM2.5 mean annual exposure, Qatar · Qatar Open Data: Annual Average of Air Quality, Doha City

How much water does Qatar produce?

Qatar produced 666 million cubic metres of water in 2025, down from 676 million in 2024, according to KAHRAMAA's annual water production dataset. Production has stayed between 666 and 691 million cubic metres a year since 2020.

Qatar has almost no rivers or lakes, and most drinking water comes from desalination of seawater. Freshwater withdrawals are equal to 431% of renewable freshwater resources, according to World Bank Open Data. A level above 100% means withdrawals exceed renewable freshwater resources. 95.35% of the population used safely managed drinking water in 2024, the World Bank shows.

Official sources: annual water production dataset · World Bank Open Data (API) · the World Bank shows (API)

How much electricity does each person in Qatar use?

Electricity consumption in Qatar was 16,454 kilowatt hours per person in 2024, based on electricity distributed, according to KAHRAMAA's per capita electricity consumption dataset. Excluding large industrial users it was 12,549 kWh, down from 13,413 kWh in 2023.

KAHRAMAA gives several measures: based on total generation, the figure was 18,577 kWh per person. Almost all of Qatar's electricity is generated from natural gas,. Per person figures fall when the population grows faster than consumption.

Official sources: per capita electricity consumption dataset

What is Qatar's carbon footprint per person?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 47.3 tonnes. The peak was 53.6 tonnes in 2012 and the low 39.8 tonnes in 2009. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 3.6 tonnes, and Qatar placed 1st highest of 22. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 2nd highest.

How much greenhouse gas does Qatar emit?

In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions in Qatar was 163 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 103 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent; Qatar is 9th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 41st of 186.

How much of Qatar's energy is renewable?

In 2021, the renewable share of final energy use in Qatar was 0.0%, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 3.4%; Qatar is 21st highest of 22. Worldwide: 189th of 191.

What is Qatar's forest cover?

0.1%: that is forest area as a share of land in Qatar for 2024, according to the FAO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 19th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 1.6%. World rank, highest first: 187th of 190.

How polluted is the air in Qatar?

In 2023, average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Qatar was 107.8 micrograms per cubic metre, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. The peak was 120.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2005 and the low 90.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2007. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 40.3 micrograms per cubic metre, and Qatar placed 1st highest of 22. Worldwide: 1st of 192.

What share of Qatar is protected land?

15.6%: that is the share of land in protected areas in Qatar for 2025, according to the UN Environment Programme. Since 2013 it has ranged from 2.4% (2013) to 15.8% (2020). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 9.8%, and Qatar placed 8th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 112th of 192.

How much of Qatar's fresh water is used?

In 2022, water stress in Qatar was 431.0%, according to the FAO. The peak was 434.7% in 2014 and the low 374.1% in 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 116.7%, and Qatar placed 5th highest of 21. Worldwide: 5th of 175.