What is emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan?

Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan was 1.10 million tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Afghanistan?

The highest recorded value was 1.13 million tonnes in 2021.

What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Afghanistan?

The lowest recorded value was 142,073 tonnes in 1750.

How does Afghanistan rank for emissions of air pollutants?

Afghanistan ranks 51st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Afghanistan?

Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Afghanistan data come from?

The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan

Name: emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan
Creator: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Afghanistan: emissions of air pollutants was 1.10 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

1.10 million tonnes

Change on year

down 2.5%

World rank

51st

of 220 countries

All-time high

1.13 million tonnes

in 2021

All-time low

142,073 tonnes

in 1750

Years of data

273

1750–2022

emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan, 1750–2022

Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 1.10 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.

That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan peaked at 1.13 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 142,073 tonnes, in 1750.

That places Afghanistan 51st out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1750s	144,678 tonnes	142,073 tonnes	147,281 tonnes	10
1760s	150,564 tonnes	147,859 tonnes	153,267 tonnes	10
1770s	156,675 tonnes	153,867 tonnes	159,481 tonnes	10
1780s	163,018 tonnes	160,104 tonnes	165,930 tonnes	10
1790s	169,600 tonnes	166,577 tonnes	172,620 tonnes	10
1800s	176,425 tonnes	173,291 tonnes	179,557 tonnes	10
1810s	183,502 tonnes	180,253 tonnes	186,748 tonnes	10
1820s	190,118 tonnes	187,468 tonnes	192,766 tonnes	10
1830s	198,017 tonnes	193,354 tonnes	202,676 tonnes	10
1840s	208,606 tonnes	203,710 tonnes	213,496 tonnes	10
1850s	222,707 tonnes	214,581 tonnes	230,970 tonnes	10
1860s	241,861 tonnes	232,848 tonnes	251,028 tonnes	10
1870s	274,645 tonnes	265,403 tonnes	283,925 tonnes	10
1880s	297,439 tonnes	286,000 tonnes	309,170 tonnes	10
1890s	324,628 tonnes	311,868 tonnes	337,451 tonnes	10
1900s	368,536 tonnes	340,320 tonnes	398,040 tonnes	10
1910s	402,063 tonnes	398,578 tonnes	404,882 tonnes	10
1920s	399,639 tonnes	396,881 tonnes	402,563 tonnes	10
1930s	406,748 tonnes	403,047 tonnes	409,991 tonnes	10
1940s	393,755 tonnes	331,053 tonnes	429,163 tonnes	10
1950s	321,610 tonnes	290,927 tonnes	372,790 tonnes	10
1960s	342,058 tonnes	298,062 tonnes	386,723 tonnes	10
1970s	502,523 tonnes	404,257 tonnes	702,761 tonnes	10
1980s	659,128 tonnes	480,666 tonnes	808,352 tonnes	10
1990s	642,408 tonnes	376,883 tonnes	1.01 million tonnes	10
2000s	380,732 tonnes	281,569 tonnes	655,042 tonnes	10
2010s	987,646 tonnes	818,145 tonnes	1.10 million tonnes	10
2020s	1.12 million tonnes	1.10 million tonnes	1.13 million tonnes	3

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

48 United Kingdom 1.21 million tonnes compare
49 Ukraine 1.20 million tonnes compare
50 Somalia 1.16 million tonnes compare
52 Ghana 1.09 million tonnes compare
53 Haiti 1.08 million tonnes compare
54 Spain 1.03 million tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More climate change data for Afghanistan

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 1.3% (2100)
Population growth 2.8% (2025)
Population, total 43.84 million (2025)
Urban population growth 3.7% (2025)
Urban population 11.37 million (2025)
Urban population 25.9% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.2538 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 242.63 million tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 0.2538 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 0.2538 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan?: Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan was 1.10 million tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Afghanistan?: The highest recorded value was 1.13 million tonnes in 2021.
What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Afghanistan?: The lowest recorded value was 142,073 tonnes in 1750.
How does Afghanistan rank for emissions of air pollutants?: Afghanistan ranks 51st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Afghanistan?: Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?: The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: emissions of air pollutants
Unit: tonnes
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a pollutant produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels such as oil, gas, wood, and coal. CO is a harmful gas that contributes to both outdoor and indoor air pollution.