emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: emissions of air pollutants was 5.25 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
5.25 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
12th
of 220 countries
All-time high
5.50 million tonnes
in 2017
All-time low
149,409 tonnes
in 1810
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo is 5.25 million tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 30.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 5.50 million tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 149,409 tonnes, in 1810.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 12th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 149,854 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 149,859 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 149,865 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 149,870 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 149,875 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 149,880 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 149,886 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 149,891 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 149,896 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 149,901 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 149,906 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 149,907 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 149,908 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 149,909 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 149,910 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 149,911 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 149,912 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 149,913 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 149,913 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 149,914 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 149,915 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 149,911 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1772 | 149,907 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1773 | 149,903 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1774 | 149,899 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1775 | 149,895 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1776 | 149,891 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1777 | 149,887 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1778 | 149,883 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1779 | 149,879 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1780 | 149,875 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1781 | 149,865 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1782 | 149,856 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1783 | 149,847 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1784 | 149,838 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1785 | 149,828 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1786 | 149,819 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1787 | 149,809 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1788 | 149,800 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1789 | 149,790 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1790 | 149,781 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1791 | 149,766 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1792 | 149,750 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1793 | 149,735 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1794 | 149,720 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1795 | 149,705 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1796 | 149,689 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1797 | 149,674 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1798 | 149,658 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1799 | 149,643 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1800 | 149,628 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1801 | 149,606 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1802 | 149,584 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1803 | 149,562 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1804 | 149,541 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1805 | 149,519 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1806 | 149,497 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1807 | 149,475 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1808 | 149,453 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1809 | 149,431 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1810 | 149,409 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1811 | 149,456 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 149,503 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 149,549 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 149,595 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 149,642 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 149,688 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 149,734 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 149,780 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 149,825 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 149,871 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 149,910 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 149,949 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 149,987 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 150,026 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 150,064 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 150,102 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 150,140 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 150,178 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 150,216 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 150,254 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 150,284 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 150,314 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 150,344 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 150,373 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 150,403 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 150,432 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 150,461 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 150,490 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 150,519 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 150,548 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 150,568 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 150,588 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 150,608 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 150,628 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 150,648 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 150,667 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 150,687 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 150,706 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 150,725 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 150,749 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 153,129 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1852 | 155,546 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1853 | 157,999 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 160,489 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1855 | 163,016 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1856 | 165,596 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1857 | 168,215 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1858 | 170,874 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 173,573 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1860 | 176,312 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1861 | 179,093 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1862 | 181,917 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1863 | 184,784 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1864 | 187,694 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1865 | 190,649 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1866 | 193,649 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1867 | 196,696 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1868 | 199,790 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1869 | 202,931 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1870 | 206,122 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1871 | 209,420 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 212,768 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1873 | 216,168 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1874 | 219,621 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1875 | 223,127 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1876 | 226,687 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1877 | 230,303 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1878 | 233,975 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1879 | 237,704 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1880 | 241,492 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1881 | 245,354 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1882 | 249,276 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1883 | 253,261 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1884 | 257,308 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1885 | 261,419 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1886 | 265,595 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 269,838 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1888 | 274,148 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1889 | 278,527 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1890 | 282,976 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1891 | 287,511 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1892 | 292,118 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1893 | 296,799 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1894 | 301,556 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1895 | 306,388 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 311,299 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1897 | 316,289 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1898 | 321,360 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1899 | 326,512 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1900 | 331,749 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1901 | 337,673 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1902 | 343,705 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1903 | 349,846 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 356,098 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1905 | 362,463 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1906 | 368,942 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1907 | 375,537 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1908 | 382,251 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1909 | 389,085 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1910 | 396,041 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 403,232 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1912 | 410,556 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 418,015 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1914 | 425,610 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1915 | 433,345 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 441,422 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 449,652 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 458,037 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1919 | 466,581 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1920 | 475,365 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1921 | 429,536 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1922 | 447,985 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1923 | 489,576 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1924 | 500,761 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1925 | 509,629 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 519,409 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 532,492 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 547,711 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1929 | 565,408 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1930 | 579,663 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1931 | 581,381 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1932 | 579,100 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1933 | 582,181 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1934 | 592,048 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 616,051 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1936 | 643,920 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1937 | 676,190 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1938 | 702,781 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1939 | 724,347 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1940 | 744,857 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1941 | 776,161 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1942 | 807,964 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1943 | 835,011 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1944 | 857,579 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1945 | 898,102 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1946 | 951,799 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1947 | 999,927 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1948 | 1.05 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1949 | 1.10 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1950 | 1.18 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1951 | 1.25 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1952 | 1.33 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1953 | 1.40 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 1.48 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 1.57 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1956 | 1.58 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 1.62 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 1.63 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1959 | 1.65 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 1.67 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 1.69 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 1.70 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 1.73 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 1.75 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 1.79 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 1.83 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 1.89 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 1.94 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 1.99 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1970 | 2.01 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1971 | 1.97 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 2.03 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 2.07 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 2.13 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 2.20 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 2.26 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 2.33 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 2.40 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 2.47 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 2.54 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 2.62 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 2.69 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 2.78 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 2.88 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 2.97 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 3.07 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 3.17 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 3.28 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 3.39 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 3.50 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 3.55 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 3.66 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 3.63 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 3.61 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.56 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 3.51 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 3.46 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 3.40 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 3.37 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 3.30 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 3.24 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 3.16 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 3.08 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.99 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.89 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 2.99 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 3.09 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 3.30 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 3.33 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 3.49 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 4.03 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2013 | 4.44 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 4.91 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2015 | 5.04 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 5.20 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 5.50 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 4.87 million tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 4.98 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 5.08 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 5.19 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 5.25 million tonnes | +1.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 5.25 million tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 576,398 tonnes, 9.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 5.25 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 552,241 tonnes, 9.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 149,878 tonnes | 149,854 tonnes | 149,901 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 149,910 tonnes | 149,906 tonnes | 149,914 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 149,897 tonnes | 149,879 tonnes | 149,915 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 149,833 tonnes | 149,790 tonnes | 149,875 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 149,712 tonnes | 149,643 tonnes | 149,781 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 149,530 tonnes | 149,431 tonnes | 149,628 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 149,618 tonnes | 149,409 tonnes | 149,825 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 150,044 tonnes | 149,871 tonnes | 150,216 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 150,387 tonnes | 150,254 tonnes | 150,519 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 150,637 tonnes | 150,548 tonnes | 150,725 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 161,919 tonnes | 150,749 tonnes | 173,573 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 189,352 tonnes | 176,312 tonnes | 202,931 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 221,590 tonnes | 206,122 tonnes | 237,704 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 259,622 tonnes | 241,492 tonnes | 278,527 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 304,281 tonnes | 282,976 tonnes | 326,512 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 359,735 tonnes | 331,749 tonnes | 389,085 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 430,249 tonnes | 396,041 tonnes | 466,581 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 501,787 tonnes | 429,536 tonnes | 565,408 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 627,766 tonnes | 579,100 tonnes | 724,347 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 902,075 tonnes | 744,857 tonnes | 1.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.47 million tonnes | 1.18 million tonnes | 1.65 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.80 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes | 1.99 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.19 million tonnes | 1.97 million tonnes | 2.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.94 million tonnes | 2.54 million tonnes | 3.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.52 million tonnes | 3.37 million tonnes | 3.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.13 million tonnes | 2.89 million tonnes | 3.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.58 million tonnes | 3.33 million tonnes | 5.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.17 million tonnes | 5.08 million tonnes | 5.25 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More climate change data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.2047 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.8778 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 1.05 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 4.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.4511 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate 28.16 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Democratic Republic of Congo was 5.25 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 5.50 million tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 149,409 tonnes in 1810.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 12th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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
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.