emissions of air pollutants in Denmark
Denmark: emissions of air pollutants was 183,104 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
183,104 tonnes
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
123rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.12 million tonnes
in 1963
All-time low
183,104 tonnes
in 2022
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Denmark, 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 Denmark is 183,104 tonnes, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 273 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 35.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Denmark peaked at 1.12 million tonnes in 1963 and was at its lowest, 183,104 tonnes, in 2022.
That places Denmark 123rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
emissions of air pollutants in Denmark, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 185,861 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 186,007 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 186,150 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 186,288 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 186,423 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 186,554 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 186,681 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 186,805 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 186,924 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 187,040 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 187,152 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 187,284 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 187,411 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 187,535 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 187,655 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 187,771 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 187,883 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 187,991 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 188,096 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 188,196 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 188,292 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 188,408 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 188,520 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 188,628 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 188,732 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 188,832 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 188,927 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 189,019 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 189,106 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 189,190 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 189,269 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 189,368 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 189,463 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 189,554 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 189,640 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 189,722 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 189,800 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 189,874 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 189,944 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 190,009 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 190,070 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 190,151 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 190,227 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 190,299 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 190,367 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 190,430 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 190,489 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 190,543 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 190,593 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 190,639 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 190,680 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 190,741 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 190,798 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 190,849 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 190,897 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 190,940 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 190,978 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 191,011 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 191,041 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 191,065 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 191,085 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 192,624 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 194,147 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 195,656 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 197,150 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 198,628 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1816 | 200,092 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1817 | 201,541 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1818 | 202,975 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1819 | 204,394 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 205,798 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 207,168 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 208,523 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1823 | 209,863 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1824 | 211,189 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 212,500 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 213,795 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 215,077 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 216,343 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 217,594 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 218,831 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 219,470 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 220,099 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 220,718 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 221,326 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 221,923 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 222,510 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 223,086 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 223,652 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 224,207 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1840 | 224,751 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1841 | 226,242 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 227,715 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1843 | 229,841 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1844 | 231,387 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1845 | 233,060 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1846 | 234,552 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 235,665 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1848 | 237,719 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1849 | 238,868 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1850 | 240,578 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1851 | 242,742 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1852 | 245,199 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1853 | 247,157 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 249,676 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1855 | 251,941 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1856 | 255,470 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1857 | 257,515 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 257,177 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1859 | 260,021 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1860 | 260,541 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1861 | 264,587 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1862 | 264,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 266,605 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 265,667 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1865 | 270,217 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1866 | 269,895 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1867 | 270,475 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 273,136 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1869 | 272,041 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1870 | 274,757 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1871 | 274,779 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 273,481 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1873 | 273,065 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1874 | 273,857 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 276,279 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 276,585 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 275,783 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1878 | 273,904 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1879 | 275,326 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1880 | 276,835 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1881 | 276,001 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1882 | 275,396 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1883 | 276,844 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1884 | 274,222 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1885 | 273,527 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1886 | 270,763 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1887 | 269,929 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1888 | 272,218 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1889 | 272,745 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 268,586 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1891 | 269,728 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 270,189 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1893 | 264,062 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1894 | 269,079 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1895 | 270,213 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1896 | 278,908 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1897 | 279,307 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1898 | 277,344 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1899 | 279,106 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1900 | 272,103 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1901 | 271,176 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1902 | 268,943 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1903 | 267,966 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1904 | 270,201 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1905 | 263,421 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1906 | 266,697 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 252,058 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1908 | 267,883 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1909 | 274,509 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1910 | 260,895 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1911 | 259,586 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1912 | 270,417 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1913 | 264,522 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1914 | 258,538 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1915 | 257,564 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1916 | 265,523 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1917 | 237,154 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1918 | 262,910 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1919 | 263,950 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1920 | 253,038 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1921 | 234,545 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1922 | 267,526 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1923 | 265,358 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1924 | 273,669 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1925 | 236,908 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1926 | 226,994 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1927 | 252,375 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1928 | 231,882 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1929 | 251,612 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1930 | 230,100 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1931 | 233,477 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1932 | 221,783 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1933 | 217,515 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1934 | 226,385 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1935 | 229,642 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 241,320 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1937 | 254,242 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1938 | 241,613 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1939 | 267,900 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1940 | 257,197 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1941 | 287,707 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1942 | 273,004 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1943 | 322,833 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1944 | 316,661 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1945 | 247,566 tonnes | -21.8% |
| 1946 | 300,347 tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1947 | 359,290 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1948 | 310,444 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1949 | 319,203 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1950 | 463,184 tonnes | +45.1% |
| 1951 | 484,607 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 520,513 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1953 | 530,397 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 585,007 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1955 | 655,299 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1956 | 654,673 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1957 | 646,447 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1958 | 678,250 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1959 | 702,398 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1960 | 1.03 million tonnes | +46.0% |
| 1961 | 1.05 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 1.09 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 1.12 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 1.10 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 1.05 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1966 | 1.01 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1967 | 989,086 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1968 | 919,174 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 957,686 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 906,292 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1971 | 825,091 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1972 | 863,973 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 901,572 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 781,105 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1975 | 759,402 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 788,798 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 796,817 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 849,440 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1979 | 858,605 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 837,220 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 836,414 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 833,197 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 824,883 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 837,225 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 846,298 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 820,399 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 799,483 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 754,936 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 709,872 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 712,444 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 744,016 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 725,802 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 715,221 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 675,165 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1995 | 639,100 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 621,201 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1997 | 571,405 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1998 | 536,122 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 487,533 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 467,927 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 458,325 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 432,089 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 433,727 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 416,936 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 417,178 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 403,191 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 410,490 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 388,781 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 351,689 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 343,249 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 303,752 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 2012 | 283,861 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 270,629 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 248,627 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 251,875 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 244,005 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 233,395 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 216,670 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 201,629 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 186,583 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 186,885 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 183,104 tonnes | -2.0% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 183,104 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 1.2× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 183,104 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 280,480 tonnes, 65% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Denmark changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +46.0% | 702,398 tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes |
| 1950 | +45.1% | 319,203 tonnes | 463,184 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 186,473 tonnes | 185,861 tonnes | 187,040 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 187,697 tonnes | 187,152 tonnes | 188,196 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 188,765 tonnes | 188,292 tonnes | 189,190 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 189,664 tonnes | 189,269 tonnes | 190,009 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 190,381 tonnes | 190,070 tonnes | 190,639 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 190,900 tonnes | 190,680 tonnes | 191,065 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 197,829 tonnes | 191,085 tonnes | 204,394 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 211,785 tonnes | 205,798 tonnes | 217,594 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 221,582 tonnes | 218,831 tonnes | 224,207 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 231,980 tonnes | 224,751 tonnes | 238,868 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 250,748 tonnes | 240,578 tonnes | 260,021 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 267,783 tonnes | 260,541 tonnes | 273,136 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 274,782 tonnes | 273,065 tonnes | 276,585 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 273,848 tonnes | 269,929 tonnes | 276,844 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 272,652 tonnes | 264,062 tonnes | 279,307 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 267,496 tonnes | 252,058 tonnes | 274,509 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 260,106 tonnes | 237,154 tonnes | 270,417 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 249,391 tonnes | 226,994 tonnes | 273,669 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 236,398 tonnes | 217,515 tonnes | 267,900 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 299,425 tonnes | 247,566 tonnes | 359,290 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 592,078 tonnes | 463,184 tonnes | 702,398 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.03 million tonnes | 919,174 tonnes | 1.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 833,110 tonnes | 759,402 tonnes | 906,292 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 809,993 tonnes | 709,872 tonnes | 846,298 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 642,801 tonnes | 487,533 tonnes | 744,016 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 418,033 tonnes | 351,689 tonnes | 467,927 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 259,769 tonnes | 201,629 tonnes | 343,249 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 185,524 tonnes | 183,104 tonnes | 186,885 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More climate change data for Denmark
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 184.48 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 8,374 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,827 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 6,546 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.9 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 233.8 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,637 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,616 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 20.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 6.1 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Denmark?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Denmark was 183,104 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 1.12 million tonnes in 1963.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 183,104 tonnes in 2022.
- How does Denmark rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Denmark ranks 123rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.