emissions of air pollutants in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: emissions of air pollutants was 119,214 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
119,214 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
140th
of 220 countries
All-time high
153,860 tonnes
in 2001
All-time low
377.69 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Hong Kong, 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 Hong Kong is 119,214 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Hong Kong peaked at 153,860 tonnes in 2001 and was at its lowest, 377.69 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Hong Kong 140th 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 Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 377.69 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 379.27 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 380.84 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 382.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 383.99 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 385.56 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 387.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 388.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 390.28 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 391.86 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 393.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 395.07 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 396.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 398.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 399.99 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 401.63 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 403.27 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 404.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 406.55 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 408.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 409.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 411.53 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 413.24 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 414.95 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 416.65 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 418.36 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 420.07 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 421.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 423.49 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 425.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 426.9 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 428.68 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 430.46 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 432.24 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 434.01 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 435.79 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 437.57 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 439.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 441.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 442.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 444.69 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 446.54 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 448.39 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 450.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 452.1 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 453.95 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 455.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 457.66 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 459.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 461.36 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 463.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 465.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 467.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 469.01 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 470.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 472.87 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 474.8 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 476.73 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 478.66 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 480.59 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 482.52 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 484.53 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 486.54 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 488.55 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 490.56 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 492.57 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 494.58 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 496.59 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 498.6 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 500.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 502.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 512.67 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1822 | 522.73 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1823 | 532.78 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1824 | 542.83 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1825 | 552.88 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1826 | 562.94 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1827 | 572.99 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1828 | 583.04 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1829 | 593.09 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1830 | 603.15 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1831 | 615.71 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 628.28 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1833 | 640.84 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1834 | 653.41 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1835 | 665.97 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1836 | 678.54 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1837 | 691.11 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1838 | 703.67 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1839 | 716.24 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1840 | 728.8 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1841 | 738.85 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1842 | 748.91 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1843 | 758.96 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1844 | 769.01 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1845 | 779.06 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1846 | 789.12 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1847 | 799.17 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1848 | 809.22 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1849 | 819.27 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1850 | 829.33 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1851 | 906.2 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1852 | 1,020 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1853 | 1,138 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1854 | 1,262 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1855 | 1,393 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1856 | 1,531 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1857 | 1,678 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1858 | 1,835 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1859 | 2,002 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1860 | 2,182 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1861 | 2,376 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1862 | 2,449 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1863 | 2,522 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1864 | 2,595 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1865 | 2,669 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1866 | 2,742 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1867 | 2,829 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1868 | 2,916 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1869 | 3,004 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1870 | 3,091 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1871 | 3,178 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 3,278 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 3,379 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1874 | 3,480 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 3,582 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1876 | 3,685 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1877 | 3,795 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1878 | 3,906 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1879 | 4,018 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1880 | 4,131 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1881 | 4,245 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 4,383 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1883 | 4,523 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1884 | 4,667 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1885 | 4,814 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1886 | 4,963 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1887 | 5,066 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1888 | 5,170 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1889 | 5,274 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1890 | 5,378 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1891 | 5,574 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1892 | 5,770 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1893 | 5,968 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1894 | 6,166 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1895 | 6,366 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1896 | 6,566 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1897 | 6,837 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1898 | 7,114 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1899 | 7,398 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1900 | 7,690 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1901 | 7,783 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 7,970 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1903 | 8,142 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1904 | 8,300 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1905 | 8,443 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 8,571 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1907 | 8,718 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1908 | 8,852 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 8,973 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1910 | 9,081 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1911 | 9,156 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1912 | 9,351 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1913 | 10,099 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1914 | 10,218 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 10,330 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 10,437 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1917 | 10,539 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1918 | 10,635 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1919 | 10,725 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1920 | 10,810 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1921 | 10,486 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1922 | 10,443 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1923 | 10,526 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1924 | 10,919 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1925 | 5,279 tonnes | -51.7% |
| 1926 | 5,085 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1927 | 4,877 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1928 | 4,655 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1929 | 4,418 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1930 | 4,166 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1931 | 4,268 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1932 | 4,289 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 4,228 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1934 | 4,085 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1935 | 3,861 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1936 | 3,555 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1937 | 3,168 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1938 | 2,700 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 1939 | 2,150 tonnes | -20.4% |
| 1940 | 2,889 tonnes | +34.4% |
| 1941 | 2,920 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1942 | 2,950 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1943 | 2,981 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1944 | 3,011 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1945 | 3,042 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1946 | 3,072 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1947 | 3,103 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1948 | 3,133 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1949 | 3,164 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1950 | 17,677 tonnes | +458.7% |
| 1951 | 19,938 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1952 | 18,452 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1953 | 21,648 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1954 | 21,372 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 20,733 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1956 | 24,538 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1957 | 23,885 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1958 | 22,676 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1959 | 24,287 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1960 | 24,821 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 26,267 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1962 | 26,645 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 28,378 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 26,063 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1965 | 26,919 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 26,497 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 28,058 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1968 | 25,483 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1969 | 28,045 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1970 | 26,568 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1971 | 26,547 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 27,872 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 30,659 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1974 | 28,488 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1975 | 27,139 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1976 | 29,359 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 31,854 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 36,097 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1979 | 44,293 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1980 | 48,505 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1981 | 57,035 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1982 | 60,593 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1983 | 57,724 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 54,670 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1985 | 55,133 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 58,762 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 59,637 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 68,502 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1989 | 71,530 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 73,935 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 75,267 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 80,378 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1993 | 82,988 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 84,401 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 85,501 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 90,734 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 97,246 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1998 | 121,623 tonnes | +25.1% |
| 1999 | 150,052 tonnes | +23.4% |
| 2000 | 136,777 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 153,860 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 2002 | 138,628 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2003 | 125,687 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2004 | 139,416 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 126,088 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 140,879 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 144,848 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 137,279 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 143,240 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 142,231 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 129,793 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 125,174 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2013 | 120,308 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 116,324 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 124,000 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2016 | 125,513 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 135,187 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 135,561 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 133,329 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 137,014 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 119,441 tonnes | -12.8% |
| 2022 | 119,214 tonnes | -0.2% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 119,214 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 79% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 119,214 tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 179,591 tonnes, 66% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Hong Kong 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +458.7% | 3,164 tonnes | 17,677 tonnes |
| 1925 | -51.7% | 10,919 tonnes | 5,279 tonnes |
| 1940 | +34.4% | 2,150 tonnes | 2,889 tonnes |
| 1998 | +25.1% | 97,246 tonnes | 121,623 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 384.78 tonnes | 377.69 tonnes | 391.86 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 400.81 tonnes | 393.43 tonnes | 408.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 417.51 tonnes | 409.82 tonnes | 425.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 434.9 tonnes | 426.9 tonnes | 442.91 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 453.03 tonnes | 444.69 tonnes | 461.36 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 471.9 tonnes | 463.22 tonnes | 480.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 491.56 tonnes | 482.52 tonnes | 500.61 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 547.86 tonnes | 502.62 tonnes | 593.09 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 659.69 tonnes | 603.15 tonnes | 716.24 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 774.04 tonnes | 728.8 tonnes | 819.27 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,359 tonnes | 829.33 tonnes | 2,002 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 2,628 tonnes | 2,182 tonnes | 3,004 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 3,539 tonnes | 3,091 tonnes | 4,018 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 4,724 tonnes | 4,131 tonnes | 5,274 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 6,314 tonnes | 5,378 tonnes | 7,398 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 8,344 tonnes | 7,690 tonnes | 8,973 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 10,057 tonnes | 9,081 tonnes | 10,725 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 7,750 tonnes | 4,418 tonnes | 10,919 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 3,647 tonnes | 2,150 tonnes | 4,289 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3,027 tonnes | 2,889 tonnes | 3,164 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 21,521 tonnes | 17,677 tonnes | 24,538 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 26,718 tonnes | 24,821 tonnes | 28,378 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 30,888 tonnes | 26,547 tonnes | 44,293 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 59,209 tonnes | 48,505 tonnes | 71,530 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 94,212 tonnes | 73,935 tonnes | 150,052 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 138,670 tonnes | 125,687 tonnes | 153,860 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 128,742 tonnes | 116,324 tonnes | 142,231 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 125,223 tonnes | 119,214 tonnes | 137,014 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More climate change data for Hong Kong
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.42 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.441 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.2868 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.0% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.3349 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.3349 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 1 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -76.56 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Hong Kong?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Hong Kong was 119,214 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 153,860 tonnes in 2001.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 377.69 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Hong Kong rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Hong Kong ranks 140th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.