emissions of air pollutants in Iran
Iran: emissions of air pollutants was 1.25 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.25 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
46th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.08 million tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
91,301 tonnes
in 1953
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Iran, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Iran recorded 1.25 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Iran peaked at 2.08 million tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 91,301 tonnes, in 1953.
That places Iran 46th 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.
emissions of air pollutants in Iran, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 193,668 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 194,009 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 194,350 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 194,691 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 195,031 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 195,371 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 195,711 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 196,051 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 196,390 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 196,729 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 197,068 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 197,408 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 197,748 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 198,088 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 198,427 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 198,766 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 199,105 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 199,443 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 199,782 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 200,119 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 200,457 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 200,795 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 201,133 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 201,471 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 201,809 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 202,146 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 202,482 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 202,819 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 203,155 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 203,490 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 203,825 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 204,161 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 204,496 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 204,831 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 205,165 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 205,499 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 205,833 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 206,166 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 206,498 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 206,831 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 207,163 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 207,494 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 207,825 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 208,155 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 208,485 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 208,814 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 209,143 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 209,472 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 209,800 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 210,128 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 210,455 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 210,781 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 211,106 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 211,430 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 211,754 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 212,078 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 212,401 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 212,724 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 213,046 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 213,367 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 213,688 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 214,007 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 214,324 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 214,642 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 214,958 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 215,274 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 215,590 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 215,905 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 216,219 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 216,533 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 216,846 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 217,923 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 218,998 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1823 | 220,071 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1824 | 221,142 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1825 | 222,212 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1826 | 223,280 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1827 | 224,347 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1828 | 225,412 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1829 | 226,475 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1830 | 227,536 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1831 | 228,581 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1832 | 229,624 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1833 | 230,665 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1834 | 231,704 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1835 | 232,741 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 233,776 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1837 | 234,810 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 235,842 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1839 | 236,872 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 237,900 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 238,909 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1842 | 239,915 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1843 | 240,920 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 241,923 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1845 | 242,924 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1846 | 243,922 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1847 | 244,919 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1848 | 245,914 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1849 | 246,906 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1850 | 248,312 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1851 | 249,080 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 249,838 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 250,586 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 251,324 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 252,053 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 252,792 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1857 | 253,520 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 254,239 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 254,947 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1860 | 255,644 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 256,330 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1862 | 257,004 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1863 | 257,668 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1864 | 258,321 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 258,963 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 259,614 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 260,254 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 260,882 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 261,499 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 262,105 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 265,256 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1872 | 268,383 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1873 | 271,486 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1874 | 274,565 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1875 | 277,621 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 280,703 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 283,760 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 286,793 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1879 | 289,801 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 292,784 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 295,759 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1882 | 298,708 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 301,630 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1884 | 304,525 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1885 | 307,394 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 310,285 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 313,149 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 315,984 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 318,792 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 321,572 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 323,597 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1892 | 325,595 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1893 | 327,566 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1894 | 329,509 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1895 | 331,424 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 333,364 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1897 | 335,275 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1898 | 337,156 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1899 | 339,009 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 340,833 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 334,712 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1902 | 328,468 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1903 | 322,101 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1904 | 315,615 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1905 | 309,010 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1906 | 302,336 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1907 | 295,543 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1908 | 288,635 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1909 | 281,612 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1910 | 274,476 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1911 | 270,608 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1912 | 266,552 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1913 | 262,409 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1914 | 258,031 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1915 | 253,456 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1916 | 249,163 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1917 | 244,704 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1918 | 240,016 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1919 | 235,173 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1920 | 230,183 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1921 | 225,150 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1922 | 219,955 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1923 | 214,647 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1924 | 209,069 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1925 | 202,707 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1926 | 196,118 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1927 | 189,460 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1928 | 182,451 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1929 | 174,903 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1930 | 167,564 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1931 | 159,560 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1932 | 151,898 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1933 | 144,006 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1934 | 135,805 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1935 | 127,107 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1936 | 118,686 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1937 | 110,235 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1938 | 100,472 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1939 | 101,390 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 102,440 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1941 | 99,678 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1942 | 98,931 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1943 | 95,894 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1944 | 101,775 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1945 | 111,248 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1946 | 112,735 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1947 | 119,803 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1948 | 116,333 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1949 | 120,993 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1950 | 129,376 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1951 | 114,150 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1952 | 98,408 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1953 | 91,301 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1954 | 100,837 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1955 | 100,340 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1956 | 168,208 tonnes | +67.6% |
| 1957 | 195,334 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1958 | 216,041 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1959 | 196,154 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1960 | 298,853 tonnes | +52.4% |
| 1961 | 260,266 tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1962 | 247,532 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1963 | 257,982 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 285,770 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1965 | 287,764 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 285,967 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 291,566 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 337,602 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1969 | 309,156 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1970 | 348,571 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1971 | 388,777 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1972 | 446,448 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1973 | 551,588 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1974 | 618,552 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 715,467 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1976 | 837,206 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1977 | 914,777 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1978 | 918,599 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 953,993 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 813,928 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1981 | 747,956 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1982 | 840,718 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1983 | 1.01 million tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1984 | 1.04 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 1.12 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 1.05 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1987 | 1.09 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 1.10 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1989 | 1.16 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 1.27 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1991 | 1.27 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 1.27 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 1.32 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 1.32 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 1.37 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 1.46 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1998 | 1.51 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 1.57 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 1.72 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 1.83 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 1.97 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 2.02 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.01 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 2.08 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 1.97 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 1.71 million tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 1.57 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 1.43 million tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 1.28 million tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2011 | 1.23 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 1.27 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 1.34 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 1.32 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.28 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 1.30 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 1.28 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 1.29 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.18 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 1.21 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 1.25 million tonnes | +3.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.25 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 286,757 tonnes, 4.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.25 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 315,167 tonnes, 4.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | +67.6% | 100,340 tonnes | 168,208 tonnes |
| 1960 | +52.4% | 196,154 tonnes | 298,853 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 195,200 tonnes | 193,668 tonnes | 196,729 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 198,595 tonnes | 197,068 tonnes | 200,119 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 201,976 tonnes | 200,457 tonnes | 203,490 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 205,330 tonnes | 203,825 tonnes | 206,831 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 208,648 tonnes | 207,163 tonnes | 210,128 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 211,914 tonnes | 210,455 tonnes | 213,367 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 215,114 tonnes | 213,688 tonnes | 216,533 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 221,671 tonnes | 216,846 tonnes | 226,475 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 232,215 tonnes | 227,536 tonnes | 236,872 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 242,415 tonnes | 237,900 tonnes | 246,906 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 251,669 tonnes | 248,312 tonnes | 254,947 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 258,618 tonnes | 255,644 tonnes | 261,499 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 276,047 tonnes | 262,105 tonnes | 289,801 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 305,901 tonnes | 292,784 tonnes | 318,792 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 330,407 tonnes | 321,572 tonnes | 339,009 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 311,886 tonnes | 281,612 tonnes | 340,833 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 255,459 tonnes | 235,173 tonnes | 274,476 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 204,464 tonnes | 174,903 tonnes | 230,183 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 131,672 tonnes | 100,472 tonnes | 167,564 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 107,983 tonnes | 95,894 tonnes | 120,993 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 141,015 tonnes | 91,301 tonnes | 216,041 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 286,246 tonnes | 247,532 tonnes | 337,602 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 669,398 tonnes | 348,571 tonnes | 953,993 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 996,502 tonnes | 747,956 tonnes | 1.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.36 million tonnes | 1.27 million tonnes | 1.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.83 million tonnes | 1.43 million tonnes | 2.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.28 million tonnes | 1.23 million tonnes | 1.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.22 million tonnes | 1.18 million tonnes | 1.25 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More climate change data for Iran
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.0713 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.08 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.2419 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.8% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.9283 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 1.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.7738 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -620.65 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Iran?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Iran was 1.25 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 2.08 million tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 91,301 tonnes in 1953.
- How does Iran rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Iran ranks 46th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.