emissions of air pollutants in Ireland
Ireland: emissions of air pollutants was 108,109 tonnes in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
108,109 tonnes
Change on year
down 12.3%
World rank
142nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.05 million tonnes
in 1840
All-time low
108,109 tonnes
in 2022
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Ireland, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in Ireland stood at 108,109 tonnes. That is the lowest value across all 273 years on record.
The figure is down 12.3% on the previous year and down 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Ireland peaked at 1.05 million tonnes in 1840 and was at its lowest, 108,109 tonnes, in 2022.
That places Ireland 142nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 273 years of available data.
emissions of air pollutants in Ireland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 511,510 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 511,090 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1752 | 510,669 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1753 | 510,246 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1754 | 509,823 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1755 | 509,398 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1756 | 508,972 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1757 | 508,546 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1758 | 508,118 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1759 | 507,689 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1760 | 507,258 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1761 | 506,827 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1762 | 506,395 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1763 | 505,961 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1764 | 505,526 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1765 | 505,090 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1766 | 504,654 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1767 | 504,216 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1768 | 503,776 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1769 | 503,336 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1770 | 502,895 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1771 | 508,463 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1772 | 514,011 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1773 | 519,540 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1774 | 525,048 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1775 | 530,535 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1776 | 536,003 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1777 | 541,450 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1778 | 546,877 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1779 | 552,284 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1780 | 557,671 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1781 | 567,910 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1782 | 578,112 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1783 | 588,279 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1784 | 598,410 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1785 | 608,504 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1786 | 618,564 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1787 | 628,587 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1788 | 638,574 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1789 | 648,525 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1790 | 658,441 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1791 | 662,842 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1792 | 667,226 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1793 | 671,592 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1794 | 675,939 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1795 | 680,269 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1796 | 684,581 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1797 | 688,875 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1798 | 693,151 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1799 | 697,409 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1800 | 701,649 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1801 | 711,260 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1802 | 720,834 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1803 | 730,373 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1804 | 739,876 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1805 | 749,343 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1806 | 758,774 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1807 | 768,169 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1808 | 777,528 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1809 | 786,852 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1810 | 796,139 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1811 | 809,378 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1812 | 822,568 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1813 | 835,708 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1814 | 848,799 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1815 | 861,840 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1816 | 874,832 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1817 | 887,774 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1818 | 900,668 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1819 | 913,512 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1820 | 926,306 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1821 | 934,168 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1822 | 941,997 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 949,793 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 957,557 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 965,289 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 972,988 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 980,654 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 988,288 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 995,889 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 1.00 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 1.01 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1832 | 1.01 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1833 | 1.02 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1834 | 1.02 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1835 | 1.03 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1836 | 1.03 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1837 | 1.04 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1838 | 1.04 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1839 | 1.05 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1840 | 1.05 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1841 | 1.03 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1842 | 1.01 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1843 | 990,749 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1844 | 970,579 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1845 | 950,474 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1846 | 930,436 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1847 | 910,463 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1848 | 890,557 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1849 | 870,716 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1850 | 874,362 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1851 | 809,106 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1852 | 790,340 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1853 | 775,844 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1854 | 763,744 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1855 | 756,951 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1856 | 753,030 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1857 | 747,747 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1858 | 745,349 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1859 | 742,822 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1860 | 738,931 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1861 | 735,917 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1862 | 735,251 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1863 | 729,383 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1864 | 721,342 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1865 | 716,775 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1866 | 709,240 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1867 | 705,759 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1868 | 703,962 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1869 | 702,606 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1870 | 699,754 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1871 | 697,856 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1872 | 695,488 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1873 | 690,814 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1874 | 687,953 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1875 | 686,109 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1876 | 686,445 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 687,810 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1878 | 687,787 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1879 | 686,370 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1880 | 702,489 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1881 | 696,301 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1882 | 668,493 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1883 | 659,930 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1884 | 654,591 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1885 | 650,742 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1886 | 647,233 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1887 | 641,834 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1888 | 635,593 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1889 | 630,730 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1890 | 626,432 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1891 | 622,240 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1892 | 617,084 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1893 | 614,145 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1894 | 612,251 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1895 | 609,043 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1896 | 607,128 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1897 | 605,911 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1898 | 604,681 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1899 | 602,963 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1900 | 599,207 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1901 | 593,561 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1902 | 588,601 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1903 | 582,559 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1904 | 576,861 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1905 | 570,809 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1906 | 565,228 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1907 | 558,163 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1908 | 551,466 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1909 | 544,908 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1910 | 550,794 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1911 | 528,348 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1912 | 517,943 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1913 | 519,837 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1914 | 510,543 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1915 | 493,677 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1916 | 483,036 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1917 | 472,775 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1918 | 461,580 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1919 | 457,308 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1920 | 449,150 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1921 | 318,327 tonnes | -29.1% |
| 1922 | 286,251 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1923 | 277,638 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1924 | 654,312 tonnes | +135.7% |
| 1925 | 605,676 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1926 | 713,753 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1927 | 623,678 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1928 | 598,775 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1929 | 791,006 tonnes | +32.1% |
| 1930 | 754,893 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1931 | 762,571 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1932 | 558,512 tonnes | -26.8% |
| 1933 | 712,970 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1934 | 716,747 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1935 | 710,593 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1936 | 734,058 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1937 | 733,611 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1938 | 697,129 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1939 | 769,285 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1940 | 758,605 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1941 | 604,546 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 1942 | 531,710 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1943 | 542,499 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1944 | 500,228 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1945 | 534,916 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1946 | 604,619 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1947 | 629,715 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1948 | 589,458 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1949 | 569,323 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1950 | 584,360 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 659,629 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1952 | 624,568 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1953 | 608,930 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1954 | 516,970 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1955 | 644,996 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1956 | 595,420 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1957 | 552,719 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1958 | 443,073 tonnes | -19.8% |
| 1959 | 675,118 tonnes | +52.4% |
| 1960 | 422,720 tonnes | -37.4% |
| 1961 | 447,696 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1962 | 430,272 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1963 | 434,614 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 432,788 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 392,477 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1966 | 439,461 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1967 | 454,920 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 527,074 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1969 | 522,187 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 483,058 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1971 | 499,667 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 492,967 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 465,200 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1974 | 508,122 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1975 | 508,155 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 527,704 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 559,627 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 552,637 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1979 | 596,477 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1980 | 586,560 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1981 | 597,946 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 609,597 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 617,110 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 526,531 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1985 | 550,482 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 581,412 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 588,691 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 578,368 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 588,330 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 559,841 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1991 | 548,070 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 499,552 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1993 | 478,500 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1994 | 438,787 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 417,959 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 414,346 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 375,558 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 385,773 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 335,086 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 2000 | 323,544 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 312,726 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 300,208 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 286,067 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 280,555 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 283,008 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 265,178 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 250,123 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 247,003 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 232,542 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2010 | 216,120 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 197,756 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 2012 | 191,745 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 190,982 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 177,323 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 178,310 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 174,846 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 149,129 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 2018 | 144,989 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 125,682 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2020 | 120,897 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 123,321 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 108,109 tonnes | -12.3% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 108,109 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 72% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 108,109 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 280,480 tonnes, 39% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | +135.7% | 277,638 tonnes | 654,312 tonnes |
| 1959 | +52.4% | 443,073 tonnes | 675,118 tonnes |
| 1960 | -37.4% | 675,118 tonnes | 422,720 tonnes |
| 1929 | +32.1% | 598,775 tonnes | 791,006 tonnes |
| 1921 | -29.1% | 449,150 tonnes | 318,327 tonnes |
| 1933 | +27.7% | 558,512 tonnes | 712,970 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 509,606 tonnes | 507,689 tonnes | 511,510 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 505,304 tonnes | 503,336 tonnes | 507,258 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 527,711 tonnes | 502,895 tonnes | 552,284 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 603,314 tonnes | 557,671 tonnes | 648,525 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 678,032 tonnes | 658,441 tonnes | 697,409 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 744,466 tonnes | 701,649 tonnes | 786,852 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 855,122 tonnes | 796,139 tonnes | 913,512 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 961,293 tonnes | 926,306 tonnes | 995,889 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.03 million tonnes | 1.00 million tonnes | 1.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 960,791 tonnes | 870,716 tonnes | 1.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 775,930 tonnes | 742,822 tonnes | 874,362 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 719,917 tonnes | 702,606 tonnes | 738,931 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 690,639 tonnes | 686,109 tonnes | 699,754 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 658,794 tonnes | 630,730 tonnes | 702,489 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 612,188 tonnes | 602,963 tonnes | 626,432 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 573,136 tonnes | 544,908 tonnes | 599,207 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 499,584 tonnes | 457,308 tonnes | 550,794 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 531,857 tonnes | 277,638 tonnes | 791,006 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 715,037 tonnes | 558,512 tonnes | 769,285 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 586,562 tonnes | 500,228 tonnes | 758,605 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 590,578 tonnes | 443,073 tonnes | 675,118 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 450,421 tonnes | 392,477 tonnes | 527,074 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 519,361 tonnes | 465,200 tonnes | 596,477 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 582,503 tonnes | 526,531 tonnes | 617,110 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 445,347 tonnes | 335,086 tonnes | 559,841 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 278,095 tonnes | 232,542 tonnes | 323,544 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 174,688 tonnes | 125,682 tonnes | 216,120 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 117,442 tonnes | 108,109 tonnes | 123,321 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More climate change data for Ireland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 320.11 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 18,098 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,665 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 14,433 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.83 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 515.47 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,902 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,899 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.17 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Ireland?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Ireland was 108,109 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.05 million tonnes in 1840.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 108,109 tonnes in 2022.
- How does Ireland rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Ireland ranks 142nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.