emissions of air pollutants in Kenya
Kenya: emissions of air pollutants was 4.22 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
4.22 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
16th
of 220 countries
All-time high
4.22 million tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
67,482 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Kenya, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 4.22 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 25.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Kenya peaked at 4.22 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 67,482 tonnes, in 1750.
Kenya ranks 16th of 220 countries on this measure, 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 67,482 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 67,499 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 67,516 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 67,533 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 67,550 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 67,567 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 67,584 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 67,600 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 67,617 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 67,634 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 67,651 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 67,668 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 67,684 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 67,700 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 67,717 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 67,733 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 67,750 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 67,766 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 67,783 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 67,799 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 67,815 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 67,831 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 67,847 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 67,863 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 67,879 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 67,895 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 67,911 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 67,927 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 67,942 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 67,958 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 67,974 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 67,989 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 68,005 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 68,020 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 68,035 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 68,050 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 68,066 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 68,081 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 68,096 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 68,111 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 68,127 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 68,141 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 68,156 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 68,170 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 68,185 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 68,200 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 68,214 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 68,229 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 68,243 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 68,258 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 68,272 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 68,286 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 68,300 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 68,314 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 68,328 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 68,341 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 68,355 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 68,369 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 68,383 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 68,396 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 68,410 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 68,458 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 68,505 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 68,553 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 68,600 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 68,648 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 68,695 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 68,743 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 68,790 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 68,838 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 68,885 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 68,932 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1822 | 68,979 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1823 | 69,026 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 69,073 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 69,120 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 69,167 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 69,213 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 69,260 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 69,307 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 69,354 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 69,400 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 69,446 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 69,492 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 69,538 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 69,585 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 69,631 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 69,677 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 69,723 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 69,769 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 69,815 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 69,860 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 69,905 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 69,951 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 69,996 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 70,041 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 70,086 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 70,132 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 70,177 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 70,222 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1850 | 70,296 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 70,753 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 71,224 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 71,711 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 72,212 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 72,730 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 73,265 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 73,817 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 74,386 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 74,975 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 75,582 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1861 | 76,272 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1862 | 76,983 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1863 | 77,715 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 78,469 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 79,246 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1866 | 80,046 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 80,871 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1868 | 81,721 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 82,597 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 83,500 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1871 | 84,490 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1872 | 85,509 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1873 | 86,557 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1874 | 87,635 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 88,745 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1876 | 89,888 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1877 | 91,064 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1878 | 92,274 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1879 | 93,534 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1880 | 96,112 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1881 | 98,774 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 101,510 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1883 | 104,320 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1884 | 107,207 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1885 | 110,172 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1886 | 113,218 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1887 | 116,348 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1888 | 119,563 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1889 | 122,866 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1890 | 117,715 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1891 | 121,345 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1892 | 125,086 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1893 | 128,941 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1894 | 132,914 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1895 | 137,008 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1896 | 141,282 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1897 | 145,688 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1898 | 150,229 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1899 | 154,911 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1900 | 159,737 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1901 | 180,491 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1902 | 203,993 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1903 | 230,606 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1904 | 212,654 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1905 | 196,072 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1906 | 204,243 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1907 | 212,734 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1908 | 221,555 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1909 | 230,720 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1910 | 240,242 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1911 | 270,679 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1912 | 318,153 tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1913 | 374,078 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1914 | 382,489 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1915 | 378,178 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1916 | 363,872 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1917 | 363,369 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1918 | 379,298 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1919 | 351,468 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1920 | 335,450 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1921 | 354,891 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1922 | 370,917 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1923 | 353,156 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1924 | 350,712 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1925 | 356,066 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1926 | 373,391 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1927 | 387,242 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1928 | 390,722 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1929 | 401,623 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1930 | 400,960 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1931 | 399,149 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1932 | 400,970 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1933 | 408,310 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1934 | 404,377 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1935 | 396,928 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1936 | 421,844 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1937 | 425,853 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1938 | 423,451 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1939 | 439,019 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1940 | 437,884 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1941 | 430,214 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1942 | 445,894 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1943 | 445,066 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1944 | 473,805 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1945 | 478,312 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1946 | 679,153 tonnes | +42.0% |
| 1947 | 684,406 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1948 | 737,999 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1949 | 760,021 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1950 | 761,770 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1951 | 772,417 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1952 | 778,610 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 780,888 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 786,240 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 792,505 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 797,807 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 800,879 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 800,506 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1959 | 803,547 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1960 | 807,973 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 809,406 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 813,322 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 817,856 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 818,762 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 816,173 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1966 | 833,105 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 847,702 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 862,588 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 879,518 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 904,441 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 925,399 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 959,699 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 996,644 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 1.03 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 1.07 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1976 | 1.10 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 1.15 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 1.19 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 1.23 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 1.28 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 1.33 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 1.37 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 1.42 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 1.49 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 1.55 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 1.61 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 1.67 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 1.73 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 1.79 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 1.84 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 1.88 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 1.93 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 1.99 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 2.05 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 2.11 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 2.17 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 2.23 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 2.29 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 2.35 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 2.41 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 2.48 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.55 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.61 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 2.69 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.76 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 2.84 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 2.92 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 3.01 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 3.10 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 3.20 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.29 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 3.37 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 3.48 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 3.59 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 3.69 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 3.78 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 3.85 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 3.93 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 4.01 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 4.07 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 4.17 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 4.22 million tonnes | +1.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 4.22 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 486,552 tonnes, 8.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 4.22 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 552,241 tonnes, 7.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +42.0% | 478,312 tonnes | 679,153 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 67,558 tonnes | 67,482 tonnes | 67,634 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 67,725 tonnes | 67,651 tonnes | 67,799 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 67,887 tonnes | 67,815 tonnes | 67,958 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 68,043 tonnes | 67,974 tonnes | 68,111 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 68,192 tonnes | 68,127 tonnes | 68,258 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 68,334 tonnes | 68,272 tonnes | 68,396 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 68,624 tonnes | 68,410 tonnes | 68,838 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 69,096 tonnes | 68,885 tonnes | 69,307 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 69,561 tonnes | 69,354 tonnes | 69,769 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 70,018 tonnes | 69,815 tonnes | 70,222 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 72,537 tonnes | 70,296 tonnes | 74,975 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 78,950 tonnes | 75,582 tonnes | 82,597 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 88,320 tonnes | 83,500 tonnes | 93,534 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 109,009 tonnes | 96,112 tonnes | 122,866 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 135,512 tonnes | 117,715 tonnes | 154,911 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 205,280 tonnes | 159,737 tonnes | 230,720 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 342,183 tonnes | 240,242 tonnes | 382,489 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 367,417 tonnes | 335,450 tonnes | 401,623 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 412,086 tonnes | 396,928 tonnes | 439,019 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 557,275 tonnes | 430,214 tonnes | 760,021 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 787,517 tonnes | 761,770 tonnes | 803,547 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 830,640 tonnes | 807,973 tonnes | 879,518 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.06 million tonnes | 904,441 tonnes | 1.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.52 million tonnes | 1.28 million tonnes | 1.79 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.08 million tonnes | 1.84 million tonnes | 2.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.74 million tonnes | 2.41 million tonnes | 3.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.62 million tonnes | 3.20 million tonnes | 4.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.15 million tonnes | 4.07 million tonnes | 4.22 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 13 Malaysia 4.68 million tonnes compare
- 14 Egypt 4.50 million tonnes compare
- 15 South Africa 4.37 million tonnes compare
- 17 Tanzania 3.79 million tonnes compare
- 18 Kazakhstan 3.59 million tonnes compare
- 19 Philippines 3.50 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for Kenya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 276.34 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 50,641 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,186 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,454 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 61.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,231 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,372 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 255.67 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.99 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Kenya?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Kenya was 4.22 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 4.22 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 67,482 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Kenya rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Kenya ranks 16th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.