emissions of air pollutants in Libya
Libya: emissions of air pollutants was 896,496 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
896,496 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
57th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.26 million tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
11,811 tonnes
in 1912
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Libya, 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 Libya stood at 896,496 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Libya peaked at 1.26 million tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 11,811 tonnes, in 1912.
That places Libya 57th 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 Libya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 13,657 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 13,657 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 13,658 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 13,658 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 13,659 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 13,660 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 13,660 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 13,660 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 13,661 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 13,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 13,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 13,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 13,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 13,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 13,663 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 13,663 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1772 | 13,662 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1773 | 13,662 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1774 | 13,662 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1775 | 13,662 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1776 | 13,661 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1777 | 13,661 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1778 | 13,661 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1779 | 13,660 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1780 | 13,660 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1781 | 13,659 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1782 | 13,658 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1783 | 13,658 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1784 | 13,657 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1785 | 13,656 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1786 | 13,655 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1787 | 13,654 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1788 | 13,653 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1789 | 13,653 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1790 | 13,652 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1791 | 13,650 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1792 | 13,649 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1793 | 13,648 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1794 | 13,646 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1795 | 13,645 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1796 | 13,644 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1797 | 13,642 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1798 | 13,641 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1799 | 13,640 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1800 | 13,638 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1801 | 13,636 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1802 | 13,634 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1803 | 13,633 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1804 | 13,631 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1805 | 13,629 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1806 | 13,627 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1807 | 13,625 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1808 | 13,623 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1809 | 13,621 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1810 | 13,619 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1811 | 13,623 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 13,628 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 13,632 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 13,636 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 13,640 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 13,645 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 13,649 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 13,653 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 13,658 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 13,662 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 13,665 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 13,669 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 13,672 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 13,676 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 13,680 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 13,683 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 13,687 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 13,690 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 13,694 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 13,697 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 13,700 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 13,703 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 13,706 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 13,708 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 13,711 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 13,714 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 13,717 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 13,719 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 13,722 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 13,725 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 13,727 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 13,729 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 13,731 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 13,732 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 13,734 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 13,736 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 13,738 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 13,740 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 13,742 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 13,744 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 13,744 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 13,746 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 13,746 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 13,748 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 13,748 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 13,749 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 13,750 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 13,751 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 13,752 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 13,753 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 13,769 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 13,786 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 13,802 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 13,818 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 13,835 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 13,851 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 13,867 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 13,883 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 13,900 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 13,916 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 13,931 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1872 | 13,946 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 13,962 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 13,977 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 13,992 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 14,008 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 14,023 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 14,038 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 14,053 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 14,068 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 14,083 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 14,097 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 14,111 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 14,125 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 14,139 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 14,154 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 14,168 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 14,182 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 14,196 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 14,210 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 14,393 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1892 | 14,577 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1893 | 14,760 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 14,943 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1895 | 15,125 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 15,307 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 15,488 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1898 | 15,669 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 15,849 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 16,029 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1901 | 15,708 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1902 | 15,384 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1903 | 15,054 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1904 | 14,721 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1905 | 14,383 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1906 | 14,042 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1907 | 13,696 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1908 | 13,346 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1909 | 12,992 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1910 | 12,634 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1911 | 12,223 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1912 | 11,811 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1913 | 11,957 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 12,377 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1915 | 12,810 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1916 | 13,259 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1917 | 13,723 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1918 | 14,202 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1919 | 14,698 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1920 | 15,210 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1921 | 15,740 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1922 | 16,287 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1923 | 16,853 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1924 | 17,438 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1925 | 18,042 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1926 | 18,667 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1927 | 19,312 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1928 | 19,978 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1929 | 20,667 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 21,379 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1931 | 22,095 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1932 | 22,853 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1933 | 23,636 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 24,445 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1935 | 25,280 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1936 | 26,142 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1937 | 27,031 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1938 | 27,950 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1939 | 28,898 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 29,876 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1941 | 30,884 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1942 | 31,925 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1943 | 32,999 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1944 | 34,106 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1945 | 35,247 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1946 | 36,424 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1947 | 37,637 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1948 | 38,887 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1949 | 40,175 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 47,036 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1951 | 47,471 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 46,778 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1953 | 49,636 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1954 | 50,319 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 54,074 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1956 | 49,189 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1957 | 46,959 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1958 | 46,490 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1959 | 47,819 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 55,142 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1961 | 70,707 tonnes | +28.2% |
| 1962 | 69,453 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 89,000 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 1964 | 72,715 tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1965 | 92,160 tonnes | +26.7% |
| 1966 | 149,721 tonnes | +62.5% |
| 1967 | 150,004 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 188,879 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1969 | 298,368 tonnes | +58.0% |
| 1970 | 207,824 tonnes | -30.3% |
| 1971 | 161,138 tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1972 | 165,014 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 181,185 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1974 | 185,358 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 211,100 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1976 | 245,649 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1977 | 269,510 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1978 | 314,627 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1979 | 328,732 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 359,764 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1981 | 354,278 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 380,575 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 389,179 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 392,024 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 387,570 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 401,947 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 383,256 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 397,016 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 403,444 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 425,144 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1991 | 432,801 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 422,111 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 471,483 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1994 | 570,727 tonnes | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 673,173 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1996 | 715,772 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 653,896 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1998 | 742,774 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1999 | 825,447 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2000 | 912,380 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2001 | 953,742 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 1.02 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 1.07 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 1.17 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 1.26 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 1.15 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 986,902 tonnes | -14.2% |
| 2008 | 1.18 million tonnes | +19.8% |
| 2009 | 1.13 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 1.11 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 889,239 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 2012 | 1.19 million tonnes | +33.3% |
| 2013 | 1.22 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 1.14 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 1.05 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 1.07 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 1.01 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 958,310 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 916,175 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 867,096 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 898,705 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 896,496 tonnes | -0.2% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 896,496 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 286,757 tonnes, 3.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Libya's 896,496 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 315,167 tonnes, 2.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Libya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | +62.5% | 92,160 tonnes | 149,721 tonnes |
| 1969 | +58.0% | 188,879 tonnes | 298,368 tonnes |
| 2012 | +33.3% | 889,239 tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes |
| 1970 | -30.3% | 298,368 tonnes | 207,824 tonnes |
| 1961 | +28.2% | 55,142 tonnes | 70,707 tonnes |
| 1963 | +28.1% | 69,453 tonnes | 89,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 13,659 tonnes | 13,657 tonnes | 13,662 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 13,663 tonnes | 13,662 tonnes | 13,663 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 13,662 tonnes | 13,660 tonnes | 13,663 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 13,656 tonnes | 13,653 tonnes | 13,660 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 13,646 tonnes | 13,640 tonnes | 13,652 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 13,630 tonnes | 13,621 tonnes | 13,638 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 13,638 tonnes | 13,619 tonnes | 13,658 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 13,678 tonnes | 13,662 tonnes | 13,694 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 13,710 tonnes | 13,697 tonnes | 13,722 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 13,733 tonnes | 13,725 tonnes | 13,742 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 13,748 tonnes | 13,744 tonnes | 13,752 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 13,826 tonnes | 13,753 tonnes | 13,900 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 13,985 tonnes | 13,916 tonnes | 14,053 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 14,132 tonnes | 14,068 tonnes | 14,196 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 15,032 tonnes | 14,210 tonnes | 15,849 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 14,536 tonnes | 12,992 tonnes | 16,029 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 12,969 tonnes | 11,811 tonnes | 14,698 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 17,819 tonnes | 15,210 tonnes | 20,667 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 24,971 tonnes | 21,379 tonnes | 28,898 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 34,816 tonnes | 29,876 tonnes | 40,175 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 48,577 tonnes | 46,490 tonnes | 54,074 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 123,615 tonnes | 55,142 tonnes | 298,368 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 227,014 tonnes | 161,138 tonnes | 328,732 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 384,905 tonnes | 354,278 tonnes | 403,444 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 593,333 tonnes | 422,111 tonnes | 825,447 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.08 million tonnes | 912,380 tonnes | 1.26 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.05 million tonnes | 889,239 tonnes | 1.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 887,432 tonnes | 867,096 tonnes | 898,705 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 54 Spain 1.03 million tonnes compare
- 55 Burkina Faso 987,249 tonnes compare
- 56 Saudi Arabia 910,496 tonnes compare
- 58 Uzbekistan 867,112 tonnes compare
- 59 South Sudan 859,132 tonnes compare
- 60 Romania 858,597 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Libya
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 76.27 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,621 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,729 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.12 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 97.48 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 455.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 452.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.59 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.71 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Libya?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Libya was 896,496 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 1.26 million tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,811 tonnes in 1912.
- How does Libya rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Libya ranks 57th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya 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.