What is emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia?

Emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia was 4.68 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 Malaysia?

The highest recorded value was 5.56 million tonnes in 2019.

What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Malaysia?

The lowest recorded value was 8,698 tonnes in 1750.

How does Malaysia rank for emissions of air pollutants?

Malaysia ranks 13th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Malaysia?

Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Malaysia 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.

emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia

Name: emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia
Creator: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Malaysia: emissions of air pollutants was 4.68 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

4.68 million tonnes

Change on year

down 1.6%

World rank

13th

of 220 countries

All-time high

5.56 million tonnes

in 2019

All-time low

8,698 tonnes

in 1750

Years of data

273

1750–2022

emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia is 4.68 million tonnes, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and up 35.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia peaked at 5.56 million tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 8,698 tonnes, in 1750.

That places Malaysia 13th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1750s	8,757 tonnes	8,698 tonnes	8,817 tonnes	10
1760s	8,889 tonnes	8,830 tonnes	8,948 tonnes	10
1770s	9,020 tonnes	8,961 tonnes	9,078 tonnes	10
1780s	9,149 tonnes	9,091 tonnes	9,207 tonnes	10
1790s	9,277 tonnes	9,220 tonnes	9,333 tonnes	10
1800s	9,402 tonnes	9,346 tonnes	9,457 tonnes	10
1810s	9,523 tonnes	9,469 tonnes	9,577 tonnes	10
1820s	10,343 tonnes	9,589 tonnes	11,095 tonnes	10
1830s	12,487 tonnes	11,261 tonnes	13,708 tonnes	10
1840s	15,495 tonnes	13,978 tonnes	17,005 tonnes	10
1850s	19,061 tonnes	17,338 tonnes	20,880 tonnes	10
1860s	23,434 tonnes	21,316 tonnes	25,671 tonnes	10
1870s	31,316 tonnes	26,268 tonnes	37,757 tonnes	10
1880s	44,113 tonnes	39,414 tonnes	50,587 tonnes	10
1890s	61,359 tonnes	52,372 tonnes	71,212 tonnes	10
1900s	87,066 tonnes	73,680 tonnes	101,977 tonnes	10
1910s	123,887 tonnes	105,535 tonnes	142,471 tonnes	10
1920s	189,865 tonnes	149,701 tonnes	221,742 tonnes	10
1930s	226,131 tonnes	214,090 tonnes	242,601 tonnes	10
1940s	259,422 tonnes	247,944 tonnes	280,679 tonnes	10
1950s	367,707 tonnes	301,379 tonnes	449,937 tonnes	10
1960s	560,882 tonnes	476,500 tonnes	619,227 tonnes	10
1970s	748,410 tonnes	666,556 tonnes	838,267 tonnes	10
1980s	1.10 million tonnes	879,154 tonnes	1.34 million tonnes	10
1990s	1.99 million tonnes	1.44 million tonnes	2.71 million tonnes	10
2000s	3.20 million tonnes	2.65 million tonnes	3.72 million tonnes	10
2010s	4.39 million tonnes	3.33 million tonnes	5.56 million tonnes	10
2020s	4.78 million tonnes	4.68 million tonnes	4.91 million tonnes	3

Countries ranked near Malaysia

10 Thailand 6.89 million tonnes compare
11 Vietnam 5.97 million tonnes compare
12 Democratic Republic of Congo 5.25 million tonnes compare
14 Egypt 4.50 million tonnes compare
15 South Africa 4.37 million tonnes compare
16 Kenya 4.22 million tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More climate change data for Malaysia

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.4% (2100)
Population growth 1.2% (2025)
Population, total 35.98 million (2025)
Urban population growth 1.8% (2025)
Urban population 27.84 million (2025)
Urban population 77.4% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 8.16 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 7.04 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 8.16 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 8.16 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia?: Emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia was 4.68 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 Malaysia?: The highest recorded value was 5.56 million tonnes in 2019.
What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Malaysia?: The lowest recorded value was 8,698 tonnes in 1750.
How does Malaysia rank for emissions of air pollutants?: Malaysia ranks 13th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Malaysia?: Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malaysia 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

Indicator: emissions of air pollutants
Unit: tonnes
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.