emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand
New Zealand: emissions of air pollutants was 470,888 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
470,888 tonnes
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
83rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
735,256 tonnes
in 2007
All-time low
2,371 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 470,888 tonnes.
That represents a change of down 4.4% on the previous year and down 32.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand peaked at 735,256 tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2,371 tonnes, in 1750.
New Zealand ranks 83rd of 220 countries on this measure, 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 2,371 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 2,409 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1752 | 2,447 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1753 | 2,486 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1754 | 2,524 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1755 | 2,562 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1756 | 2,600 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1757 | 2,638 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1758 | 2,676 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1759 | 2,714 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1760 | 2,752 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1761 | 2,796 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1762 | 2,841 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1763 | 2,885 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1764 | 2,929 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1765 | 2,973 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1766 | 3,017 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1767 | 3,061 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1768 | 3,105 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1769 | 3,149 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1770 | 3,193 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1771 | 3,244 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1772 | 3,295 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1773 | 3,345 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1774 | 3,396 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1775 | 3,447 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1776 | 3,498 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1777 | 3,548 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1778 | 3,599 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1779 | 3,649 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1780 | 3,700 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1781 | 3,758 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1782 | 3,817 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1783 | 3,875 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1784 | 3,934 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1785 | 3,992 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1786 | 4,050 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1787 | 4,108 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1788 | 4,166 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1789 | 4,224 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1790 | 4,282 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1791 | 4,349 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1792 | 4,417 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1793 | 4,484 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1794 | 4,551 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1795 | 4,617 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1796 | 4,684 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1797 | 4,751 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1798 | 4,817 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1799 | 4,883 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1800 | 4,949 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1801 | 5,026 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1802 | 5,103 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1803 | 5,180 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1804 | 5,256 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1805 | 5,332 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1806 | 5,409 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1807 | 5,484 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1808 | 5,560 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1809 | 5,636 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1810 | 5,711 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1811 | 5,799 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1812 | 5,886 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1813 | 5,973 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1814 | 6,060 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1815 | 6,147 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1816 | 6,233 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1817 | 6,320 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1818 | 6,406 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1819 | 6,491 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1820 | 6,577 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1821 | 6,676 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1822 | 6,775 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1823 | 6,874 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1824 | 6,973 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1825 | 7,071 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1826 | 7,168 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1827 | 7,266 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1828 | 7,363 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1829 | 7,460 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1830 | 7,556 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1831 | 7,668 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1832 | 7,780 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1833 | 7,891 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1834 | 8,001 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1835 | 8,112 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1836 | 8,221 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1837 | 8,331 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1838 | 8,440 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1839 | 8,548 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1840 | 8,656 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1841 | 8,781 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1842 | 8,906 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1843 | 9,030 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1844 | 9,154 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1845 | 9,277 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1846 | 9,399 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1847 | 9,521 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1848 | 9,642 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1849 | 9,762 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1850 | 9,603 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1851 | 10,085 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1852 | 10,573 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1853 | 11,066 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1854 | 11,566 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1855 | 12,072 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1856 | 12,703 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1857 | 13,338 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1858 | 13,978 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1859 | 14,622 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1860 | 15,271 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1861 | 16,676 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1862 | 18,138 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1863 | 19,661 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1864 | 21,251 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1865 | 22,912 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1866 | 25,030 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1867 | 27,224 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1868 | 29,501 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1869 | 31,866 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1870 | 34,328 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1871 | 36,594 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1872 | 38,728 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1873 | 40,897 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1874 | 44,404 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1875 | 48,406 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1876 | 51,123 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1877 | 52,822 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1878 | 68,245 tonnes | +29.2% |
| 1879 | 71,441 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1880 | 71,493 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 73,654 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1882 | 75,646 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1883 | 77,847 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1884 | 80,800 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1885 | 81,995 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1886 | 82,987 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1887 | 84,222 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1888 | 86,108 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1889 | 85,102 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1890 | 86,741 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1891 | 87,726 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1892 | 88,007 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1893 | 89,248 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1894 | 90,792 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 91,225 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 92,906 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1897 | 93,970 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 95,459 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1899 | 96,885 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1900 | 99,577 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1901 | 103,176 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1902 | 106,793 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1903 | 108,097 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1904 | 111,289 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 112,278 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 116,239 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1907 | 118,593 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1908 | 119,138 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1909 | 120,289 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1910 | 127,282 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1911 | 125,621 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1912 | 130,908 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1913 | 124,787 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1914 | 138,310 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1915 | 137,631 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1916 | 159,746 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1917 | 170,664 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1918 | 187,768 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1919 | 195,597 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 194,736 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1921 | 195,112 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 199,489 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 211,502 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1924 | 219,280 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1925 | 225,427 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1926 | 232,974 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1927 | 241,981 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1928 | 246,663 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1929 | 253,795 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1930 | 253,060 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1931 | 223,646 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1932 | 191,507 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1933 | 186,753 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1934 | 201,175 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1935 | 199,839 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1936 | 203,100 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1937 | 213,480 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1938 | 210,955 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1939 | 222,816 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1940 | 238,456 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1941 | 232,479 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1942 | 221,706 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1943 | 216,087 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1944 | 206,293 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1945 | 198,778 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1946 | 187,831 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1947 | 176,691 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1948 | 169,221 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1949 | 163,990 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1950 | 279,277 tonnes | +70.3% |
| 1951 | 277,835 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1952 | 306,957 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1953 | 283,351 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1954 | 297,861 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1955 | 309,227 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1956 | 311,850 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1957 | 334,245 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1958 | 316,411 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1959 | 311,032 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 356,757 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1961 | 374,746 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 367,811 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 379,694 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 403,557 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1965 | 424,803 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 440,882 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 430,223 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1968 | 446,062 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1969 | 450,400 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 465,616 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 455,421 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 480,174 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1973 | 468,467 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 495,018 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 518,152 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1976 | 517,954 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 521,788 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 509,535 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 502,686 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 514,494 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 513,451 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 518,633 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 519,414 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 523,205 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 509,044 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 512,910 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 520,471 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 539,993 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 556,105 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 597,791 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 591,864 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 599,788 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 600,962 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 627,934 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 636,709 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 634,179 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 650,522 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 658,088 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 669,951 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 669,664 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 671,579 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 691,816 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 709,932 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 735,000 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 724,407 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 725,477 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 735,256 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 718,257 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 702,084 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 713,578 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 709,125 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 692,550 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 675,667 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 658,103 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 655,182 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 646,211 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 650,467 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 626,893 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 610,238 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 532,453 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 2021 | 492,400 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 470,888 tonnes | -4.4% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 470,888 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 3.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 470,888 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 179,591 tonnes, 2.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +70.3% | 163,990 tonnes | 279,277 tonnes |
| 1878 | +29.2% | 52,822 tonnes | 68,245 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 2,543 tonnes | 2,371 tonnes | 2,714 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 2,951 tonnes | 2,752 tonnes | 3,149 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3,421 tonnes | 3,193 tonnes | 3,649 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 3,962 tonnes | 3,700 tonnes | 4,224 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 4,583 tonnes | 4,282 tonnes | 4,883 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 5,294 tonnes | 4,949 tonnes | 5,636 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 6,103 tonnes | 5,711 tonnes | 6,491 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 7,020 tonnes | 6,577 tonnes | 7,460 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 8,055 tonnes | 7,556 tonnes | 8,548 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 9,213 tonnes | 8,656 tonnes | 9,762 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 11,961 tonnes | 9,603 tonnes | 14,622 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 22,753 tonnes | 15,271 tonnes | 31,866 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 48,699 tonnes | 34,328 tonnes | 71,441 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 79,986 tonnes | 71,493 tonnes | 86,108 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 91,296 tonnes | 86,741 tonnes | 96,885 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 111,547 tonnes | 99,577 tonnes | 120,289 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 149,831 tonnes | 124,787 tonnes | 195,597 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 222,096 tonnes | 194,736 tonnes | 253,795 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 210,633 tonnes | 186,753 tonnes | 253,060 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 201,153 tonnes | 163,990 tonnes | 238,456 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 302,805 tonnes | 277,835 tonnes | 334,245 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 407,494 tonnes | 356,757 tonnes | 450,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 493,481 tonnes | 455,421 tonnes | 521,788 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 522,772 tonnes | 509,044 tonnes | 556,105 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 626,779 tonnes | 591,864 tonnes | 669,951 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 708,347 tonnes | 669,664 tonnes | 735,256 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 663,801 tonnes | 610,238 tonnes | 713,578 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 498,580 tonnes | 470,888 tonnes | 532,453 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand?
- Emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand was 470,888 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 735,256 tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,371 tonnes in 1750.
- How does New Zealand rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- New Zealand ranks 83rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.