emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria
Nigeria: emissions of air pollutants was 23.32 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
23.32 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
3rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
23.32 million tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
533,564 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria stood at 23.32 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria peaked at 23.32 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 533,564 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Nigeria 3rd 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.
emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 533,564 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 533,655 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 533,747 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 533,838 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 533,930 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 534,021 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 534,113 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 534,204 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 534,295 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 534,386 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 534,477 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 534,561 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 534,644 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 534,727 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 534,810 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 534,894 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 534,977 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 535,060 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 535,142 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 535,225 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 535,308 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 535,382 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 535,456 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 535,530 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 535,604 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 535,678 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 535,752 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 535,826 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 535,900 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 535,973 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 536,047 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 536,111 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 536,175 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 536,239 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 536,303 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 536,367 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 536,430 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 536,494 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 536,558 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 536,621 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 536,684 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 536,737 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 536,790 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 536,843 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 536,896 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 536,948 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 537,001 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 537,053 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 537,105 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 537,158 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 537,210 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 537,250 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 537,291 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 537,331 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 537,371 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 537,412 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 537,452 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 537,492 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 537,532 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 537,571 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 537,611 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 537,910 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 538,209 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 538,507 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 538,805 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 539,103 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 539,400 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 539,698 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 539,995 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 540,291 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 540,588 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 540,873 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1822 | 541,158 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1823 | 541,443 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 541,728 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 542,012 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 542,296 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 542,579 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 542,863 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 543,146 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 543,429 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 543,699 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 543,969 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 544,238 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 544,507 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 544,776 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 545,045 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 545,313 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 545,581 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 545,848 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 546,116 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 546,369 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 546,621 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 546,873 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 547,125 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 547,377 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 547,628 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 547,879 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 548,129 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 548,379 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 548,314 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1851 | 554,071 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1852 | 559,821 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1853 | 565,565 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1854 | 571,300 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1855 | 577,025 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1856 | 582,754 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1857 | 588,472 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1858 | 594,176 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 599,866 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 605,541 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1861 | 611,216 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1862 | 616,874 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1863 | 622,517 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1864 | 628,142 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1865 | 633,750 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1866 | 639,327 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1867 | 644,887 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1868 | 650,429 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1869 | 655,955 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1870 | 661,465 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1871 | 670,597 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 677,053 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1873 | 683,494 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 689,922 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1875 | 696,338 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 702,872 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 709,397 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1878 | 715,914 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1879 | 722,423 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1880 | 728,928 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1881 | 735,559 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1882 | 742,189 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 748,819 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 755,451 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1885 | 762,089 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 768,878 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 775,678 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 782,489 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 789,315 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 796,158 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 803,181 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 810,228 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 817,300 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 824,401 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 831,534 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 838,877 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 846,258 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1898 | 853,681 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 861,148 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1900 | 868,664 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 880,512 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1902 | 892,568 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1903 | 904,836 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1904 | 917,318 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1905 | 930,018 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1906 | 943,204 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1907 | 956,629 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1908 | 970,298 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1909 | 984,214 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1910 | 998,381 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1911 | 1.07 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1912 | 1.11 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1913 | 1.11 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1914 | 1.13 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 1.15 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1916 | 1.18 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1917 | 1.21 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1918 | 1.24 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1919 | 1.27 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1920 | 1.30 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1921 | 1.34 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1922 | 1.38 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1923 | 1.43 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1924 | 1.48 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1925 | 1.53 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1926 | 1.59 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 1.64 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1928 | 1.69 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1929 | 1.74 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1930 | 1.79 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1931 | 1.85 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1932 | 1.90 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1933 | 1.96 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1934 | 2.02 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1935 | 2.08 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1936 | 2.14 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1937 | 2.20 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1938 | 2.25 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1939 | 2.30 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 2.35 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1941 | 2.41 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1942 | 2.47 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1943 | 2.53 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1944 | 2.60 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1945 | 2.64 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 2.71 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1947 | 2.76 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1948 | 2.82 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1949 | 2.87 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 2.94 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1951 | 3.07 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 3.24 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 3.39 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 3.54 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 3.70 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1956 | 3.83 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1957 | 3.96 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 4.10 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 4.23 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 4.36 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1961 | 4.56 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1962 | 4.76 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 4.96 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1964 | 5.18 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 5.43 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 5.55 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 5.64 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 5.64 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1969 | 5.76 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 5.91 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 5.77 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 6.05 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 6.34 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 6.69 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 6.88 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 7.26 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 7.60 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 7.95 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 8.36 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 8.68 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1981 | 8.81 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 9.03 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 9.26 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 9.49 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 9.78 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 10.02 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 10.32 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 10.70 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 11.03 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 11.10 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 11.49 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 11.90 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 12.11 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 12.36 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 12.73 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 13.10 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 13.52 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 14.57 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1999 | 14.12 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 14.87 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 15.81 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 15.49 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 15.70 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 15.98 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 16.89 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 16.91 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 17.63 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 18.01 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 18.23 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 19.06 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 19.78 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 20.75 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 21.24 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 21.80 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 22.10 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 22.68 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 23.13 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 23.17 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 23.27 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 23.09 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 23.27 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 23.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 23.32 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 486,552 tonnes, 47.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 23.32 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 552,241 tonnes, 42.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 533,975 tonnes | 533,564 tonnes | 534,386 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 534,852 tonnes | 534,477 tonnes | 535,225 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 535,641 tonnes | 535,308 tonnes | 535,973 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 536,334 tonnes | 536,047 tonnes | 536,621 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 536,922 tonnes | 536,684 tonnes | 537,158 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 537,391 tonnes | 537,210 tonnes | 537,571 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 538,953 tonnes | 537,611 tonnes | 540,291 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 541,869 tonnes | 540,588 tonnes | 543,146 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 544,640 tonnes | 543,429 tonnes | 545,848 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 547,250 tonnes | 546,116 tonnes | 548,379 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 574,136 tonnes | 548,314 tonnes | 599,866 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 630,864 tonnes | 605,541 tonnes | 655,955 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 692,948 tonnes | 661,465 tonnes | 722,423 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 758,940 tonnes | 728,928 tonnes | 789,315 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 828,277 tonnes | 796,158 tonnes | 861,148 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 924,826 tonnes | 868,664 tonnes | 984,214 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.15 million tonnes | 998,381 tonnes | 1.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.51 million tonnes | 1.30 million tonnes | 1.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.05 million tonnes | 1.79 million tonnes | 2.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.62 million tonnes | 2.35 million tonnes | 2.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.60 million tonnes | 2.94 million tonnes | 4.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.18 million tonnes | 4.36 million tonnes | 5.76 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.88 million tonnes | 5.77 million tonnes | 8.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.71 million tonnes | 8.68 million tonnes | 11.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.70 million tonnes | 11.10 million tonnes | 14.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.55 million tonnes | 14.87 million tonnes | 18.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.70 million tonnes | 19.06 million tonnes | 23.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.23 million tonnes | 23.09 million tonnes | 23.32 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More climate change data for Nigeria
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 608.40 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 66,810 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 24,814 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 41,996 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 93.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,500 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 22,614 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,292 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15,322 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 27.52 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria was 23.32 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 23.32 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 533,564 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Nigeria rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Nigeria ranks 3rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.