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.

emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria

Name: emissions of air pollutants in Nigeria
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)

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.

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

1 China 131.31 million tonnes compare
2 India 46.97 million tonnes compare
4 United States 21.97 million tonnes compare
5 Pakistan 13.68 million tonnes compare
6 Indonesia 13.06 million tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More climate change data for Nigeria

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.7% (2100)
Population growth 2.1% (2025)
Population, total 237.53 million (2025)
Urban population growth 3.3% (2025)
Urban population 151.48 million (2025)
Urban population 63.8% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.5837 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 4.71 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 0.5837 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 0.5837 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Nigeria →

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

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.