emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan
Pakistan: emissions of air pollutants was 13.68 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
13.68 million tonnes
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
5th
of 220 countries
All-time high
14.14 million tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
555,242 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan is 13.68 million tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan peaked at 14.14 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 555,242 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Pakistan 5th 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 555,242 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 556,116 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 556,988 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 557,861 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 558,732 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 559,603 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 560,474 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 561,344 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 562,213 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 563,082 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 563,950 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 564,822 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 565,693 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 566,563 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 567,433 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 568,302 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 569,170 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 570,038 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 570,905 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 571,771 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 572,637 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 573,505 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 574,372 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 575,238 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 576,104 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 576,969 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 577,833 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 578,696 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 579,559 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 580,421 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 581,282 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 582,144 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 583,004 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 583,864 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 584,723 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 585,582 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 586,439 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 587,296 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 588,152 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 589,007 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 589,861 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 590,713 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 591,565 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 592,416 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 593,266 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 594,115 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 594,963 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 595,810 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 596,656 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 597,502 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 598,346 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 599,186 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1802 | 600,026 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1803 | 600,865 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1804 | 601,702 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1805 | 602,539 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1806 | 603,374 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1807 | 604,209 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 605,042 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1809 | 605,875 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1810 | 606,707 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1811 | 611,682 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 616,652 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 621,617 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 626,576 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 631,531 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 636,480 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 641,424 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 646,363 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 651,297 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 656,226 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 661,574 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1822 | 666,917 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 672,253 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 677,583 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 682,907 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 688,225 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 693,536 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 698,842 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 704,141 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 709,434 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 715,177 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 720,913 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 726,642 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1834 | 732,363 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1835 | 738,076 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 743,783 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1837 | 749,482 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 755,174 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1839 | 760,858 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 766,535 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1841 | 772,694 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1842 | 778,843 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1843 | 784,984 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1844 | 791,117 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1845 | 797,240 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1846 | 803,355 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1847 | 809,461 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 815,559 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1849 | 821,647 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1850 | 827,727 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1851 | 836,772 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1852 | 845,863 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1853 | 855,002 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1854 | 864,189 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1855 | 873,424 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1856 | 882,708 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1857 | 892,041 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 901,424 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1859 | 910,856 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 920,339 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1861 | 926,501 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 932,700 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 938,933 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 945,202 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 951,507 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 957,849 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 964,226 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 970,640 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 977,092 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 1.03 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1871 | 1.04 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1872 | 1.04 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 1.04 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 1.05 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 1.05 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1876 | 1.06 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1877 | 1.06 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1878 | 1.07 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1879 | 1.07 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 1.08 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1881 | 1.08 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1882 | 1.08 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1883 | 1.09 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 1.09 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 1.10 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 1.10 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1887 | 1.11 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 1.11 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1889 | 1.12 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1890 | 1.12 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1891 | 1.13 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 1.13 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1893 | 1.14 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1894 | 1.14 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1895 | 1.15 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1896 | 1.15 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1897 | 1.16 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1898 | 1.16 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1899 | 1.17 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1900 | 1.17 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 1.19 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1902 | 1.21 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 1.22 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1904 | 1.24 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1905 | 1.26 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1906 | 1.28 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1907 | 1.30 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1908 | 1.32 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 1.34 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 1.36 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1911 | 1.37 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1912 | 1.38 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1913 | 1.39 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1914 | 1.39 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1915 | 1.40 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1916 | 1.41 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1917 | 1.42 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1918 | 1.43 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1919 | 1.44 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1920 | 1.44 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1921 | 1.46 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1922 | 1.49 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1923 | 1.52 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 1.55 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1925 | 1.58 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1926 | 1.61 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 1.63 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1928 | 1.66 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 1.69 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1930 | 1.72 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1931 | 1.76 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 1.80 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1933 | 1.84 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 1.87 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1935 | 1.91 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1936 | 1.95 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1937 | 1.99 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 2.04 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1939 | 2.08 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 2.12 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1941 | 2.21 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1942 | 2.30 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1943 | 2.39 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1944 | 2.48 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1945 | 2.57 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1946 | 2.71 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1947 | 1.82 million tonnes | -32.9% |
| 1948 | 1.88 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1949 | 1.96 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1950 | 2.27 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1951 | 2.37 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1952 | 2.40 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 2.40 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2.40 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1955 | 2.40 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 2.49 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1957 | 2.48 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1958 | 2.53 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 2.49 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1960 | 2.61 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 2.60 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 2.63 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 2.67 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 2.66 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 2.63 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 2.62 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 2.67 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 2.77 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1969 | 2.78 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 2.78 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1971 | 2.75 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 2.84 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 2.91 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 2.99 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 3.09 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 3.16 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 3.28 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1978 | 3.41 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 3.55 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1980 | 3.69 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 3.82 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 4.02 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 4.09 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 4.28 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 4.51 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 4.65 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 4.81 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 5.06 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1989 | 5.18 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 5.40 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 5.55 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 5.76 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 6.07 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 6.15 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 6.40 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 6.58 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 6.65 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 6.85 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 7.00 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 7.16 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 7.39 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 7.67 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 8.11 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 8.43 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 8.64 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 8.90 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 9.33 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 9.25 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 9.47 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 9.56 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 9.73 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 9.80 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 9.96 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 10.57 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 10.99 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 11.55 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2017 | 12.36 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 12.78 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 12.64 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 13.74 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 14.14 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 13.68 million tonnes | -3.3% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 13.68 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 486,552 tonnes, 28.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 13.68 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 315,167 tonnes, 43.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | -32.9% | 2.71 million tonnes | 1.82 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 559,166 tonnes | 555,242 tonnes | 563,082 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 567,865 tonnes | 563,950 tonnes | 571,771 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 576,533 tonnes | 572,637 tonnes | 580,421 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 585,149 tonnes | 581,282 tonnes | 589,007 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 593,687 tonnes | 589,861 tonnes | 597,502 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 602,116 tonnes | 598,346 tonnes | 605,875 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 629,033 tonnes | 606,707 tonnes | 651,297 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 680,220 tonnes | 656,226 tonnes | 704,141 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 735,190 tonnes | 709,434 tonnes | 760,858 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 794,144 tonnes | 766,535 tonnes | 821,647 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 869,001 tonnes | 827,727 tonnes | 910,856 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 948,499 tonnes | 920,339 tonnes | 977,092 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.05 million tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes | 1.07 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.10 million tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 1.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.14 million tonnes | 1.12 million tonnes | 1.17 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.25 million tonnes | 1.17 million tonnes | 1.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.40 million tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 1.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.56 million tonnes | 1.44 million tonnes | 1.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.90 million tonnes | 1.72 million tonnes | 2.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.24 million tonnes | 1.82 million tonnes | 2.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.42 million tonnes | 2.27 million tonnes | 2.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.66 million tonnes | 2.60 million tonnes | 2.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.08 million tonnes | 2.75 million tonnes | 3.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.41 million tonnes | 3.69 million tonnes | 5.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.24 million tonnes | 5.40 million tonnes | 7.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.43 million tonnes | 7.16 million tonnes | 9.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.99 million tonnes | 9.56 million tonnes | 12.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.85 million tonnes | 13.68 million tonnes | 14.14 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More climate change data for Pakistan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.32 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 170,790 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 136,773 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.37 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 4,885 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 48,684 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 37,808 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 10,876 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 142.67 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan was 13.68 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.14 million tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 555,242 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Pakistan rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Pakistan ranks 5th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.