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.

emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan

Name: emissions of air pollutants in Pakistan
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)

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.

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

2 India 46.97 million tonnes compare
3 Nigeria 23.32 million tonnes compare
4 United States 21.97 million tonnes compare
6 Indonesia 13.06 million tonnes compare
7 Brazil 7.96 million tonnes compare
8 Ethiopia 7.75 million tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More climate change data for Pakistan

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 5.0% (2100)
Population growth 1.6% (2025)
Population, total 255.22 million (2025)
Urban population growth 2.5% (2025)
Urban population 100.88 million (2025)
Urban population 39.5% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.7156 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 5.74 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 0.7156 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 0.7156 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Pakistan →

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

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.