emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: emissions of air pollutants was 12,616 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
12,616 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
177th
of 220 countries
All-time high
138,135 tonnes
in 1936
All-time low
9,778 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 12,616 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 39.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico peaked at 138,135 tonnes in 1936 and was at its lowest, 9,778 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Puerto Rico 177th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 9,778 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 9,853 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1752 | 9,927 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1753 | 10,002 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1754 | 10,076 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1755 | 10,151 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1756 | 10,225 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1757 | 10,300 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1758 | 10,374 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1759 | 10,448 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1760 | 10,522 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1761 | 10,602 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1762 | 10,681 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1763 | 10,761 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1764 | 10,841 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1765 | 10,920 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1766 | 11,000 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1767 | 11,079 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1768 | 11,158 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1769 | 11,237 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1770 | 11,316 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1771 | 11,401 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1772 | 11,486 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1773 | 11,571 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1774 | 11,656 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1775 | 11,741 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1776 | 11,825 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1777 | 11,910 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1778 | 11,994 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1779 | 12,078 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1780 | 12,163 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1781 | 12,253 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1782 | 12,344 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1783 | 12,434 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1784 | 12,525 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1785 | 12,615 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1786 | 12,705 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1787 | 12,795 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1788 | 12,885 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1789 | 12,974 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1790 | 13,064 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1791 | 13,160 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1792 | 13,257 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1793 | 13,353 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1794 | 13,449 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1795 | 13,544 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1796 | 13,640 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1797 | 13,736 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1798 | 13,831 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1799 | 13,926 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1800 | 14,021 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1801 | 14,124 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 14,226 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1803 | 14,328 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1804 | 14,430 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1805 | 14,531 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1806 | 14,632 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1807 | 14,734 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 14,835 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 14,935 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 15,036 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1811 | 15,144 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1812 | 15,252 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1813 | 15,360 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1814 | 15,468 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1815 | 15,575 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1816 | 15,683 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1817 | 15,790 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1818 | 15,896 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1819 | 16,003 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 16,109 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 16,425 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1822 | 16,741 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1823 | 17,056 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1824 | 17,370 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1825 | 17,683 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1826 | 17,996 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1827 | 18,308 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1828 | 18,619 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1829 | 18,929 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1830 | 19,239 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1831 | 19,546 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1832 | 19,852 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1833 | 20,158 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1834 | 20,462 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1835 | 20,766 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1836 | 21,069 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1837 | 21,372 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1838 | 21,673 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1839 | 21,974 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1840 | 22,274 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1841 | 22,814 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1842 | 23,354 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1843 | 23,891 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1844 | 24,428 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1845 | 24,963 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1846 | 25,496 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1847 | 26,028 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1848 | 26,559 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1849 | 27,088 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1850 | 28,096 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1851 | 27,763 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1852 | 27,559 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1853 | 27,772 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 27,980 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 28,185 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 29,327 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1857 | 30,502 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1858 | 31,710 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1859 | 32,954 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1860 | 34,257 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1861 | 35,276 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1862 | 36,240 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1863 | 37,158 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1864 | 38,095 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1865 | 38,637 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1866 | 39,986 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1867 | 41,277 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1868 | 42,594 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1869 | 43,714 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1870 | 44,838 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1871 | 45,075 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1872 | 45,257 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 45,545 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1874 | 45,732 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 45,711 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1876 | 46,802 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1877 | 48,052 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1878 | 49,136 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1879 | 50,307 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 51,536 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1881 | 51,563 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 52,513 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1883 | 52,704 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 52,673 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1885 | 52,343 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1886 | 51,842 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1887 | 51,410 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1888 | 50,825 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1889 | 50,676 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1890 | 51,868 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1891 | 52,598 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 53,227 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1893 | 54,042 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1894 | 54,866 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1895 | 55,721 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 56,970 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1897 | 57,973 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1898 | 58,936 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1899 | 60,148 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 59,824 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1901 | 63,695 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1902 | 67,843 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1903 | 71,642 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1904 | 75,527 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1905 | 79,325 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1906 | 82,388 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1907 | 86,549 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1908 | 89,861 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1909 | 92,915 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1910 | 96,374 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1911 | 99,274 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1912 | 101,830 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1913 | 105,269 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1914 | 107,482 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1915 | 109,463 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 109,623 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1917 | 109,714 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1918 | 109,681 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1919 | 109,942 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1920 | 111,887 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 113,446 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1922 | 116,921 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1923 | 120,566 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1924 | 120,844 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1925 | 122,236 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 124,624 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1927 | 128,669 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1928 | 130,872 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1929 | 134,276 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1930 | 133,844 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1931 | 134,296 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1932 | 134,039 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1933 | 136,250 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1934 | 136,596 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1935 | 137,865 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 138,135 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1937 | 137,933 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1938 | 134,701 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1939 | 134,005 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1940 | 133,661 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1941 | 132,321 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1942 | 129,574 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1943 | 127,412 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1944 | 127,307 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1945 | 125,148 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1946 | 126,133 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1947 | 127,939 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 129,864 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1949 | 127,686 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1950 | 128,399 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1951 | 119,679 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1952 | 109,518 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1953 | 99,466 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1954 | 88,751 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1955 | 79,608 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1956 | 70,416 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 1957 | 60,799 tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1958 | 52,533 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1959 | 45,253 tonnes | -13.9% |
| 1960 | 38,545 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 1961 | 32,261 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 1962 | 27,457 tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1963 | 23,499 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1964 | 20,384 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 1965 | 18,117 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1966 | 16,959 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1967 | 15,704 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1968 | 14,604 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1969 | 13,464 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1970 | 12,916 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 13,782 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1972 | 13,600 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1973 | 14,802 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1974 | 14,755 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 19,805 tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1976 | 21,260 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1977 | 22,478 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 23,671 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 20,892 tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1980 | 27,721 tonnes | +32.7% |
| 1981 | 31,772 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1982 | 33,050 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 33,563 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 37,756 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1985 | 36,353 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 39,208 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1987 | 41,771 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 44,149 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1989 | 47,522 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 66,584 tonnes | +40.1% |
| 1991 | 60,302 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1992 | 59,091 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 54,851 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1994 | 52,738 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 47,086 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1996 | 43,404 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1997 | 42,370 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 40,922 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 37,491 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2000 | 35,417 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 34,329 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 33,030 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 32,093 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 30,932 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 30,192 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 29,764 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 29,256 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 27,323 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 25,948 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 25,055 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 19,824 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 2012 | 20,775 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 20,214 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 19,320 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 19,018 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 18,264 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 15,051 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2018 | 14,397 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 14,053 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 12,237 tonnes | -12.9% |
| 2021 | 12,323 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 12,616 tonnes | +2.4% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 12,616 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 8% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 12,616 tonnes is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 120,820 tonnes, 10% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +40.1% | 47,522 tonnes | 66,584 tonnes |
| 1975 | +34.2% | 14,755 tonnes | 19,805 tonnes |
| 1980 | +32.7% | 20,892 tonnes | 27,721 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 10,113 tonnes | 9,778 tonnes | 10,448 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 10,880 tonnes | 10,522 tonnes | 11,237 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 11,698 tonnes | 11,316 tonnes | 12,078 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 12,569 tonnes | 12,163 tonnes | 12,974 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 13,496 tonnes | 13,064 tonnes | 13,926 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 14,479 tonnes | 14,021 tonnes | 14,935 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 15,521 tonnes | 15,036 tonnes | 16,003 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 17,523 tonnes | 16,109 tonnes | 18,929 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 20,611 tonnes | 19,239 tonnes | 21,974 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 24,690 tonnes | 22,274 tonnes | 27,088 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 29,185 tonnes | 27,559 tonnes | 32,954 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 38,723 tonnes | 34,257 tonnes | 43,714 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 46,646 tonnes | 44,838 tonnes | 50,307 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 51,808 tonnes | 50,676 tonnes | 52,704 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 55,635 tonnes | 51,868 tonnes | 60,148 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 76,957 tonnes | 59,824 tonnes | 92,915 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 105,865 tonnes | 96,374 tonnes | 109,942 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 122,434 tonnes | 111,887 tonnes | 134,276 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 135,766 tonnes | 133,844 tonnes | 138,135 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 128,704 tonnes | 125,148 tonnes | 133,661 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 85,442 tonnes | 45,253 tonnes | 128,399 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 22,099 tonnes | 13,464 tonnes | 38,545 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 17,796 tonnes | 12,916 tonnes | 23,671 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 37,286 tonnes | 27,721 tonnes | 47,522 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 50,484 tonnes | 37,491 tonnes | 66,584 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,828 tonnes | 25,948 tonnes | 35,417 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,597 tonnes | 14,053 tonnes | 25,055 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,392 tonnes | 12,237 tonnes | 12,616 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 174 Seychelles 17,405 tonnes compare
- 175 Gibraltar 14,381 tonnes compare
- 176 Barbados 13,615 tonnes compare
- 178 Malta 12,178 tonnes compare
- 179 Sao Tome and Principe 10,777 tonnes compare
- 180 East Timor 10,541 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Puerto Rico
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.50 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,291 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 329.16 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 961.57 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 34.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 13.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 13.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.0196 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0524 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico was 12,616 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 138,135 tonnes in 1936.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,778 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Puerto Rico ranks 177th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.