emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: emissions of air pollutants was 910,496 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
910,496 tonnes
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
56th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.45 million tonnes
in 2002
All-time low
3,226 tonnes
in 1937
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia is 910,496 tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and down 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1.45 million tonnes in 2002 and was at its lowest, 3,226 tonnes, in 1937.
That places Saudi Arabia 56th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 29,543 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 29,595 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 29,647 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 29,699 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 29,751 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 29,803 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 29,855 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 29,906 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 29,958 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 30,010 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 30,062 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 30,114 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 30,166 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 30,218 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 30,270 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 30,322 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 30,374 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 30,426 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 30,478 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 30,530 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 30,582 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 30,634 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 30,686 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 30,738 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 30,790 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 30,842 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 30,894 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 30,946 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 30,998 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 31,049 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 31,101 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 31,153 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 31,205 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 31,257 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 31,309 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 31,361 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 31,412 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 31,464 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 31,516 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 31,567 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 31,619 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 31,670 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 31,722 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 31,774 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 31,825 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 31,877 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 31,928 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 31,980 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 32,031 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 32,082 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 32,133 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 32,185 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 32,236 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 32,287 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 32,338 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 32,389 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 32,440 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 32,491 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 32,542 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 32,592 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 32,643 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 32,694 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1812 | 32,744 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1813 | 32,794 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1814 | 32,845 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1815 | 32,895 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1816 | 32,946 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1817 | 32,996 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1818 | 33,046 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1819 | 33,096 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1820 | 33,146 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 33,232 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 33,318 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 33,403 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 33,489 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 33,574 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 33,659 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 33,745 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 33,830 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 33,915 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 34,000 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 34,049 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 34,098 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 34,147 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 34,196 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 34,244 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 34,293 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 34,342 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 34,390 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 34,439 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 34,487 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 34,535 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 34,583 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 34,630 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 34,678 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 34,725 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 34,772 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 34,820 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 34,867 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 34,914 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1850 | 34,961 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 35,007 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 35,053 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 35,098 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 35,144 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 35,190 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 35,235 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 35,281 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 35,326 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 35,371 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 35,416 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 35,460 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 35,504 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 35,548 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 35,592 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 35,636 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 35,679 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 35,722 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 35,765 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 35,808 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 35,852 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 35,933 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1872 | 36,014 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 36,096 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1874 | 36,176 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1875 | 36,257 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1876 | 36,338 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1877 | 36,418 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1878 | 36,498 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1879 | 36,578 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1880 | 36,658 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1881 | 36,749 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1882 | 36,839 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1883 | 36,929 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1884 | 37,019 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1885 | 37,109 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 37,198 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 37,288 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1888 | 37,376 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 37,465 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 37,554 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 37,643 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1892 | 37,731 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1893 | 37,820 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1894 | 37,908 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1895 | 37,996 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1896 | 38,084 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1897 | 38,171 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1898 | 38,258 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1899 | 38,345 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1900 | 38,431 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 37,500 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1902 | 36,568 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1903 | 35,633 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1904 | 34,697 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1905 | 33,758 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1906 | 32,818 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1907 | 31,876 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1908 | 30,933 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1909 | 29,988 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1910 | 29,041 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1911 | 28,074 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1912 | 27,107 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1913 | 26,140 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1914 | 25,173 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1915 | 24,205 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1916 | 23,237 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1917 | 22,269 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1918 | 21,301 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1919 | 20,333 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1920 | 19,365 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1921 | 18,432 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1922 | 17,494 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1923 | 16,551 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1924 | 15,603 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1925 | 14,650 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1926 | 13,693 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1927 | 12,731 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1928 | 11,764 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1929 | 10,793 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1930 | 9,817 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1931 | 8,839 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1932 | 7,855 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1933 | 6,867 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1934 | 5,875 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1935 | 4,879 tonnes | -17.0% |
| 1936 | 3,980 tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1937 | 3,226 tonnes | -18.9% |
| 1938 | 4,664 tonnes | +44.6% |
| 1939 | 23,155 tonnes | +396.5% |
| 1940 | 29,500 tonnes | +27.4% |
| 1941 | 24,739 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 1942 | 25,674 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1943 | 26,583 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1944 | 42,503 tonnes | +59.9% |
| 1945 | 112,225 tonnes | +164.0% |
| 1946 | 315,601 tonnes | +181.2% |
| 1947 | 271,021 tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1948 | 229,061 tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1949 | 234,652 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1950 | 78,335 tonnes | -66.6% |
| 1951 | 65,998 tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1952 | 49,333 tonnes | -25.3% |
| 1953 | 32,108 tonnes | -34.9% |
| 1954 | 43,764 tonnes | +36.3% |
| 1955 | 53,094 tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1956 | 48,750 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1957 | 54,040 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1958 | 53,770 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 54,697 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 67,555 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1961 | 80,417 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1962 | 108,003 tonnes | +34.3% |
| 1963 | 116,320 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1964 | 108,774 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1965 | 88,182 tonnes | -18.9% |
| 1966 | 115,358 tonnes | +30.8% |
| 1967 | 123,880 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1968 | 137,830 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1969 | 160,159 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1970 | 221,602 tonnes | +38.4% |
| 1971 | 271,524 tonnes | +22.5% |
| 1972 | 332,982 tonnes | +22.6% |
| 1973 | 427,229 tonnes | +28.3% |
| 1974 | 475,939 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1975 | 465,147 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 611,105 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 1977 | 703,013 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1978 | 775,563 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 908,961 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1980 | 1.06 million tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1981 | 1.05 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 1.01 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1983 | 1.14 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1984 | 1.12 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 1.19 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1986 | 1.17 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 1.17 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 1.20 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 1.13 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 1.32 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1991 | 1.32 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 1.36 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 1.36 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.20 million tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1995 | 1.16 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 1.19 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 1.28 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 1.28 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 1.27 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.35 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 1.39 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 1.45 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 1.40 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 1.36 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 1.28 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 1.19 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 1.14 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 1.13 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 1.04 million tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2010 | 1.01 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 1.09 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 1.08 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.07 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 1.08 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 1.11 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 1.09 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 1.06 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 980,420 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 946,896 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 843,481 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 859,949 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 910,496 tonnes | +5.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 910,496 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 6.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 910,496 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 315,167 tonnes, 2.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | +396.5% | 4,664 tonnes | 23,155 tonnes |
| 1946 | +181.2% | 112,225 tonnes | 315,601 tonnes |
| 1945 | +164.0% | 42,503 tonnes | 112,225 tonnes |
| 1950 | -66.6% | 234,652 tonnes | 78,335 tonnes |
| 1944 | +59.9% | 26,583 tonnes | 42,503 tonnes |
| 1938 | +44.6% | 3,226 tonnes | 4,664 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 29,777 tonnes | 29,543 tonnes | 30,010 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 30,296 tonnes | 30,062 tonnes | 30,530 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 30,816 tonnes | 30,582 tonnes | 31,049 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 31,334 tonnes | 31,101 tonnes | 31,567 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 31,851 tonnes | 31,619 tonnes | 32,082 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 32,363 tonnes | 32,133 tonnes | 32,592 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 32,870 tonnes | 32,643 tonnes | 33,096 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 33,531 tonnes | 33,146 tonnes | 33,915 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 34,220 tonnes | 34,000 tonnes | 34,439 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 34,701 tonnes | 34,487 tonnes | 34,914 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 35,167 tonnes | 34,961 tonnes | 35,371 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 35,613 tonnes | 35,416 tonnes | 35,808 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 36,216 tonnes | 35,852 tonnes | 36,578 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 37,063 tonnes | 36,658 tonnes | 37,465 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 37,951 tonnes | 37,554 tonnes | 38,345 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 34,220 tonnes | 29,988 tonnes | 38,431 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 24,688 tonnes | 20,333 tonnes | 29,041 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 15,107 tonnes | 10,793 tonnes | 19,365 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 7,916 tonnes | 3,226 tonnes | 23,155 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 131,156 tonnes | 24,739 tonnes | 315,601 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 53,389 tonnes | 32,108 tonnes | 78,335 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 110,648 tonnes | 67,555 tonnes | 160,159 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 519,306 tonnes | 221,602 tonnes | 908,961 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.12 million tonnes | 1.01 million tonnes | 1.20 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.27 million tonnes | 1.16 million tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.27 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes | 1.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.05 million tonnes | 946,896 tonnes | 1.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 871,309 tonnes | 843,481 tonnes | 910,496 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 53 Haiti 1.08 million tonnes compare
- 54 Spain 1.03 million tonnes compare
- 55 Burkina Faso 987,249 tonnes compare
- 57 Libya 896,496 tonnes compare
- 58 Uzbekistan 867,112 tonnes compare
- 59 South Sudan 859,132 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Saudi Arabia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 134.54 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,043 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,830 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,213 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 79.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,002 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.78 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia was 910,496 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.45 million tonnes in 2002.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,226 tonnes in 1937.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 56th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.