emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: emissions of air pollutants was 1.76 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.76 million tonnes
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
36th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.91 million tonnes
in 2010
All-time low
38,444 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 1.76 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka peaked at 1.91 million tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, 38,444 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Sri Lanka 36th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 38,444 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 38,508 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 38,571 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 38,635 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 38,698 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 38,762 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 38,826 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 38,889 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 38,953 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 39,016 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 39,079 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 39,143 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 39,207 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 39,271 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 39,335 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 39,399 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 39,463 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 39,527 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 39,590 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 39,654 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 39,718 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 39,782 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 39,846 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 39,910 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 39,975 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 40,039 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 40,103 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 40,167 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 40,231 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 40,295 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 40,358 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 40,423 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 40,487 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 40,551 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 40,616 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 40,680 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 40,744 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 40,808 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 40,872 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 40,936 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 41,000 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 41,064 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 41,128 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 41,193 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 41,257 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 41,321 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 41,385 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 41,449 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 41,513 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 41,577 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 41,641 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 41,705 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 41,769 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 41,833 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 41,897 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 41,961 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 42,025 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 42,089 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 42,153 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 42,216 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 42,280 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 42,344 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1812 | 42,408 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1813 | 42,471 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1814 | 42,535 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 42,599 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 42,662 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 42,726 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 42,789 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 42,853 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 42,916 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 43,628 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1822 | 44,339 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1823 | 45,050 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1824 | 45,761 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1825 | 46,471 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1826 | 47,180 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1827 | 47,889 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1828 | 48,597 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1829 | 49,304 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1830 | 50,012 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1831 | 51,241 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1832 | 52,469 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1833 | 53,696 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1834 | 54,922 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1835 | 56,147 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1836 | 57,371 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1837 | 58,594 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1838 | 59,816 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1839 | 61,036 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1840 | 62,256 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1841 | 63,784 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1842 | 65,310 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1843 | 66,834 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1844 | 68,358 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1845 | 69,879 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1846 | 71,400 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1847 | 72,919 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1848 | 74,436 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1849 | 75,952 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1850 | 77,001 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1851 | 59,850 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1852 | 61,036 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1853 | 62,235 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1854 | 63,447 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1855 | 64,008 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1856 | 64,637 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1857 | 65,267 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1858 | 67,086 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1859 | 68,942 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1860 | 70,835 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1861 | 72,844 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1862 | 74,647 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1863 | 76,478 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1864 | 78,339 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1865 | 79,288 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 80,331 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1867 | 81,378 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1868 | 88,220 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1869 | 95,685 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1870 | 103,833 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1871 | 104,665 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1872 | 105,140 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1873 | 105,584 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 106,059 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 106,563 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1876 | 107,641 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1877 | 108,718 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1878 | 109,825 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1879 | 110,932 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 112,040 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 113,007 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1882 | 114,154 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 115,449 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 116,833 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1885 | 117,890 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 120,058 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1887 | 122,316 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1888 | 124,960 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1889 | 127,902 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1890 | 130,308 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1891 | 132,901 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1892 | 135,642 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1893 | 138,026 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1894 | 140,589 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1895 | 142,616 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1896 | 146,575 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1897 | 150,296 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1898 | 154,285 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1899 | 157,858 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1900 | 160,954 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1901 | 164,880 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1902 | 166,459 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1903 | 169,380 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 172,067 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 176,930 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1906 | 180,197 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1907 | 181,507 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1908 | 184,132 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1909 | 187,120 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 190,651 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1911 | 193,397 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1912 | 194,301 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1913 | 195,208 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1914 | 196,117 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1915 | 198,220 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 200,703 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1917 | 203,281 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1918 | 205,862 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1919 | 208,478 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1920 | 211,127 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1921 | 216,258 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1922 | 221,709 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1923 | 227,093 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1924 | 231,549 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1925 | 236,860 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1926 | 241,386 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 246,140 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1928 | 253,712 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1929 | 255,382 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1930 | 260,048 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1931 | 262,833 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1932 | 265,640 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1933 | 268,409 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1934 | 271,528 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1935 | 274,043 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 278,356 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1937 | 283,670 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1938 | 289,343 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1939 | 294,896 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1940 | 300,182 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1941 | 304,988 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1942 | 309,629 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1943 | 316,962 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1944 | 325,735 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1945 | 336,575 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1946 | 349,948 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1947 | 362,764 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1948 | 376,361 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1949 | 390,141 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1950 | 745,714 tonnes | +91.1% |
| 1951 | 656,925 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1952 | 800,230 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1953 | 835,914 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1954 | 760,962 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1955 | 684,046 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1956 | 653,834 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1957 | 818,915 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1958 | 723,702 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1959 | 741,971 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 843,937 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1961 | 741,795 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1962 | 764,392 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1963 | 783,397 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 825,587 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 810,452 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 710,967 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1967 | 878,038 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1968 | 774,234 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1969 | 774,584 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 778,556 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 752,763 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1972 | 764,216 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 780,710 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 784,041 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 838,072 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1976 | 852,089 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 830,977 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 864,116 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 878,231 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 889,082 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1981 | 915,138 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 943,738 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 963,013 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 1.03 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 1.04 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 1.08 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 1.13 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 1.16 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 1.19 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.22 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 1.22 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 1.28 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1.24 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 1.26 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 1.36 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 1.39 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 1.39 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 1.46 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 1.54 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 1.51 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 1.54 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 1.58 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 1.63 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 1.68 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 1.71 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 1.73 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 1.78 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.81 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 1.91 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.75 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 1.81 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 1.74 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 1.77 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 1.79 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 1.85 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 1.80 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 1.77 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 1.80 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 1.75 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 1.78 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.76 million tonnes | -0.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.76 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 286,757 tonnes, 6.1× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.76 million tonnes is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.18 million tonnes, 81% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +91.1% | 390,141 tonnes | 745,714 tonnes |
| 1957 | +25.2% | 653,834 tonnes | 818,915 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 38,730 tonnes | 38,444 tonnes | 39,016 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 39,367 tonnes | 39,079 tonnes | 39,654 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 40,006 tonnes | 39,718 tonnes | 40,295 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 40,647 tonnes | 40,358 tonnes | 40,936 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 41,289 tonnes | 41,000 tonnes | 41,577 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 41,929 tonnes | 41,641 tonnes | 42,216 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 42,567 tonnes | 42,280 tonnes | 42,853 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 46,113 tonnes | 42,916 tonnes | 49,304 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 55,530 tonnes | 50,012 tonnes | 61,036 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 69,113 tonnes | 62,256 tonnes | 75,952 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 65,351 tonnes | 59,850 tonnes | 77,001 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 79,805 tonnes | 70,835 tonnes | 95,685 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 106,896 tonnes | 103,833 tonnes | 110,932 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 118,461 tonnes | 112,040 tonnes | 127,902 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 142,910 tonnes | 130,308 tonnes | 157,858 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 174,363 tonnes | 160,954 tonnes | 187,120 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 198,622 tonnes | 190,651 tonnes | 208,478 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 234,122 tonnes | 211,127 tonnes | 255,382 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 274,877 tonnes | 260,048 tonnes | 294,896 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 337,328 tonnes | 300,182 tonnes | 390,141 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 742,221 tonnes | 653,834 tonnes | 835,914 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 790,738 tonnes | 710,967 tonnes | 878,038 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 812,377 tonnes | 752,763 tonnes | 878,231 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.03 million tonnes | 889,082 tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.31 million tonnes | 1.22 million tonnes | 1.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.65 million tonnes | 1.51 million tonnes | 1.81 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.80 million tonnes | 1.74 million tonnes | 1.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.76 million tonnes | 1.75 million tonnes | 1.78 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More climate change data for Sri Lanka
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 327.09 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 3,418 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 618.46 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,800 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.33 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 100 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,168 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,071 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,097 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.82 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka was 1.76 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1.91 million tonnes in 2010.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,444 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Sri Lanka ranks 36th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.