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.

emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka

Name: emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka
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)

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.

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

33 Italy 1.94 million tonnes compare
34 Zambia 1.88 million tonnes compare
35 Madagascar 1.77 million tonnes compare
37 Guatemala 1.75 million tonnes compare
38 Cote d'Ivoire 1.65 million tonnes compare
39 Zimbabwe 1.63 million tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More climate change data for Sri Lanka

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
Population growth -0.7% (2025)
Population, total 21.76 million (2025)
Urban population growth 0.0% (2025)
Urban population 4.45 million (2025)
Urban population 20.5% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.9014 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 567.87 million tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 0.9014 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 0.9014 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Sri Lanka →

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

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.