What is emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland?

Emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland was 143,602 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 Switzerland?

The highest recorded value was 1.12 million tonnes in 1980.

What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Switzerland?

The lowest recorded value was 143,602 tonnes in 2022.

How does Switzerland rank for emissions of air pollutants?

Switzerland ranks 136th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Switzerland?

Over the last ten years it is down 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Switzerland 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 Switzerland

Name: emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland
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)

Switzerland: emissions of air pollutants was 143,602 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

143,602 tonnes

Change on year

down 0.9%

World rank

136th

of 220 countries

All-time high

1.12 million tonnes

in 1980

All-time low

143,602 tonnes

in 2022

Years of data

273

1750–2022

emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland, 1750–2022

Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.

Analysis

Switzerland recorded 143,602 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 273 years on record.

That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 33.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland peaked at 1.12 million tonnes in 1980 and was at its lowest, 143,602 tonnes, in 2022.

That places Switzerland 136th 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1750s	194,888 tonnes	193,528 tonnes	196,224 tonnes	10
1760s	197,870 tonnes	196,514 tonnes	199,202 tonnes	10
1770s	200,842 tonnes	199,490 tonnes	202,168 tonnes	10
1780s	203,799 tonnes	202,454 tonnes	205,117 tonnes	10
1790s	206,738 tonnes	205,402 tonnes	208,047 tonnes	10
1800s	209,655 tonnes	208,329 tonnes	210,952 tonnes	10
1810s	220,314 tonnes	211,231 tonnes	229,291 tonnes	10
1820s	238,045 tonnes	231,254 tonnes	244,750 tonnes	10
1830s	252,779 tonnes	246,214 tonnes	259,257 tonnes	10
1840s	267,294 tonnes	260,670 tonnes	273,827 tonnes	10
1850s	283,564 tonnes	274,857 tonnes	292,493 tonnes	10
1860s	303,749 tonnes	294,396 tonnes	310,690 tonnes	10
1870s	325,558 tonnes	313,412 tonnes	331,238 tonnes	10
1880s	334,926 tonnes	327,555 tonnes	339,242 tonnes	10
1890s	341,286 tonnes	336,377 tonnes	344,562 tonnes	10
1900s	350,660 tonnes	342,628 tonnes	365,772 tonnes	10
1910s	346,194 tonnes	319,140 tonnes	366,670 tonnes	10
1920s	337,355 tonnes	318,927 tonnes	358,928 tonnes	10
1930s	367,244 tonnes	356,666 tonnes	382,844 tonnes	10
1940s	371,323 tonnes	295,585 tonnes	473,559 tonnes	10
1950s	562,081 tonnes	483,500 tonnes	644,226 tonnes	10
1960s	815,516 tonnes	722,842 tonnes	907,138 tonnes	10
1970s	1.03 million tonnes	961,217 tonnes	1.08 million tonnes	10
1980s	974,964 tonnes	793,874 tonnes	1.12 million tonnes	10
1990s	580,133 tonnes	432,753 tonnes	802,765 tonnes	10
2000s	323,479 tonnes	255,655 tonnes	408,021 tonnes	10
2010s	193,783 tonnes	163,238 tonnes	246,989 tonnes	10
2020s	144,698 tonnes	143,602 tonnes	145,551 tonnes	3

Countries ranked near Switzerland

133 Namibia 151,004 tonnes compare
134 Botswana 148,655 tonnes compare
135 Panama 148,041 tonnes compare
137 El Salvador 136,748 tonnes compare
138 Azerbaijan 129,062 tonnes compare
139 Jamaica 120,820 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More climate change data for Switzerland

Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.1% (2100)
Population growth 1.0% (2025)
Population, total 9.09 million (2025)
Urban population growth 1.3% (2025)
Urban population 7.79 million (2025)
Urban population 85.7% (2025)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 3.59 tonnes per person (2024)
Cumulative CO₂ emissions 3.16 billion tonnes (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita 3.59 tonnes per person (2024)
CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 3.59 tonnes per person (2024)

All data for Switzerland →

Frequently asked questions

What is emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland?: Emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland was 143,602 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 Switzerland?: The highest recorded value was 1.12 million tonnes in 1980.
What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Switzerland?: The lowest recorded value was 143,602 tonnes in 2022.
How does Switzerland rank for emissions of air pollutants?: Switzerland ranks 136th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Switzerland?: Over the last ten years it is down 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Switzerland 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.