emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland
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.
emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 193,528 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 193,836 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 194,142 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 194,445 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 194,747 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 195,046 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 195,344 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 195,639 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 195,933 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 196,224 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 196,514 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 196,821 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 197,126 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 197,429 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 197,729 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 198,028 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 198,325 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 198,619 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 198,912 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 199,202 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 199,490 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 199,796 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 200,100 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 200,402 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 200,702 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 200,999 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 201,295 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 201,588 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 201,879 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 202,168 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 202,454 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 202,759 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 203,062 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 203,362 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 203,660 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 203,956 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 204,250 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 204,541 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 204,830 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 205,117 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 205,402 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 205,705 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 206,006 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 206,304 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 206,600 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 206,894 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 207,186 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 207,475 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 207,762 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 208,047 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 208,329 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 208,630 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1802 | 208,929 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1803 | 209,225 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1804 | 209,519 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1805 | 209,810 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1806 | 210,099 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1807 | 210,386 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 210,670 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1809 | 210,952 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1810 | 211,231 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1811 | 213,273 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1812 | 215,306 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1813 | 217,330 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1814 | 219,346 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1815 | 221,352 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1816 | 223,350 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1817 | 225,339 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1818 | 227,320 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1819 | 229,291 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1820 | 231,254 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1821 | 232,782 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 234,304 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1823 | 235,818 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1824 | 237,324 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 238,824 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 240,316 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 241,801 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 243,279 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 244,750 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 246,214 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 247,692 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 249,163 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 250,627 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 252,084 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 253,533 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 254,975 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 256,410 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 257,837 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 259,257 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 260,670 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1841 | 262,162 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1842 | 263,647 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1843 | 265,124 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1844 | 266,594 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1845 | 268,056 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1846 | 269,510 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1847 | 270,956 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1848 | 272,395 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1849 | 273,827 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1850 | 274,857 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1851 | 277,571 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1852 | 278,932 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1853 | 280,127 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 282,151 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 284,110 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 286,369 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1857 | 288,456 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 290,573 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 292,493 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 294,396 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 296,953 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1862 | 299,318 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1863 | 301,536 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 303,811 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1865 | 305,932 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 307,102 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1867 | 308,192 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1868 | 309,560 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 310,690 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 313,412 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1871 | 318,528 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 321,920 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1873 | 325,997 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1874 | 326,633 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1875 | 331,238 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1876 | 330,852 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1877 | 329,824 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1878 | 329,018 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1879 | 328,153 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1880 | 327,555 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1881 | 329,708 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 331,928 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 334,575 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 337,223 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1885 | 339,242 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 338,181 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1887 | 337,760 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1888 | 336,498 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1889 | 336,594 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 337,007 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 339,507 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1892 | 339,559 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 336,377 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1894 | 340,843 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 342,757 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 344,067 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1897 | 344,037 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1898 | 344,140 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 344,562 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 345,338 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 342,653 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1902 | 342,720 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 344,590 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1904 | 345,965 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1905 | 342,628 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1906 | 352,640 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1907 | 360,949 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1908 | 363,343 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1909 | 365,772 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1910 | 366,357 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1911 | 366,670 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1912 | 362,859 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1913 | 360,165 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1914 | 348,208 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1915 | 340,211 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1916 | 340,228 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 330,264 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1918 | 327,840 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1919 | 319,140 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1920 | 342,042 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1921 | 318,927 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1922 | 329,534 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1923 | 336,850 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1924 | 333,331 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1925 | 331,636 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1926 | 330,940 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1927 | 343,968 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1928 | 347,396 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1929 | 358,928 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1930 | 356,666 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1931 | 362,497 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1932 | 366,987 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 365,351 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1934 | 367,015 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1935 | 365,148 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1936 | 365,429 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1937 | 370,126 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1938 | 370,372 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1939 | 382,844 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 347,798 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1941 | 329,826 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1942 | 329,149 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1943 | 337,787 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1944 | 325,589 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1945 | 295,585 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1946 | 372,684 tonnes | +26.1% |
| 1947 | 445,917 tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1948 | 473,559 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1949 | 455,334 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1950 | 492,151 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1951 | 535,328 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1952 | 506,356 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1953 | 483,500 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1954 | 529,603 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1955 | 550,999 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1956 | 632,711 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1957 | 644,226 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1958 | 624,154 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1959 | 621,784 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1960 | 722,842 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1961 | 746,532 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 737,841 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 832,733 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1964 | 812,419 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1965 | 825,574 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 840,257 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 862,070 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 867,759 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 907,138 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 961,217 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1971 | 1.03 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 1.05 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.07 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 1.03 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 1.01 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 992,630 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 1.04 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 1.08 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 1.07 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 1.12 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1981 | 1.10 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 1.07 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 1.03 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 1.00 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 968,303 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 931,846 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 890,696 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 844,521 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1989 | 793,874 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 802,765 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 765,938 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 705,349 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1993 | 611,278 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 1994 | 558,467 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 515,890 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1996 | 496,485 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 465,856 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 446,545 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 432,753 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 408,021 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2001 | 381,584 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2002 | 356,035 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 345,341 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2004 | 329,460 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 314,928 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 293,419 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2007 | 278,869 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 271,480 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 255,655 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 246,989 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 222,849 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 215,786 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 207,848 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 186,754 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 2015 | 178,420 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 179,409 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 172,748 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 163,787 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 163,238 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 145,551 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 144,940 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 143,602 tonnes | -0.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 143,602 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 95% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 143,602 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 280,480 tonnes, 51% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +26.1% | 295,585 tonnes | 372,684 tonnes |
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
More climate change data for Switzerland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 72.47 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 6,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,192 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,816 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 4.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 171.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 476.97 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 472.94 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.78 kt (2050)
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
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.