emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: emissions of air pollutants was 1.21 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.21 million tonnes
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
48th
of 220 countries
All-time high
13.85 million tonnes
in 1956
All-time low
1.21 million tonnes
in 2022
Years of data
273
1750–2022
emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom stood at 1.21 million tonnes. That is the lowest value across all 273 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 29.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom peaked at 13.85 million tonnes in 1956 and was at its lowest, 1.21 million tonnes, in 2022.
United Kingdom ranks 48th of 220 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1.28 million tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 1.28 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 1.29 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 1.29 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 1.31 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1757 | 1.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 1.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 1.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 1.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 1.35 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1762 | 1.36 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 1.36 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 1.36 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 1.36 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 1.41 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1767 | 1.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 1.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 1.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 1.41 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 1.46 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1772 | 1.46 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 1.46 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 1.46 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 1.47 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 1.51 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1777 | 1.52 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 1.52 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 1.52 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 1.52 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 1.58 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1782 | 1.58 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 1.58 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 1.58 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 1.59 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 1.66 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1787 | 1.66 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 1.66 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 1.67 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 1.67 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 1.74 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1792 | 1.74 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 1.74 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 1.74 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 1.75 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 1.78 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1797 | 1.81 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1798 | 1.85 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1799 | 1.89 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1800 | 1.92 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1801 | 1.91 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1802 | 1.92 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 2.02 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1804 | 2.02 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 2.05 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1806 | 2.10 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1807 | 2.10 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1808 | 2.10 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1809 | 2.09 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1810 | 2.09 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1811 | 2.18 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1812 | 2.25 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1813 | 2.29 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1814 | 2.33 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1815 | 2.38 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1816 | 2.48 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1817 | 2.52 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1818 | 2.54 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1819 | 2.57 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1820 | 2.60 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1821 | 2.63 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 2.69 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1823 | 2.78 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1824 | 2.86 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1825 | 2.89 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 2.92 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 3.00 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1828 | 3.02 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 3.06 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1830 | 3.53 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1831 | 3.48 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1832 | 3.50 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1833 | 3.52 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1834 | 3.54 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 3.55 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 3.93 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1837 | 3.86 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1838 | 3.95 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 4.03 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1840 | 4.15 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1841 | 4.18 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 4.29 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1843 | 4.41 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1844 | 4.54 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1845 | 4.75 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1846 | 4.61 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1847 | 4.86 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1848 | 5.04 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1849 | 5.25 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1850 | 5.47 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1851 | 5.25 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1852 | 5.22 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1853 | 5.18 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1854 | 5.90 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1855 | 5.61 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1856 | 5.78 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1857 | 5.57 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1858 | 5.36 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1859 | 5.64 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1860 | 5.97 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1861 | 6.06 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1862 | 5.82 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1863 | 5.99 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1864 | 6.22 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1865 | 6.39 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1866 | 6.33 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1867 | 6.24 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1868 | 5.93 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1869 | 5.93 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1870 | 5.79 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1871 | 5.98 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1872 | 6.14 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1873 | 6.24 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1874 | 6.02 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1875 | 6.20 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 6.17 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1877 | 6.24 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 6.13 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1879 | 6.14 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1880 | 6.56 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1881 | 6.84 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1882 | 6.89 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1883 | 7.12 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1884 | 6.96 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1885 | 6.89 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1886 | 6.77 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1887 | 6.86 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 7.03 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1889 | 7.18 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1890 | 7.26 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1891 | 7.42 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 7.31 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1893 | 6.67 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1894 | 7.54 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1895 | 7.63 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 7.75 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1897 | 7.86 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1898 | 7.81 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1899 | 8.23 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1900 | 8.24 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 8.17 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1902 | 8.55 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1903 | 8.71 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1904 | 8.83 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1905 | 9.03 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1906 | 9.33 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1907 | 9.73 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1908 | 9.52 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1909 | 9.61 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1910 | 9.69 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 9.83 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1912 | 9.27 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1913 | 9.07 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1914 | 8.83 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1915 | 9.06 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1916 | 9.38 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1917 | 9.36 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1918 | 8.77 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1919 | 8.41 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1920 | 8.88 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1921 | 6.25 million tonnes | -29.5% |
| 1922 | 8.10 million tonnes | +29.4% |
| 1923 | 12.50 million tonnes | +54.4% |
| 1924 | 13.08 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1925 | 12.59 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1926 | 9.58 million tonnes | -23.9% |
| 1927 | 13.08 million tonnes | +36.5% |
| 1928 | 12.14 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1929 | 12.65 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1930 | 12.08 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1931 | 11.42 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1932 | 11.18 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1933 | 11.10 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1934 | 11.66 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1935 | 11.91 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1936 | 12.39 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1937 | 12.67 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 12.01 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1939 | 12.43 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1940 | 12.66 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1941 | 12.67 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1942 | 12.66 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1943 | 12.10 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1944 | 11.62 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1945 | 11.10 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1946 | 11.29 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1947 | 11.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1948 | 11.93 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1949 | 12.05 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1950 | 12.93 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1951 | 13.35 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 13.31 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1953 | 13.32 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 13.68 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 13.77 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1956 | 13.85 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1957 | 13.53 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 13.46 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1959 | 13.15 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 13.80 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1961 | 13.21 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1962 | 13.27 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 13.22 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 12.45 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 12.18 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1966 | 11.01 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1967 | 10.39 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1968 | 10.35 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 10.22 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 10.02 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 9.46 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1972 | 9.03 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1973 | 9.11 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 8.67 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1975 | 8.00 million tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1976 | 7.89 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 7.96 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 7.87 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 7.95 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 7.52 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1981 | 7.51 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 7.55 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 7.41 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 7.28 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 7.99 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 8.20 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 8.31 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 8.34 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 8.59 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 8.28 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1991 | 8.42 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 8.17 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1993 | 8.02 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 7.39 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1995 | 6.79 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1996 | 6.86 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1997 | 6.42 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 6.07 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 5.66 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2000 | 5.12 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2001 | 4.70 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2002 | 4.15 million tonnes | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 3.76 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2004 | 3.52 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 3.31 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 3.11 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 3.05 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 2.55 million tonnes | -16.5% |
| 2009 | 2.03 million tonnes | -20.5% |
| 2010 | 1.91 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 1.77 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 1.73 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.68 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 1.60 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 1.53 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 1.37 million tonnes | -10.7% |
| 2017 | 1.40 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 1.39 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 1.30 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 1.22 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 1.23 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 1.21 million tonnes | -1.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.21 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 150,374 tonnes, 8.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.21 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 280,480 tonnes, 4.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | +54.4% | 8.10 million tonnes | 12.50 million tonnes |
| 1927 | +36.5% | 9.58 million tonnes | 13.08 million tonnes |
| 1921 | -29.5% | 8.88 million tonnes | 6.25 million tonnes |
| 1922 | +29.4% | 6.25 million tonnes | 8.10 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1.30 million tonnes | 1.28 million tonnes | 1.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 1.38 million tonnes | 1.32 million tonnes | 1.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 1.48 million tonnes | 1.41 million tonnes | 1.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 1.61 million tonnes | 1.52 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 1.77 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes | 1.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 2.02 million tonnes | 1.91 million tonnes | 2.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 2.36 million tonnes | 2.09 million tonnes | 2.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 2.84 million tonnes | 2.60 million tonnes | 3.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 3.69 million tonnes | 3.48 million tonnes | 4.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 4.61 million tonnes | 4.15 million tonnes | 5.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 5.50 million tonnes | 5.18 million tonnes | 5.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.09 million tonnes | 5.82 million tonnes | 6.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.10 million tonnes | 5.79 million tonnes | 6.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 6.91 million tonnes | 6.56 million tonnes | 7.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.55 million tonnes | 6.67 million tonnes | 8.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 8.97 million tonnes | 8.17 million tonnes | 9.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 9.17 million tonnes | 8.41 million tonnes | 9.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 10.88 million tonnes | 6.25 million tonnes | 13.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 11.89 million tonnes | 11.10 million tonnes | 12.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 11.94 million tonnes | 11.10 million tonnes | 12.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 13.44 million tonnes | 12.93 million tonnes | 13.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.01 million tonnes | 10.22 million tonnes | 13.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.59 million tonnes | 7.87 million tonnes | 10.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.87 million tonnes | 7.28 million tonnes | 8.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.21 million tonnes | 5.66 million tonnes | 8.42 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.53 million tonnes | 2.03 million tonnes | 5.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.57 million tonnes | 1.30 million tonnes | 1.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.22 million tonnes | 1.21 million tonnes | 1.23 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom?
- Emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom was 1.21 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 13.85 million tonnes in 1956.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 million tonnes in 2022.
- How does United Kingdom rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- United Kingdom ranks 48th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.