Saudi Arabia vs South Africa: Long run air pollution

Saudi Arabia
2.69 million
in 2022
South Africa
1.86 million
in 2022
Saudi Arabia rank
8th
South Africa rank
11th

Long run air pollution over time

  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
01.0M2.0M3.0M175018862022

How they compare

Saudi Arabia currently reports 2.69 million against 1.86 million in South Africa, a difference of 831,690.

That makes Saudi Arabia's figure about 1.4 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 9 times across 273 shared years of data; in 1750 it was South Africa ahead.

Saudi Arabia ranks 8th and South Africa ranks 11th of 216 countries.

Across the 28 decades both report, Saudi Arabia averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 25.

Head to head by decade

Decade Saudi Arabia South Africa Difference Ahead
1750s 155.35 235.47 80.12 South Africa
1760s 158.39 243.29 84.9 South Africa
1770s 161.47 251.81 90.34 South Africa
1780s 164.6 261.14 96.54 South Africa
1790s 167.78 271.39 103.61 South Africa
1800s 172.95 283.44 110.49 South Africa
1810s 180.66 303.47 122.81 South Africa
1820s 189.51 333.15 143.64 South Africa
1830s 198.85 367.25 168.4 South Africa
1840s 207.32 406.55 199.23 South Africa
1850s 216.02 564.39 348.38 South Africa
1860s 228.18 830.09 601.91 South Africa
1870s 245.94 1,272 1,026 South Africa
1880s 266.37 1,919 1,652 South Africa
1890s 289.67 8,390 8,101 South Africa
1900s 325.1 23,835 23,510 South Africa
1910s 361.13 56,434 56,072 South Africa
1920s 384.05 89,633 89,249 South Africa
1930s 1,400 111,651 110,251 South Africa
1940s 56,030 195,923 139,893 South Africa
1950s 17,954 322,994 305,040 South Africa
1960s 39,075 460,756 421,682 South Africa
1970s 1.17 million 988,337 176,815 Saudi Arabia
1980s 1.19 million 1.21 million 18,120 South Africa
1990s 1.33 million 1.59 million 264,505 South Africa
2000s 1.60 million 2.08 million 479,627 South Africa
2010s 2.51 million 2.24 million 273,111 Saudi Arabia
2020s 2.55 million 1.88 million 667,027 Saudi Arabia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher long run air pollution, Saudi Arabia or South Africa?
Saudi Arabia, at 2.69 million against 1.86 million in South Africa as of 2022.
What is the difference in long run air pollution between Saudi Arabia and South Africa?
831,690, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and South Africa?
273 years are reported by both, from 1750 to 2022.
How do Saudi Arabia and South Africa rank globally for long run air pollution?
Saudi Arabia ranks 8th and South Africa ranks 11th of 216 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Our World in Data, published as Long run air pollution. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Saudi Arabia vs South Africa: Long run air pollution. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/long-run-air-pollution/saudi-arabia/south-africa/

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<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/long-run-air-pollution/saudi-arabia/south-africa/">Saudi Arabia vs South Africa: Long run air pollution</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Long run air pollution
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed