Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Emissions of air pollutants was 390,734 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
390,734 tonnes
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
45th
of 220 countries
All-time high
426,349 tonnes
in 1990
All-time low
555.48 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan, 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 Afghanistan stood at 390,734 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan peaked at 426,349 tonnes in 1990 and was at its lowest, 555.48 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Afghanistan 45th 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.
Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 555.48 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 557.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 560.09 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 562.39 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 564.69 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 566.99 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 569.3 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 571.6 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 573.9 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 576.21 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 578.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 580.9 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 583.3 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 585.7 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 588.1 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 590.5 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 592.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 595.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 597.69 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 600.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 602.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 604.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 607.47 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 609.97 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 612.46 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 614.96 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 617.45 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 619.95 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 622.44 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 624.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 627.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 630.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 632.63 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 635.23 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 637.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 640.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 643.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 645.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 648.21 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 650.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 653.4 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 656.11 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 658.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 661.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 664.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 666.92 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 669.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 672.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 675.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 677.73 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 680.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 685.14 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 689.87 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1803 | 694.61 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1804 | 699.36 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1805 | 704.13 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1806 | 708.92 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1807 | 713.69 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 718.5 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 723.34 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 728.19 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1811 | 733.17 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1812 | 738.17 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1813 | 743.18 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1814 | 748.22 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1815 | 753.27 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1816 | 758.3 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1817 | 763.38 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1818 | 768.47 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1819 | 773.59 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 778.72 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 783.33 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1822 | 787.95 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1823 | 792.59 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1824 | 797.24 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 801.9 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 806.54 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 811.23 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 815.94 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 820.65 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 825.38 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 832.07 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 838.77 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 845.5 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1834 | 852.25 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1835 | 859.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 865.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1837 | 872.6 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 879.44 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1839 | 886.31 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 893.2 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1841 | 900.37 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1842 | 907.57 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1843 | 914.79 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1844 | 922.03 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1845 | 929.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1846 | 936.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1847 | 943.87 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 951.21 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1849 | 958.58 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1850 | 965.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 974.21 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1852 | 982.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 990.81 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 999.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 1,008 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1856 | 1,016 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1857 | 1,024 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 1,033 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 1,041 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 1,050 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1861 | 1,063 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1862 | 1,075 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1863 | 1,088 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1864 | 1,101 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1865 | 1,113 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 1,126 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1867 | 1,139 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1868 | 1,152 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 1,166 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 1,190 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1871 | 1,205 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1872 | 1,220 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1873 | 1,235 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1874 | 1,250 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 1,266 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1876 | 1,281 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1877 | 1,297 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1878 | 1,313 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1879 | 1,329 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1880 | 1,345 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1881 | 1,363 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 1,381 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1883 | 1,400 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1884 | 1,418 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1885 | 1,437 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1886 | 1,456 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 1,475 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 1,494 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1889 | 1,514 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1890 | 1,534 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 1,554 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 1,575 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1893 | 1,596 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 1,618 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 1,639 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 1,660 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 1,682 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 1,704 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 1,725 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 1,747 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 1,789 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1902 | 1,831 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1903 | 1,873 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1904 | 1,917 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1905 | 1,962 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1906 | 2,007 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1907 | 2,054 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1908 | 2,102 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1909 | 2,150 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1910 | 2,199 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 2,227 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1912 | 2,253 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1913 | 2,279 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 2,305 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 2,331 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 2,357 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1917 | 2,383 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 2,408 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1919 | 2,434 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 2,459 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 2,500 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1922 | 2,545 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1923 | 2,586 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1924 | 2,627 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1925 | 2,729 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1926 | 2,814 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 2,875 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 2,926 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 2,965 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1930 | 2,996 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1931 | 3,042 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1932 | 3,078 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 3,106 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 3,131 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 3,157 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 3,207 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1937 | 3,252 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1938 | 3,290 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 3,322 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 3,348 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1941 | 3,390 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1942 | 3,424 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1943 | 3,463 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1944 | 3,509 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1945 | 3,560 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1946 | 3,635 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1947 | 3,410 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1948 | 3,492 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1949 | 3,611 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1950 | 19,037 tonnes | +427.2% |
| 1951 | 19,267 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 18,521 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1953 | 19,498 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 19,594 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1955 | 25,752 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 1956 | 32,813 tonnes | +27.4% |
| 1957 | 55,628 tonnes | +69.5% |
| 1958 | 61,079 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1959 | 65,665 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1960 | 69,346 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1961 | 74,798 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1962 | 91,766 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1963 | 99,025 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 119,536 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1965 | 135,705 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1966 | 143,385 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 166,882 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1968 | 168,472 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 178,652 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 228,058 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1971 | 259,961 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1972 | 218,428 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 1973 | 208,761 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 224,141 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1975 | 257,984 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1976 | 260,187 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 286,395 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1978 | 302,361 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 349,542 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1980 | 287,858 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 1981 | 292,262 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 308,885 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 342,018 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1984 | 366,010 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 321,210 tonnes | -12.2% |
| 1986 | 235,937 tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1987 | 384,902 tonnes | +63.1% |
| 1988 | 351,512 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1989 | 362,069 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 426,349 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 414,410 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 273,464 tonnes | -34.0% |
| 1993 | 277,403 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 253,584 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 217,416 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1996 | 212,878 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 195,913 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1998 | 190,199 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 146,301 tonnes | -23.1% |
| 2000 | 120,223 tonnes | -17.8% |
| 2001 | 90,232 tonnes | -24.9% |
| 2002 | 86,567 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 89,515 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 95,820 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 109,046 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 125,012 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 132,738 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 146,247 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 217,235 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 2010 | 274,613 tonnes | +26.4% |
| 2011 | 312,535 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 310,205 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 297,838 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 284,381 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 336,734 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 2016 | 319,834 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 352,680 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 352,630 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 377,288 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 388,591 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 397,495 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 390,734 tonnes | -1.7% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 390,734 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 44,196 tonnes, 8.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 390,734 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040 tonnes, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +427.2% | 3,611 tonnes | 19,037 tonnes |
| 1957 | +69.5% | 32,813 tonnes | 55,628 tonnes |
| 1987 | +63.1% | 235,937 tonnes | 384,902 tonnes |
| 2009 | +48.5% | 146,247 tonnes | 217,235 tonnes |
| 1992 | -34.0% | 414,410 tonnes | 273,464 tonnes |
| 1955 | +31.4% | 19,594 tonnes | 25,752 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 565.84 tonnes | 555.48 tonnes | 576.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 589.3 tonnes | 578.51 tonnes | 600.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 613.71 tonnes | 602.48 tonnes | 624.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 639.12 tonnes | 627.43 tonnes | 650.81 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 665.57 tonnes | 653.4 tonnes | 677.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 701.8 tonnes | 680.43 tonnes | 723.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 750.79 tonnes | 728.19 tonnes | 773.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 799.61 tonnes | 778.72 tonnes | 820.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 855.71 tonnes | 825.38 tonnes | 886.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 925.74 tonnes | 893.2 tonnes | 958.58 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,003 tonnes | 965.97 tonnes | 1,041 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,107 tonnes | 1,050 tonnes | 1,166 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,259 tonnes | 1,190 tonnes | 1,329 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,428 tonnes | 1,345 tonnes | 1,514 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,629 tonnes | 1,534 tonnes | 1,725 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,943 tonnes | 1,747 tonnes | 2,150 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,318 tonnes | 2,199 tonnes | 2,434 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2,703 tonnes | 2,459 tonnes | 2,965 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 3,158 tonnes | 2,996 tonnes | 3,322 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3,484 tonnes | 3,348 tonnes | 3,635 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 33,685 tonnes | 18,521 tonnes | 65,665 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 124,757 tonnes | 69,346 tonnes | 178,652 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 259,582 tonnes | 208,761 tonnes | 349,542 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 325,266 tonnes | 235,937 tonnes | 384,902 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 260,792 tonnes | 146,301 tonnes | 426,349 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 121,263 tonnes | 86,567 tonnes | 217,235 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 321,874 tonnes | 274,613 tonnes | 377,288 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 392,273 tonnes | 388,591 tonnes | 397,495 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More environment data for Afghanistan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -19.95 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.547 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.7636 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Afghanistan was 390,734 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 Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 426,349 tonnes in 1990.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 555.48 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Afghanistan rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Afghanistan ranks 45th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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
Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) are gases that are mainly formed during the burning of fossil fuels. Exposure to NOₓ gases can have negative impacts on respiratory health. NOₓ gases can also lead to the formation of ozone – another air pollutant.