Emissions of air pollutants in Belgium
Belgium: Emissions of air pollutants was 750,371 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
750,371 tonnes
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
33rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.16 million tonnes
in 2007
All-time low
2,725 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Belgium, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 750,371 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Belgium peaked at 1.16 million tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, 2,725 tonnes, in 1750.
Belgium ranks 33rd 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 Belgium, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 2,725 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 2,736 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 2,746 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 2,757 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 2,768 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 2,779 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 2,789 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 2,800 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 2,811 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 2,821 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 2,832 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 2,842 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 2,853 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 2,863 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 2,873 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 2,884 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 2,894 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 2,904 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 2,915 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 2,925 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 2,935 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 2,945 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 2,955 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 2,965 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 2,975 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 2,985 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 2,995 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 3,005 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 3,015 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 3,025 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 3,034 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 3,044 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1782 | 3,054 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1783 | 3,063 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1784 | 3,073 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 3,083 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 3,092 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1787 | 3,102 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1788 | 3,111 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1789 | 3,121 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 3,130 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1791 | 3,139 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1792 | 3,149 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1793 | 3,158 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1794 | 3,167 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1795 | 3,176 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1796 | 3,185 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1797 | 3,195 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1798 | 3,204 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1799 | 3,213 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1800 | 3,222 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1801 | 3,232 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 12,323 tonnes | +281.3% |
| 1803 | 3,251 tonnes | -73.6% |
| 1804 | 3,261 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 3,271 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 3,281 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 3,290 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 3,300 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 3,310 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 3,319 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 3,329 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 3,338 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 3,348 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 3,358 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 3,367 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 3,376 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 3,386 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 3,395 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 3,405 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 3,414 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 3,439 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 3,464 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1823 | 3,489 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1824 | 3,514 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1825 | 3,539 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1826 | 3,564 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1827 | 3,589 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1828 | 3,614 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1829 | 3,638 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1830 | 12,459 tonnes | +242.4% |
| 1831 | 10,256 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1832 | 10,622 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1833 | 10,414 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1834 | 10,203 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1835 | 10,745 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1836 | 11,992 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1837 | 12,601 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1838 | 12,725 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1839 | 13,464 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1840 | 14,894 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1841 | 14,423 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1842 | 14,872 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1843 | 14,094 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1844 | 15,119 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1845 | 15,814 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1846 | 17,052 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1847 | 17,742 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1848 | 16,049 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1849 | 16,672 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1850 | 17,474 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1851 | 18,538 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1852 | 20,083 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1853 | 20,516 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1854 | 22,126 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1855 | 22,302 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1856 | 22,184 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1857 | 22,847 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1858 | 23,829 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1859 | 24,407 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1860 | 24,830 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1861 | 26,215 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1862 | 25,988 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1863 | 26,995 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1864 | 28,011 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1865 | 29,056 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1866 | 31,274 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1867 | 33,605 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1868 | 31,306 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1869 | 33,904 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1870 | 38,321 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1871 | 37,133 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1872 | 39,704 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1873 | 42,866 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1874 | 39,826 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1875 | 41,217 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1876 | 40,153 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1877 | 38,314 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1878 | 41,077 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1879 | 41,593 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1880 | 45,502 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1881 | 45,485 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1882 | 47,804 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1883 | 50,145 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1884 | 49,028 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1885 | 47,552 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1886 | 46,379 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1887 | 49,070 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1888 | 52,126 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1889 | 53,314 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1890 | 57,279 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1891 | 53,862 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1892 | 53,567 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1893 | 50,994 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1894 | 55,596 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1895 | 55,564 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1896 | 58,877 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1897 | 61,192 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1898 | 62,989 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1899 | 65,999 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1900 | 69,538 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1901 | 64,077 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1902 | 66,790 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1903 | 70,998 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1904 | 67,444 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1905 | 66,519 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1906 | 75,278 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1907 | 76,216 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1908 | 75,234 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1909 | 76,028 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1910 | 80,806 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1911 | 82,936 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1912 | 88,658 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1913 | 102,991 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1914 | 58,283 tonnes | -43.4% |
| 1915 | 47,314 tonnes | -18.8% |
| 1916 | 62,074 tonnes | +31.2% |
| 1917 | 49,284 tonnes | -20.6% |
| 1918 | 51,024 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1919 | 60,579 tonnes | +18.7% |
| 1920 | 75,769 tonnes | +25.1% |
| 1921 | 68,869 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1922 | 81,974 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1923 | 105,328 tonnes | +28.5% |
| 1924 | 113,448 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1925 | 114,887 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1926 | 116,893 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 133,359 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1928 | 135,700 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 148,664 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1930 | 143,540 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1931 | 130,747 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1932 | 110,129 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1933 | 115,034 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1934 | 122,091 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1935 | 113,489 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1936 | 126,004 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1937 | 146,372 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1938 | 128,863 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1939 | 99,513 tonnes | -22.8% |
| 1940 | 84,292 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 1941 | 86,768 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1942 | 81,568 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1943 | 78,982 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1944 | 46,625 tonnes | -41.0% |
| 1945 | 53,686 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1946 | 78,037 tonnes | +45.4% |
| 1947 | 146,637 tonnes | +87.9% |
| 1948 | 152,911 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1949 | 142,544 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1950 | 133,587 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1951 | 157,231 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1952 | 153,800 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1953 | 154,250 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 161,752 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1955 | 177,754 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1956 | 189,301 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1957 | 194,411 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 191,022 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1959 | 193,079 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1960 | 281,139 tonnes | +45.6% |
| 1961 | 317,845 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1962 | 365,846 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1963 | 404,362 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1964 | 450,490 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1965 | 488,816 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1966 | 471,127 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 494,722 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1968 | 540,142 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1969 | 623,489 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1970 | 628,124 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 628,161 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 674,107 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 711,008 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 662,702 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1975 | 642,218 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 686,106 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1977 | 698,718 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 716,269 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 697,394 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1980 | 673,948 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 687,963 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 650,768 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1983 | 627,802 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 618,276 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 601,702 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 667,943 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1987 | 727,325 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1988 | 787,816 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1989 | 811,186 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 845,612 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 856,845 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 857,476 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 870,980 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 856,788 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 829,539 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 887,109 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 938,339 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 978,039 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 871,206 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2000 | 935,606 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 904,515 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 1.03 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 1.09 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 1.12 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1.07 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 1.09 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 1.16 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2008 | 1.14 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 867,401 tonnes | -24.2% |
| 2010 | 903,500 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 801,155 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2012 | 714,651 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2013 | 704,166 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 623,520 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 646,661 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 702,078 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 768,254 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2018 | 892,361 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 2019 | 797,904 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2020 | 618,457 tonnes | -22.5% |
| 2021 | 715,932 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 2022 | 750,371 tonnes | +4.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 750,371 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 8.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 750,371 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 7.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1802 | +281.3% | 3,232 tonnes | 12,323 tonnes |
| 1830 | +242.4% | 3,638 tonnes | 12,459 tonnes |
| 1947 | +87.9% | 78,037 tonnes | 146,637 tonnes |
| 1803 | -73.6% | 12,323 tonnes | 3,251 tonnes |
| 1960 | +45.6% | 193,079 tonnes | 281,139 tonnes |
| 1946 | +45.4% | 53,686 tonnes | 78,037 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 2,773 tonnes | 2,725 tonnes | 2,821 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 2,879 tonnes | 2,832 tonnes | 2,925 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 2,980 tonnes | 2,935 tonnes | 3,025 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 3,078 tonnes | 3,034 tonnes | 3,121 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 3,172 tonnes | 3,130 tonnes | 3,213 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 4,174 tonnes | 3,222 tonnes | 12,323 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 3,362 tonnes | 3,319 tonnes | 3,405 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 3,527 tonnes | 3,414 tonnes | 3,638 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 11,548 tonnes | 10,203 tonnes | 13,464 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 15,673 tonnes | 14,094 tonnes | 17,742 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 21,431 tonnes | 17,474 tonnes | 24,407 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 29,119 tonnes | 24,830 tonnes | 33,904 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 40,020 tonnes | 37,133 tonnes | 42,866 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 48,641 tonnes | 45,485 tonnes | 53,314 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 57,592 tonnes | 50,994 tonnes | 65,999 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 70,812 tonnes | 64,077 tonnes | 76,216 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 68,395 tonnes | 47,314 tonnes | 102,991 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 109,489 tonnes | 68,869 tonnes | 148,664 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 123,578 tonnes | 99,513 tonnes | 146,372 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 95,205 tonnes | 46,625 tonnes | 152,911 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 170,619 tonnes | 133,587 tonnes | 194,411 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 443,798 tonnes | 281,139 tonnes | 623,489 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 674,481 tonnes | 628,124 tonnes | 716,269 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 685,473 tonnes | 601,702 tonnes | 811,186 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 879,193 tonnes | 829,539 tonnes | 978,039 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.04 million tonnes | 867,401 tonnes | 1.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 755,425 tonnes | 623,520 tonnes | 903,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 694,920 tonnes | 618,457 tonnes | 750,371 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More environment data for Belgium
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.574 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.19 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5577 % 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 0.0605 % 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 Belgium?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Belgium was 750,371 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 1.16 million tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,725 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Belgium rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Belgium ranks 33rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium 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.