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.

Emissions of air pollutants in Belgium

Name: Emissions of air pollutants in Belgium
Creator: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

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.

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

30 Iraq 858,061 tonnes compare
31 United Kingdom 833,456 tonnes compare
32 France 820,688 tonnes compare
34 Italy 748,652 tonnes compare
35 Philippines 711,503 tonnes compare
36 Hong Kong 677,510 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More environment data for Belgium

Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 107.82 Mt CO2e (2024)
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 9.09 t CO2e/capita (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 6.62 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.2815 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 2.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0377 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 11.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0561 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0383 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.98 Mt CO2e (2024)

All data for Belgium →

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

Indicator: Emissions of air pollutants
Unit: tonnes
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.