Emissions of air pollutants in Botswana
Botswana: Emissions of air pollutants was 42,942 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
42,942 tonnes
Change on year
up 7.3%
World rank
133rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
51,945 tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
24.31 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Botswana, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Botswana is 42,942 tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Botswana peaked at 51,945 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 24.31 tonnes, in 1750.
Botswana ranks 133rd of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Botswana, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 24.31 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 24.57 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1752 | 24.84 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1753 | 25.11 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1754 | 25.38 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1755 | 25.64 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1756 | 25.91 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1757 | 26.18 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1758 | 26.45 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1759 | 26.71 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1760 | 26.98 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1761 | 27.29 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1762 | 27.59 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1763 | 27.89 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1764 | 28.2 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1765 | 28.5 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1766 | 28.8 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1767 | 29.11 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1768 | 29.41 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1769 | 29.71 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1770 | 30.02 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1771 | 30.36 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1772 | 30.71 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1773 | 31.06 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1774 | 31.4 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1775 | 31.75 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1776 | 32.09 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1777 | 32.44 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1778 | 32.78 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1779 | 33.13 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1780 | 33.48 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1781 | 33.87 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1782 | 34.27 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1783 | 34.66 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1784 | 35.05 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1785 | 35.45 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1786 | 35.84 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1787 | 36.24 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1788 | 36.63 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1789 | 37.03 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1790 | 37.42 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1791 | 37.88 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1792 | 38.33 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1793 | 38.78 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1794 | 39.23 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1795 | 39.68 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1796 | 40.14 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1797 | 40.59 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1798 | 41.04 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1799 | 41.49 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1800 | 41.94 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1801 | 42.61 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1802 | 43.28 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1803 | 43.95 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1804 | 44.62 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1805 | 45.3 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1806 | 45.98 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1807 | 46.67 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1808 | 47.36 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1809 | 48.05 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1810 | 48.74 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1811 | 49.53 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1812 | 50.31 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1813 | 51.1 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1814 | 51.9 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1815 | 52.69 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1816 | 53.49 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1817 | 54.3 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1818 | 55.11 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1819 | 55.92 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1820 | 56.74 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1821 | 57.67 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1822 | 58.59 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1823 | 59.53 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1824 | 60.46 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1825 | 61.4 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1826 | 62.35 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1827 | 63.3 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1828 | 64.25 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1829 | 65.22 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1830 | 66.18 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 67.27 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1832 | 68.37 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1833 | 69.48 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1834 | 70.58 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1835 | 71.7 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1836 | 72.82 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1837 | 73.94 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1838 | 75.07 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1839 | 76.21 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1840 | 77.35 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1841 | 78.65 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1842 | 79.96 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1843 | 81.27 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1844 | 82.59 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1845 | 83.91 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1846 | 85.24 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1847 | 86.57 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1848 | 87.92 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1849 | 89.27 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1850 | 90.62 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1851 | 92.21 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1852 | 93.81 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1853 | 95.42 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1854 | 97.04 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1855 | 98.67 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1856 | 100.31 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1857 | 101.96 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1858 | 103.62 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 105.29 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1860 | 106.97 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1861 | 109.33 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1862 | 111.71 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1863 | 114.12 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1864 | 116.56 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1865 | 119.02 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1866 | 121.5 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1867 | 124.02 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1868 | 126.55 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1869 | 129.11 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1870 | 131.69 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1871 | 134.61 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1872 | 137.56 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1873 | 140.53 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1874 | 143.54 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1875 | 146.57 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1876 | 149.64 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1877 | 152.74 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1878 | 155.86 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1879 | 159.01 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1880 | 162.2 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1881 | 165.83 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1882 | 169.5 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1883 | 173.21 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1884 | 176.95 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1885 | 180.73 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1886 | 184.55 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1887 | 188.4 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1888 | 192.31 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1889 | 196.26 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 200.25 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1891 | 204.86 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1892 | 209.53 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1893 | 214.24 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1894 | 218.98 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1895 | 223.78 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1896 | 228.63 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1897 | 233.51 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1898 | 238.45 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1899 | 243.43 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 248.98 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1901 | 254.56 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1902 | 260.21 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1903 | 265.95 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1904 | 271.75 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 277.81 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1906 | 283.88 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1907 | 290.03 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1908 | 296.28 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1909 | 302.63 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1910 | 309.07 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1911 | 313.54 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1912 | 322.21 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1913 | 331.13 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1914 | 340.31 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1915 | 349.77 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1916 | 358.29 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1917 | 366.93 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 375.71 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1919 | 384.63 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1920 | 393.68 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1921 | 395.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 406.6 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1923 | 417.26 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1924 | 428.68 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1925 | 453.16 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1926 | 471.99 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1927 | 485.7 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1928 | 497.52 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1929 | 506.26 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1930 | 513.79 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 511.53 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1932 | 526.6 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1933 | 540.43 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1934 | 554.16 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1935 | 568.62 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1936 | 581.31 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1937 | 594.03 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 605.18 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1939 | 617.73 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 628.96 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1941 | 645.97 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1942 | 660.94 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1943 | 676.87 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1944 | 694.39 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1945 | 713.25 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1946 | 720.84 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1947 | 750.67 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1948 | 790.57 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1949 | 840.5 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1950 | 890.22 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1951 | 925.28 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 955.41 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1953 | 984.45 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 1,007 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 1,021 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 1,040 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1957 | 1,065 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 1,098 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 1,131 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1960 | 1,153 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 1,180 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 1,212 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 1,238 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 1,262 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 1,322 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 1,375 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 1,438 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1968 | 1,484 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1969 | 1,524 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 1,490 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 2,819 tonnes | +89.3% |
| 1972 | 3,336 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1973 | 3,861 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1974 | 5,279 tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1975 | 5,992 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1976 | 7,107 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1977 | 7,585 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 8,366 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1979 | 9,269 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1980 | 9,860 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 11,328 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1982 | 11,110 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 10,918 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 10,934 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 11,349 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 12,760 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1987 | 13,197 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 16,351 tonnes | +23.9% |
| 1989 | 17,954 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 20,919 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1991 | 19,790 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1992 | 22,836 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1993 | 22,540 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 22,004 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 23,750 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 22,128 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 22,969 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 27,600 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1999 | 29,396 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 30,151 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 30,377 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 30,641 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 30,342 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 30,191 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 31,894 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 32,078 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 31,852 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 35,137 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 32,833 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 29,322 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 2011 | 33,438 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 2012 | 39,131 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 2013 | 41,413 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 47,281 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 46,723 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 44,165 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2017 | 47,287 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2018 | 51,945 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2019 | 46,671 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 38,152 tonnes | -18.3% |
| 2021 | 40,031 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 42,942 tonnes | +7.3% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 42,942 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 41% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 42,942 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Botswana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +89.3% | 1,490 tonnes | 2,819 tonnes |
| 1974 | +36.7% | 3,861 tonnes | 5,279 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 25.51 tonnes | 24.31 tonnes | 26.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 28.35 tonnes | 26.98 tonnes | 29.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 31.57 tonnes | 30.02 tonnes | 33.13 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 35.25 tonnes | 33.48 tonnes | 37.03 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 39.46 tonnes | 37.42 tonnes | 41.49 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 44.98 tonnes | 41.94 tonnes | 48.05 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 52.31 tonnes | 48.74 tonnes | 55.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 60.95 tonnes | 56.74 tonnes | 65.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 71.16 tonnes | 66.18 tonnes | 76.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 83.27 tonnes | 77.35 tonnes | 89.27 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 97.9 tonnes | 90.62 tonnes | 105.29 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 117.89 tonnes | 106.97 tonnes | 129.11 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 145.18 tonnes | 131.69 tonnes | 159.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 178.99 tonnes | 162.2 tonnes | 196.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 221.57 tonnes | 200.25 tonnes | 243.43 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 275.21 tonnes | 248.98 tonnes | 302.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 345.16 tonnes | 309.07 tonnes | 384.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 445.61 tonnes | 393.68 tonnes | 506.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 561.34 tonnes | 511.53 tonnes | 617.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 712.29 tonnes | 628.96 tonnes | 840.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1,012 tonnes | 890.22 tonnes | 1,131 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,319 tonnes | 1,153 tonnes | 1,524 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 5,510 tonnes | 1,490 tonnes | 9,269 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,576 tonnes | 9,860 tonnes | 17,954 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 23,393 tonnes | 19,790 tonnes | 29,396 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 31,550 tonnes | 30,151 tonnes | 35,137 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 42,738 tonnes | 29,322 tonnes | 51,945 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,375 tonnes | 38,152 tonnes | 42,942 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More environment data for Botswana
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 6.04 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 6.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.381 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.443 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -4.05 % 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 0.3323 % 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 Botswana?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Botswana was 42,942 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 51,945 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.31 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Botswana rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Botswana ranks 133rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana 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.