Emissions of air pollutants in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Emissions of air pollutants was 90,824 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
90,824 tonnes
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
101st
of 220 countries
All-time high
361,476 tonnes
in 1989
All-time low
241.18 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Bulgaria, 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 Bulgaria stood at 90,824 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Bulgaria peaked at 361,476 tonnes in 1989 and was at its lowest, 241.18 tonnes, in 1750.
Bulgaria ranks 101st 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 Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 241.18 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 242.33 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 243.48 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 244.63 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 245.78 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 246.93 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 248.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 249.22 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 250.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 251.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 252.67 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 253.87 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 255.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 256.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 257.48 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 258.68 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 259.89 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 261.09 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 262.29 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 263.5 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 264.7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 265.96 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 267.22 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 268.48 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 269.74 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 271 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 272.26 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 273.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 274.78 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 276.04 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 277.3 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1781 | 278.62 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 279.94 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 281.27 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 282.59 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 283.91 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 285.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 286.55 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 287.87 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 289.19 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 290.51 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 291.89 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 293.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 294.66 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 296.04 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 297.43 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 298.81 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1797 | 300.19 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 301.58 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1799 | 302.96 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 304.34 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 306.05 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1802 | 307.77 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1803 | 309.48 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1804 | 311.2 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1805 | 312.92 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1806 | 314.65 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1807 | 316.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 318.1 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 319.83 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 321.56 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 323.51 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1812 | 325.46 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1813 | 327.42 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1814 | 329.37 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1815 | 331.33 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1816 | 333.29 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1817 | 335.25 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1818 | 337.22 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1819 | 339.19 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1820 | 341.17 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1821 | 342.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1822 | 343.85 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1823 | 345.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 346.54 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1825 | 347.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 349.23 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1827 | 350.58 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1828 | 351.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1829 | 353.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 354.65 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1831 | 356.77 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 358.9 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 361.03 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 363.17 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 365.3 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 367.44 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 369.58 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 371.72 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 373.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 376.02 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 378.26 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1842 | 380.5 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1843 | 382.74 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1844 | 384.99 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1845 | 387.23 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1846 | 389.48 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 391.73 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1848 | 393.99 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1849 | 396.25 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1850 | 397.7 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1851 | 399.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 400.77 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 402.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 403.73 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 405.16 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 406.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 408.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 409.7 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 411.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 412.58 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 414.59 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1862 | 416.56 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1863 | 418.51 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1864 | 420.43 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1865 | 422.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 424.54 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 426.72 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 428.86 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1869 | 430.98 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 433.05 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1871 | 441.6 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1872 | 450.11 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1873 | 458.59 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1874 | 467.05 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1875 | 475.47 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1876 | 484.55 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1877 | 493.58 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1878 | 502.57 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1879 | 511.52 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1880 | 520.43 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1881 | 545.2 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1882 | 554.78 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1883 | 579.44 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1884 | 604.04 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1885 | 598.31 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1886 | 608.49 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1887 | 633.73 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1888 | 676.47 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1889 | 719.21 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1890 | 761.94 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1891 | 802.16 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1892 | 844.24 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1893 | 912.82 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1894 | 999.92 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1895 | 1,026 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1896 | 1,129 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1897 | 1,156 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1898 | 1,320 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1899 | 1,332 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1900 | 1,631 tonnes | +22.5% |
| 1901 | 1,888 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1902 | 1,784 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1903 | 1,801 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1904 | 2,100 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1905 | 2,367 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1906 | 2,226 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1907 | 2,816 tonnes | +26.5% |
| 1908 | 3,414 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1909 | 3,474 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 3,619 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1911 | 4,667 tonnes | +28.9% |
| 1912 | 4,685 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1913 | 4,282 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1914 | 5,810 tonnes | +35.7% |
| 1915 | 4,225 tonnes | -27.3% |
| 1916 | 4,841 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1917 | 5,655 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1918 | 6,706 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1919 | 4,534 tonnes | -32.4% |
| 1920 | 5,513 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 1921 | 6,504 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1922 | 7,043 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1923 | 7,426 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1924 | 8,296 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1925 | 8,226 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1926 | 8,173 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1927 | 8,347 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 9,324 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1929 | 10,494 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1930 | 10,181 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1931 | 9,711 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1932 | 10,658 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1933 | 9,577 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1934 | 9,723 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1935 | 9,664 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1936 | 9,858 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1937 | 10,720 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1938 | 11,861 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1939 | 12,848 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1940 | 14,998 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1941 | 15,870 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1942 | 18,474 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1943 | 19,704 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1944 | 15,320 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1945 | 17,400 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1946 | 16,319 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1947 | 17,945 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1948 | 17,411 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1949 | 19,604 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1950 | 24,819 tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1951 | 27,391 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1952 | 30,759 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1953 | 33,760 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1954 | 36,023 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1955 | 38,603 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1956 | 41,935 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1957 | 46,269 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1958 | 48,159 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 60,301 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1960 | 68,821 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1961 | 78,822 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1962 | 93,890 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1963 | 106,815 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1964 | 137,944 tonnes | +29.1% |
| 1965 | 150,442 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1966 | 160,091 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 175,144 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1968 | 184,591 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 198,108 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1970 | 199,738 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 198,795 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 203,539 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 205,874 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 213,076 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1975 | 224,362 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 232,723 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1977 | 237,013 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 240,148 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 245,180 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 249,646 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 237,240 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 248,438 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 250,937 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 265,939 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 265,588 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 277,724 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 279,557 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 357,879 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1989 | 361,476 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 296,590 tonnes | -18.0% |
| 1991 | 230,980 tonnes | -22.1% |
| 1992 | 202,279 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1993 | 210,010 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 205,987 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 213,146 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 206,392 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 170,329 tonnes | -17.5% |
| 1998 | 171,107 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 152,908 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2000 | 159,602 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 158,098 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 171,520 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 180,719 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 178,366 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 181,288 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 158,682 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 2007 | 156,631 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 159,000 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 148,467 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 134,532 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2011 | 152,324 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2012 | 124,072 tonnes | -18.5% |
| 2013 | 107,589 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2014 | 112,652 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 109,653 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 104,888 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 95,671 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2018 | 92,916 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 88,806 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 81,357 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 90,008 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 90,824 tonnes | +0.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 90,824 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 90,824 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 89% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Bulgaria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | +35.7% | 4,282 tonnes | 5,810 tonnes |
| 1919 | -32.4% | 6,706 tonnes | 4,534 tonnes |
| 1964 | +29.1% | 106,815 tonnes | 137,944 tonnes |
| 1911 | +28.9% | 3,619 tonnes | 4,667 tonnes |
| 1915 | -27.3% | 5,810 tonnes | 4,225 tonnes |
| 1988 | +28.0% | 279,557 tonnes | 357,879 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 246.35 tonnes | 241.18 tonnes | 251.52 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 258.08 tonnes | 252.67 tonnes | 263.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 270.37 tonnes | 264.7 tonnes | 276.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 283.25 tonnes | 277.3 tonnes | 289.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 296.73 tonnes | 290.51 tonnes | 302.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 312.07 tonnes | 304.34 tonnes | 319.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 330.36 tonnes | 321.56 tonnes | 339.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 347.22 tonnes | 341.17 tonnes | 353.29 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 364.24 tonnes | 354.65 tonnes | 373.87 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 386.12 tonnes | 376.02 tonnes | 396.25 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 404.47 tonnes | 397.7 tonnes | 411.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 421.61 tonnes | 412.58 tonnes | 430.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 471.81 tonnes | 433.05 tonnes | 511.52 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 604.01 tonnes | 520.43 tonnes | 719.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,028 tonnes | 761.94 tonnes | 1,332 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 2,350 tonnes | 1,631 tonnes | 3,474 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 4,902 tonnes | 3,619 tonnes | 6,706 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 7,934 tonnes | 5,513 tonnes | 10,494 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 10,480 tonnes | 9,577 tonnes | 12,848 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 17,305 tonnes | 14,998 tonnes | 19,704 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 38,802 tonnes | 24,819 tonnes | 60,301 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 135,467 tonnes | 68,821 tonnes | 198,108 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 220,045 tonnes | 198,795 tonnes | 245,180 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 279,442 tonnes | 237,240 tonnes | 361,476 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 205,973 tonnes | 152,908 tonnes | 296,590 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 165,237 tonnes | 148,467 tonnes | 181,288 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 112,310 tonnes | 88,806 tonnes | 152,324 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 87,396 tonnes | 81,357 tonnes | 90,824 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More environment data for Bulgaria
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.573 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.18 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -6.02 % 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 -0.7509 % 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 Bulgaria?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Bulgaria was 90,824 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 361,476 tonnes in 1989.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 241.18 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Bulgaria rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Bulgaria ranks 101st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.