Long run air pollution in Canada
Canada: Long run air pollution was 1.41 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.41 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
15th
of 220 countries
All-time high
3.04 million
in 1980
All-time low
380.82
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Canada, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, long run air pollution in Canada stood at 1.41 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in Canada peaked at 3.04 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 380.82, in 1750.
That places Canada 15th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long run air pollution in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 380.82 | — |
| 1751 | 386.65 | +1.5% |
| 1752 | 392.48 | +1.5% |
| 1753 | 398.3 | +1.5% |
| 1754 | 404.12 | +1.5% |
| 1755 | 409.94 | +1.4% |
| 1756 | 415.75 | +1.4% |
| 1757 | 421.57 | +1.4% |
| 1758 | 427.38 | +1.4% |
| 1759 | 433.18 | +1.4% |
| 1760 | 438.99 | +1.3% |
| 1761 | 445.95 | +1.6% |
| 1762 | 452.91 | +1.6% |
| 1763 | 459.86 | +1.5% |
| 1764 | 466.81 | +1.5% |
| 1765 | 473.75 | +1.5% |
| 1766 | 480.7 | +1.5% |
| 1767 | 487.64 | +1.4% |
| 1768 | 494.57 | +1.4% |
| 1769 | 501.5 | +1.4% |
| 1770 | 508.43 | +1.4% |
| 1771 | 516.79 | +1.6% |
| 1772 | 525.15 | +1.6% |
| 1773 | 533.5 | +1.6% |
| 1774 | 541.84 | +1.6% |
| 1775 | 550.18 | +1.5% |
| 1776 | 558.52 | +1.5% |
| 1777 | 566.85 | +1.5% |
| 1778 | 575.17 | +1.5% |
| 1779 | 583.49 | +1.4% |
| 1780 | 591.81 | +1.4% |
| 1781 | 601.91 | +1.7% |
| 1782 | 612 | +1.7% |
| 1783 | 622.09 | +1.6% |
| 1784 | 632.16 | +1.6% |
| 1785 | 651.91 | +3.1% |
| 1786 | 661.97 | +1.5% |
| 1787 | 672.03 | +1.5% |
| 1788 | 682.08 | +1.5% |
| 1789 | 692.12 | +1.5% |
| 1790 | 702.16 | +1.4% |
| 1791 | 714.43 | +1.7% |
| 1792 | 726.69 | +1.7% |
| 1793 | 738.94 | +1.7% |
| 1794 | 751.18 | +1.7% |
| 1795 | 763.41 | +1.6% |
| 1796 | 775.63 | +1.6% |
| 1797 | 787.84 | +1.6% |
| 1798 | 800.04 | +1.5% |
| 1799 | 812.23 | +1.5% |
| 1800 | 824.4 | +1.5% |
| 1801 | 839.71 | +1.9% |
| 1802 | 855.01 | +1.8% |
| 1803 | 870.3 | +1.8% |
| 1804 | 885.6 | +1.8% |
| 1805 | 900.88 | +1.7% |
| 1806 | 916.17 | +1.7% |
| 1807 | 931.45 | +1.7% |
| 1808 | 946.72 | +1.6% |
| 1809 | 962 | +1.6% |
| 1810 | 977.27 | +1.6% |
| 1811 | 1,016 | +4.0% |
| 1812 | 1,056 | +3.9% |
| 1813 | 1,095 | +3.7% |
| 1814 | 1,134 | +3.6% |
| 1815 | 1,173 | +3.5% |
| 1816 | 1,212 | +3.3% |
| 1817 | 1,251 | +3.2% |
| 1818 | 1,291 | +3.1% |
| 1819 | 1,330 | +3.0% |
| 1820 | 1,369 | +2.9% |
| 1821 | 1,424 | +4.1% |
| 1822 | 1,480 | +3.9% |
| 1823 | 1,536 | +3.8% |
| 1824 | 1,591 | +3.6% |
| 1825 | 1,647 | +3.5% |
| 1826 | 1,702 | +3.4% |
| 1827 | 1,758 | +3.3% |
| 1828 | 1,813 | +3.2% |
| 1829 | 1,869 | +3.1% |
| 1830 | 1,924 | +3.0% |
| 1831 | 2,004 | +4.2% |
| 1832 | 2,084 | +4.0% |
| 1833 | 2,164 | +3.8% |
| 1834 | 2,243 | +3.7% |
| 1835 | 2,323 | +3.6% |
| 1836 | 2,403 | +3.4% |
| 1837 | 2,482 | +3.3% |
| 1838 | 2,562 | +3.2% |
| 1839 | 2,641 | +3.1% |
| 1840 | 2,720 | +3.0% |
| 1841 | 2,840 | +4.4% |
| 1842 | 2,959 | +4.2% |
| 1843 | 3,078 | +4.0% |
| 1844 | 3,197 | +3.9% |
| 1845 | 3,315 | +3.7% |
| 1846 | 3,492 | +5.3% |
| 1847 | 3,630 | +3.9% |
| 1848 | 3,768 | +3.8% |
| 1849 | 3,905 | +3.7% |
| 1850 | 4,097 | +4.9% |
| 1851 | 4,216 | +2.9% |
| 1852 | 4,383 | +4.0% |
| 1853 | 4,589 | +4.7% |
| 1854 | 4,803 | +4.7% |
| 1855 | 5,025 | +4.6% |
| 1856 | 5,277 | +5.0% |
| 1857 | 5,545 | +5.1% |
| 1858 | 5,837 | +5.3% |
| 1859 | 6,135 | +5.1% |
| 1860 | 6,464 | +5.4% |
| 1861 | 6,682 | +3.4% |
| 1862 | 7,154 | +7.1% |
| 1863 | 7,989 | +11.7% |
| 1864 | 8,500 | +6.4% |
| 1865 | 9,202 | +8.3% |
| 1866 | 10,381 | +12.8% |
| 1867 | 11,093 | +6.9% |
| 1868 | 9,880 | -10.9% |
| 1869 | 9,491 | -3.9% |
| 1870 | 11,007 | +16.0% |
| 1871 | 12,392 | +12.6% |
| 1872 | 12,905 | +4.1% |
| 1873 | 12,968 | +0.5% |
| 1874 | 11,867 | -8.5% |
| 1875 | 12,871 | +8.5% |
| 1876 | 13,667 | +6.2% |
| 1877 | 14,257 | +4.3% |
| 1878 | 14,297 | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 16,663 | +16.5% |
| 1880 | 22,701 | +36.2% |
| 1881 | 23,365 | +2.9% |
| 1882 | 26,034 | +11.4% |
| 1883 | 27,846 | +7.0% |
| 1884 | 31,053 | +11.5% |
| 1885 | 30,480 | -1.8% |
| 1886 | 33,922 | +11.3% |
| 1887 | 36,995 | +9.1% |
| 1888 | 45,751 | +23.7% |
| 1889 | 41,065 | -10.2% |
| 1890 | 44,488 | +8.3% |
| 1891 | 47,763 | +7.4% |
| 1892 | 47,553 | -0.4% |
| 1893 | 49,710 | +4.5% |
| 1894 | 48,073 | -3.3% |
| 1895 | 45,651 | -5.0% |
| 1896 | 48,473 | +6.2% |
| 1897 | 48,955 | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 51,577 | +5.4% |
| 1899 | 60,371 | +17.0% |
| 1900 | 64,724 | +7.2% |
| 1901 | 72,809 | +12.5% |
| 1902 | 77,138 | +5.9% |
| 1903 | 84,076 | +9.0% |
| 1904 | 98,808 | +17.5% |
| 1905 | 109,326 | +10.6% |
| 1906 | 113,820 | +4.1% |
| 1907 | 142,510 | +25.2% |
| 1908 | 144,727 | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 134,908 | -6.8% |
| 1910 | 160,831 | +19.2% |
| 1911 | 194,150 | +20.7% |
| 1912 | 227,094 | +17.0% |
| 1913 | 273,901 | +20.6% |
| 1914 | 253,884 | -7.3% |
| 1915 | 236,236 | -7.0% |
| 1916 | 290,929 | +23.2% |
| 1917 | 328,043 | +12.8% |
| 1918 | 346,961 | +5.8% |
| 1919 | 312,047 | -10.1% |
| 1920 | 316,253 | +1.3% |
| 1921 | 312,117 | -1.3% |
| 1922 | 288,835 | -7.5% |
| 1923 | 349,174 | +20.9% |
| 1924 | 313,801 | -10.1% |
| 1925 | 305,828 | -2.5% |
| 1926 | 352,204 | +15.2% |
| 1927 | 392,607 | +11.5% |
| 1928 | 423,509 | +7.9% |
| 1929 | 472,231 | +11.5% |
| 1930 | 454,843 | -3.7% |
| 1931 | 403,002 | -11.4% |
| 1932 | 366,371 | -9.1% |
| 1933 | 373,016 | +1.8% |
| 1934 | 420,167 | +12.6% |
| 1935 | 428,451 | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 465,755 | +8.7% |
| 1937 | 509,089 | +9.3% |
| 1938 | 487,640 | -4.2% |
| 1939 | 536,534 | +10.0% |
| 1940 | 610,293 | +13.7% |
| 1941 | 668,913 | +9.6% |
| 1942 | 683,011 | +2.1% |
| 1943 | 723,623 | +5.9% |
| 1944 | 761,335 | +5.2% |
| 1945 | 719,809 | -5.5% |
| 1946 | 743,516 | +3.3% |
| 1947 | 756,781 | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 819,888 | +8.3% |
| 1949 | 789,750 | -3.7% |
| 1950 | 909,039 | +15.1% |
| 1951 | 975,017 | +7.3% |
| 1952 | 973,781 | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 999,675 | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 1.02 million | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 1.09 million | +6.4% |
| 1956 | 1.19 million | +9.4% |
| 1957 | 1.17 million | -1.9% |
| 1958 | 1.17 million | -0.1% |
| 1959 | 1.17 million | -0.2% |
| 1960 | 1.27 million | +8.9% |
| 1961 | 1.29 million | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 1.39 million | +7.4% |
| 1963 | 1.45 million | +4.5% |
| 1964 | 1.56 million | +7.8% |
| 1965 | 1.70 million | +9.3% |
| 1966 | 1.80 million | +5.6% |
| 1967 | 1.93 million | +7.1% |
| 1968 | 2.03 million | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 2.09 million | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 2.23 million | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 2.32 million | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 2.44 million | +5.6% |
| 1973 | 2.67 million | +9.0% |
| 1974 | 2.73 million | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 2.60 million | -4.6% |
| 1976 | 2.68 million | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 2.76 million | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 2.92 million | +5.8% |
| 1979 | 3.00 million | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 3.04 million | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 2.93 million | -3.5% |
| 1982 | 2.69 million | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 2.58 million | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 2.67 million | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 2.61 million | -2.4% |
| 1986 | 2.58 million | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 2.65 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2.73 million | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 2.74 million | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 2.48 million | -9.5% |
| 1991 | 2.42 million | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 2.47 million | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 2.55 million | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 2.71 million | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 2.78 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 2.86 million | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 2.97 million | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 3.02 million | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 3.01 million | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.98 million | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 2.85 million | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 2.83 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 2.79 million | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 2.67 million | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 2.54 million | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 2.35 million | -7.5% |
| 2007 | 2.37 million | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.28 million | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 2.12 million | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 2.13 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.99 million | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 1.88 million | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 1.84 million | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 1.78 million | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 1.71 million | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 1.63 million | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 1.63 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 1.63 million | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 1.58 million | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 1.38 million | -12.5% |
| 2021 | 1.39 million | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.41 million | +0.8% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 1.41 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409, 15.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | +36.2% | 16,663 | 22,701 |
| 1907 | +25.2% | 113,820 | 142,510 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 407.02 | 380.82 | 433.18 | 10 |
| 1760s | 470.27 | 438.99 | 501.5 | 10 |
| 1770s | 545.99 | 508.43 | 583.49 | 10 |
| 1780s | 642.01 | 591.81 | 692.12 | 10 |
| 1790s | 757.25 | 702.16 | 812.23 | 10 |
| 1800s | 893.22 | 824.4 | 962 | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,154 | 977.27 | 1,330 | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,619 | 1,369 | 1,869 | 10 |
| 1830s | 2,283 | 1,924 | 2,641 | 10 |
| 1840s | 3,290 | 2,720 | 3,905 | 10 |
| 1850s | 4,991 | 4,097 | 6,135 | 10 |
| 1860s | 8,683 | 6,464 | 11,093 | 10 |
| 1870s | 13,289 | 11,007 | 16,663 | 10 |
| 1880s | 31,921 | 22,701 | 45,751 | 10 |
| 1890s | 49,261 | 44,488 | 60,371 | 10 |
| 1900s | 104,285 | 64,724 | 144,727 | 10 |
| 1910s | 262,408 | 160,831 | 346,961 | 10 |
| 1920s | 352,656 | 288,835 | 472,231 | 10 |
| 1930s | 444,487 | 366,371 | 536,534 | 10 |
| 1940s | 727,692 | 610,293 | 819,888 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.07 million | 909,039 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.65 million | 1.27 million | 2.09 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.63 million | 2.23 million | 3.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.72 million | 2.58 million | 3.04 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.73 million | 2.42 million | 3.02 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.58 million | 2.12 million | 2.98 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.78 million | 1.58 million | 2.13 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.39 million | 1.38 million | 1.41 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More environment data for Canada
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.6856 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 0.4351 hectares per person (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 2.08 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate -0.5976 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in Canada?
- Long run air pollution in Canada was 1.41 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 3.04 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 380.82 in 1750.
- How does Canada rank for long run air pollution?
- Canada ranks 15th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. 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).