Emissions of air pollutants in China
China: Emissions of air pollutants was 20.99 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
20.99 million tonnes
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
1st
of 220 countries
All-time high
31.61 million tonnes
in 2012
All-time low
26,180 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in China, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
China recorded 20.99 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in China peaked at 31.61 million tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 26,180 tonnes, in 1750.
China ranks 1st of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 26,180 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 26,258 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 26,335 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 26,412 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 26,490 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 26,568 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 26,645 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 26,722 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 26,800 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 26,877 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 26,954 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 26,991 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 27,028 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 27,065 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 27,102 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 27,139 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 27,175 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 27,212 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 27,249 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 27,286 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 27,322 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 28,022 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1772 | 28,721 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1773 | 29,419 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1774 | 30,118 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1775 | 30,816 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1776 | 31,515 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1777 | 32,213 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1778 | 32,910 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1779 | 33,608 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1780 | 34,306 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1781 | 34,471 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 34,636 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 34,801 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 34,966 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 35,132 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 35,296 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 35,462 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 35,626 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 35,791 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 35,956 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 35,760 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1792 | 35,564 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1793 | 35,368 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1794 | 35,172 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1795 | 34,976 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1796 | 34,780 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1797 | 34,584 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1798 | 34,388 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1799 | 34,193 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1800 | 33,997 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1801 | 34,491 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1802 | 34,987 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1803 | 35,483 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1804 | 35,981 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1805 | 36,480 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1806 | 36,980 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1807 | 37,480 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1808 | 37,983 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1809 | 38,486 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1810 | 38,991 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1811 | 38,999 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 39,008 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 39,016 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 39,024 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 39,032 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 39,039 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 39,047 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 39,054 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 39,062 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 39,069 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 39,404 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 39,740 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1823 | 40,077 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 40,414 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 40,752 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 41,090 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 41,429 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 41,769 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 42,110 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 42,451 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 42,517 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1832 | 42,584 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1833 | 42,650 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1834 | 42,716 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1835 | 42,782 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1836 | 42,847 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1837 | 42,914 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1838 | 42,980 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1839 | 43,046 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1840 | 43,113 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1841 | 43,178 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1842 | 43,244 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1843 | 43,309 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1844 | 43,375 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1845 | 43,440 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 43,505 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1847 | 43,571 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1848 | 43,637 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1849 | 43,702 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1850 | 43,768 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1851 | 43,450 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1852 | 43,132 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1853 | 42,815 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1854 | 42,498 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1855 | 42,182 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1856 | 41,867 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1857 | 41,553 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1858 | 41,239 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1859 | 40,927 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1860 | 40,614 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1861 | 40,543 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1862 | 40,470 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1863 | 40,398 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1864 | 40,324 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1865 | 40,249 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1866 | 40,174 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1867 | 40,098 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 40,020 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1869 | 39,943 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1870 | 39,864 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1871 | 40,105 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1872 | 40,345 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1873 | 40,587 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1874 | 40,830 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1875 | 41,073 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1876 | 41,318 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1877 | 41,564 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 41,809 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1879 | 42,057 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1880 | 42,304 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1881 | 42,572 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1882 | 42,841 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1883 | 43,112 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1884 | 43,384 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1885 | 43,657 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 43,931 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 44,207 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 44,521 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 44,838 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 45,155 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 45,564 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 45,977 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 46,392 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 46,809 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 47,229 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 47,649 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 48,071 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1898 | 48,496 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 49,154 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1900 | 49,353 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 52,528 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1902 | 55,967 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1903 | 63,763 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1904 | 67,366 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1905 | 71,214 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1906 | 111,171 tonnes | +56.1% |
| 1907 | 114,151 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1908 | 132,477 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1909 | 131,545 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1910 | 130,119 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1911 | 155,208 tonnes | +19.3% |
| 1912 | 114,722 tonnes | -26.1% |
| 1913 | 120,531 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1914 | 133,822 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1915 | 139,287 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1916 | 149,378 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1917 | 159,909 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1918 | 169,177 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1919 | 183,827 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1920 | 197,336 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1921 | 198,034 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 206,279 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 225,891 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1924 | 238,646 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1925 | 239,897 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1926 | 235,081 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1927 | 250,305 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1928 | 256,144 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 265,007 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1930 | 275,333 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1931 | 286,618 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1932 | 286,753 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 301,399 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1934 | 325,145 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1935 | 353,093 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1936 | 378,898 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1937 | 372,816 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1938 | 366,740 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1939 | 406,789 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1940 | 469,262 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1941 | 545,279 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1942 | 581,254 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1943 | 534,752 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1944 | 548,024 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1945 | 409,262 tonnes | -25.3% |
| 1946 | 349,288 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1947 | 360,603 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1948 | 335,580 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1949 | 451,561 tonnes | +34.6% |
| 1950 | 516,470 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1951 | 603,108 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1952 | 695,788 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1953 | 726,742 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1954 | 828,726 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1955 | 940,954 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1956 | 1.03 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1957 | 1.14 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1958 | 1.91 million tonnes | +67.1% |
| 1959 | 2.46 million tonnes | +28.8% |
| 1960 | 2.60 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1961 | 1.99 million tonnes | -23.4% |
| 1962 | 1.69 million tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1963 | 1.70 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 1.72 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 1.88 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1966 | 2.06 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1967 | 1.81 million tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1968 | 1.96 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 2.32 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1970 | 2.96 million tonnes | +27.5% |
| 1971 | 3.37 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1972 | 3.59 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 3.77 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 3.88 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 4.36 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1976 | 4.49 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 5.00 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1978 | 5.65 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1979 | 5.84 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 5.86 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 5.79 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 6.02 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 6.34 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 6.87 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1985 | 7.06 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 7.54 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 8.18 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 8.84 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 9.32 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 9.58 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 10.26 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 11.17 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 12.05 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1994 | 12.58 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 13.86 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 14.92 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 14.47 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 14.77 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 15.05 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 16.32 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 16.65 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 17.72 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 20.13 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2004 | 22.97 million tonnes | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 25.03 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 27.10 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 28.59 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 29.03 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 28.85 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 28.93 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 31.15 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 31.61 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 30.14 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 27.72 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 26.38 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 25.17 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 24.63 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 23.81 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 22.27 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 21.53 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 21.71 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 20.99 million tonnes | -3.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 20.99 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 200.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 20.99 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 204.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | +67.1% | 1.14 million tonnes | 1.91 million tonnes |
| 1906 | +56.1% | 71,214 tonnes | 111,171 tonnes |
| 1949 | +34.6% | 335,580 tonnes | 451,561 tonnes |
| 1959 | +28.8% | 1.91 million tonnes | 2.46 million tonnes |
| 1970 | +27.5% | 2.32 million tonnes | 2.96 million tonnes |
| 1912 | -26.1% | 155,208 tonnes | 114,722 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 26,529 tonnes | 26,180 tonnes | 26,877 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 27,120 tonnes | 26,954 tonnes | 27,286 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 30,466 tonnes | 27,322 tonnes | 33,608 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 35,049 tonnes | 34,306 tonnes | 35,791 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 35,074 tonnes | 34,193 tonnes | 35,956 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 36,235 tonnes | 33,997 tonnes | 38,486 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 39,027 tonnes | 38,991 tonnes | 39,062 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 40,585 tonnes | 39,069 tonnes | 42,110 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 42,749 tonnes | 42,451 tonnes | 43,046 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 43,407 tonnes | 43,113 tonnes | 43,702 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 42,343 tonnes | 40,927 tonnes | 43,768 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 40,283 tonnes | 39,943 tonnes | 40,614 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 40,955 tonnes | 39,864 tonnes | 42,057 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 43,537 tonnes | 42,304 tonnes | 44,838 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 47,050 tonnes | 45,155 tonnes | 49,154 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 84,954 tonnes | 49,353 tonnes | 132,477 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 145,598 tonnes | 114,722 tonnes | 183,827 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 231,262 tonnes | 197,336 tonnes | 265,007 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 335,358 tonnes | 275,333 tonnes | 406,789 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 458,486 tonnes | 335,580 tonnes | 581,254 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.08 million tonnes | 516,470 tonnes | 2.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.97 million tonnes | 1.69 million tonnes | 2.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.29 million tonnes | 2.96 million tonnes | 5.84 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.18 million tonnes | 5.79 million tonnes | 9.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.87 million tonnes | 9.58 million tonnes | 15.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.24 million tonnes | 16.32 million tonnes | 29.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.18 million tonnes | 22.27 million tonnes | 31.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.41 million tonnes | 20.99 million tonnes | 21.71 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in China?
- Emissions of air pollutants in China was 20.99 million 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 31.61 million tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 26,180 tonnes in 1750.
- How does China rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- China ranks 1st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.