Emissions of air pollutants in Congo
Congo: Emissions of air pollutants was 28,422 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
28,422 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
148th
of 220 countries
All-time high
32,026 tonnes
in 2015
All-time low
41.91 tonnes
in 1800
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Congo, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Congo recorded 28,422 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Congo peaked at 32,026 tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 41.91 tonnes, in 1800.
Congo ranks 148th 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 Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 41.98 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 41.98 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 41.98 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 41.99 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 41.99 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 41.99 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 41.99 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1772 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1773 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1774 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1775 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1776 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1777 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1778 | 42.01 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1779 | 42 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1780 | 42 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1781 | 42 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1782 | 42 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1783 | 41.99 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1784 | 41.99 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1785 | 41.99 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1786 | 41.98 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1787 | 41.98 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1788 | 41.98 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1789 | 41.97 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1790 | 41.97 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1791 | 41.97 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1792 | 41.96 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1793 | 41.95 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1794 | 41.95 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1795 | 41.94 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1796 | 41.94 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1797 | 41.93 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1798 | 41.92 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1799 | 41.92 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1800 | 41.91 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1801 | 41.92 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 41.93 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 41.94 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 41.95 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 41.96 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 41.97 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 41.98 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 41.99 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 42.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 42.04 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 42.06 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 42.09 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 42.12 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 42.15 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 42.17 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 42.2 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 42.23 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 42.26 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 42.29 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 42.31 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1822 | 42.33 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1823 | 42.36 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 42.38 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 42.41 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 42.43 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 42.45 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 42.48 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 42.5 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 42.53 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 42.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 42.56 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 42.58 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 42.6 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 42.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 42.64 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 42.66 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 42.68 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 42.7 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 42.72 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 42.74 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 42.75 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 42.77 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 42.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 42.8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 42.81 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 42.83 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 42.84 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 42.86 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 42.87 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 43.18 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 43.49 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 43.81 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 44.13 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 44.45 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 44.77 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 45.09 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 45.42 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 45.75 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 46.08 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 46.45 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1862 | 46.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1863 | 47.2 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1864 | 47.58 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1865 | 47.96 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1866 | 48.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1867 | 48.73 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1868 | 49.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1869 | 49.51 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1870 | 49.9 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1871 | 50.3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1872 | 50.7 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1873 | 51.1 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1874 | 51.51 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1875 | 51.92 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1876 | 52.33 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1877 | 52.75 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1878 | 53.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1879 | 53.58 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1880 | 54.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1881 | 54.44 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1882 | 54.87 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 55.3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 55.74 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1885 | 56.18 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1886 | 56.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 57.06 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1888 | 57.55 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 58.04 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 58.54 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 59.04 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 59.54 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 60.05 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1894 | 60.56 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1895 | 61.07 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 61.59 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 62.11 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 62.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 63.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 63.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 69.11 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1902 | 74.61 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1903 | 80.19 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1904 | 85.85 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1905 | 91.6 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1906 | 97.49 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1907 | 103.46 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1908 | 109.51 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1909 | 115.66 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1910 | 121.89 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1911 | 128.43 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1912 | 135.08 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1913 | 141.82 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1914 | 148.66 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1915 | 155.6 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1916 | 162.65 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1917 | 169.8 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1918 | 177.06 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 184.42 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 191.88 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1921 | 188.96 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1922 | 200.94 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1923 | 213.78 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1924 | 226.97 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1925 | 241.57 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1926 | 256.45 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1927 | 260.1 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 263.52 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1929 | 266.97 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1930 | 269.58 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1931 | 272.15 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1932 | 277.3 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1933 | 290.43 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1934 | 304.08 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1935 | 318.28 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1936 | 333.92 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1937 | 334.37 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1938 | 334.55 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1939 | 334.47 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1940 | 334.12 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1941 | 333.65 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1942 | 332.56 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1943 | 331.64 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1944 | 330.56 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1945 | 328.96 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1946 | 327.72 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1947 | 349.65 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1948 | 372.68 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1949 | 397.82 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1950 | 2,648 tonnes | +565.7% |
| 1951 | 3,651 tonnes | +37.9% |
| 1952 | 4,307 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1953 | 3,789 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1954 | 4,017 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1955 | 3,803 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1956 | 4,892 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1957 | 5,108 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1958 | 5,659 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1959 | 4,989 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1960 | 6,719 tonnes | +34.7% |
| 1961 | 8,730 tonnes | +29.9% |
| 1962 | 8,394 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1963 | 7,957 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1964 | 8,063 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 7,225 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1966 | 7,873 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1967 | 7,478 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1968 | 9,128 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1969 | 9,415 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 10,767 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1971 | 6,576 tonnes | -38.9% |
| 1972 | 6,939 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1973 | 11,202 tonnes | +61.4% |
| 1974 | 13,631 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1975 | 10,963 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1976 | 12,240 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1977 | 8,082 tonnes | -34.0% |
| 1978 | 8,589 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 8,636 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 9,385 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1981 | 9,897 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 10,260 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 9,766 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 8,829 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1985 | 9,072 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 8,499 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1987 | 8,829 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 8,342 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1989 | 8,180 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 8,070 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 8,751 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1992 | 8,284 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1993 | 8,256 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 6,430 tonnes | -22.1% |
| 1995 | 7,977 tonnes | +24.1% |
| 1996 | 6,855 tonnes | -14.1% |
| 1997 | 5,923 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1998 | 6,552 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1999 | 6,928 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 7,329 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 8,259 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 2002 | 6,936 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 2003 | 8,331 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 2004 | 9,206 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 2005 | 10,106 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 12,400 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 2007 | 13,853 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 2008 | 17,216 tonnes | +24.3% |
| 2009 | 16,946 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 18,842 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 21,848 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 2012 | 25,746 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 27,962 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2014 | 29,250 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 32,026 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2016 | 27,988 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 24,525 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2018 | 25,286 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 27,844 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2020 | 27,399 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 27,829 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 28,422 tonnes | +2.1% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 28,422 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 38% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 28,422 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 63% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +565.7% | 397.82 tonnes | 2,648 tonnes |
| 1973 | +61.4% | 6,939 tonnes | 11,202 tonnes |
| 1971 | -38.9% | 10,767 tonnes | 6,576 tonnes |
| 1951 | +37.9% | 2,648 tonnes | 3,651 tonnes |
| 1960 | +34.7% | 4,989 tonnes | 6,719 tonnes |
| 1977 | -34.0% | 12,240 tonnes | 8,082 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 41.99 tonnes | 41.98 tonnes | 42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 42.01 tonnes | 42 tonnes | 42.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 42.01 tonnes | 42 tonnes | 42.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 41.99 tonnes | 41.97 tonnes | 42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 41.95 tonnes | 41.92 tonnes | 41.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 41.96 tonnes | 41.91 tonnes | 42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 42.13 tonnes | 42.01 tonnes | 42.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 42.39 tonnes | 42.29 tonnes | 42.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 42.61 tonnes | 42.53 tonnes | 42.7 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 42.79 tonnes | 42.72 tonnes | 42.86 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 44.3 tonnes | 42.87 tonnes | 45.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 47.78 tonnes | 46.08 tonnes | 49.51 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 51.73 tonnes | 49.9 tonnes | 53.58 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 55.98 tonnes | 54.01 tonnes | 58.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 60.83 tonnes | 58.54 tonnes | 63.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 89.12 tonnes | 63.69 tonnes | 115.66 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 152.54 tonnes | 121.89 tonnes | 184.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 231.11 tonnes | 188.96 tonnes | 266.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 306.91 tonnes | 269.58 tonnes | 334.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 343.94 tonnes | 327.72 tonnes | 397.82 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 4,286 tonnes | 2,648 tonnes | 5,659 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 8,098 tonnes | 6,719 tonnes | 9,415 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 9,762 tonnes | 6,576 tonnes | 13,631 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,106 tonnes | 8,180 tonnes | 10,260 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,403 tonnes | 5,923 tonnes | 8,751 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 11,058 tonnes | 6,936 tonnes | 17,216 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 26,132 tonnes | 18,842 tonnes | 32,026 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,883 tonnes | 27,399 tonnes | 28,422 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More environment data for Congo
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -9.96 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.202 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.13 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8453 % 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 -0.4756 % 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 Congo?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Congo was 28,422 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 32,026 tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.91 tonnes in 1800.
- How does Congo rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Congo ranks 148th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo 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.