Emissions of air pollutants in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Emissions of air pollutants was 79,121 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
79,121 tonnes
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
107th
of 220 countries
All-time high
79,710 tonnes
in 2007
All-time low
14.14 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Costa Rica, 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 Costa Rica is 79,121 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Costa Rica peaked at 79,710 tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, 14.14 tonnes, in 1750.
Costa Rica ranks 107th 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 Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 14.14 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 14.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1752 | 14.37 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1753 | 14.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1754 | 14.6 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1755 | 14.71 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1756 | 14.83 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1757 | 14.94 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1758 | 15.05 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1759 | 15.17 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1760 | 15.28 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1761 | 15.4 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1762 | 15.52 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1763 | 15.65 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1764 | 15.77 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1765 | 15.89 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1766 | 16.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1767 | 16.14 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1768 | 16.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1769 | 16.38 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1770 | 16.5 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1771 | 16.64 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1772 | 16.77 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1773 | 16.9 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1774 | 17.03 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1775 | 17.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1776 | 17.29 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1777 | 17.43 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1778 | 17.56 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1779 | 17.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1780 | 17.82 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1781 | 17.96 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1782 | 18.11 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1783 | 18.25 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1784 | 18.39 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1785 | 18.53 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1786 | 18.67 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1787 | 18.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1788 | 18.96 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1789 | 19.1 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1790 | 19.24 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1791 | 19.4 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1792 | 19.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1793 | 19.7 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1794 | 19.85 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1795 | 20.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1796 | 20.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1797 | 20.31 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1798 | 20.47 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1799 | 20.62 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1800 | 20.77 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1801 | 21.05 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1802 | 21.34 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1803 | 21.62 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1804 | 21.91 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1805 | 22.2 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1806 | 22.48 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1807 | 22.77 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1808 | 23.06 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1809 | 23.35 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1810 | 23.64 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1811 | 23.96 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1812 | 24.28 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1813 | 24.6 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1814 | 24.93 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1815 | 25.25 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1816 | 25.57 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1817 | 25.9 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1818 | 26.22 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1819 | 26.55 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1820 | 26.88 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1821 | 27.42 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1822 | 27.95 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1823 | 28.49 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1824 | 29.03 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1825 | 29.57 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1826 | 30.12 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1827 | 30.66 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1828 | 31.21 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1829 | 31.76 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1830 | 32.31 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1831 | 33 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 33.69 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1833 | 34.39 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1834 | 35.09 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1835 | 35.79 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1836 | 36.49 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1837 | 37.19 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1838 | 37.9 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1839 | 38.61 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1840 | 39.32 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1841 | 40.05 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1842 | 40.79 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1843 | 41.52 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1844 | 42.26 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1845 | 43 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1846 | 43.74 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1847 | 44.49 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1848 | 45.24 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1849 | 45.98 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1850 | 46.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 47.33 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1852 | 48.32 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1853 | 49.32 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1854 | 50.32 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1855 | 51.32 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1856 | 52.4 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1857 | 53.49 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1858 | 54.58 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1859 | 55.67 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1860 | 56.77 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1861 | 58.66 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1862 | 60.57 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1863 | 62.49 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1864 | 64.43 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1865 | 66.52 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1866 | 68.8 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1867 | 71.09 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1868 | 73.41 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1869 | 75.74 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1870 | 78.1 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1871 | 81.07 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1872 | 84.06 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1873 | 87.08 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1874 | 90.13 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1875 | 93.2 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1876 | 96.57 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1877 | 99.97 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1878 | 103.39 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1879 | 106.85 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1880 | 110.33 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1881 | 114.23 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1882 | 118.17 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1883 | 122.13 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1884 | 126.71 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1885 | 131.37 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1886 | 136 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1887 | 140.65 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 145.39 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1889 | 150.61 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1890 | 155.97 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1891 | 163.05 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1892 | 170.17 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1893 | 176.98 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1894 | 183.81 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1895 | 190.69 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1896 | 198.41 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1897 | 206.06 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1898 | 213.97 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1899 | 221.45 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1900 | 228.62 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1901 | 246.74 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1902 | 265.34 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1903 | 283.57 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1904 | 303.79 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1905 | 324.83 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1906 | 345.14 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1907 | 367.44 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1908 | 389.3 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1909 | 413.17 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1910 | 436.94 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1911 | 450.96 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1912 | 465.1 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1913 | 479.35 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1914 | 495.69 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1915 | 509.81 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1916 | 534.52 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1917 | 558.5 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1918 | 584.44 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1919 | 610.98 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1920 | 636.75 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1921 | 658.94 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1922 | 680.59 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1923 | 704.32 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1924 | 727.86 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1925 | 759.46 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1926 | 782.91 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 802.26 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 822.2 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1929 | 841.51 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 858.72 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1931 | 879.86 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1932 | 899 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 918.05 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 936.73 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1935 | 955.43 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1936 | 1,006 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1937 | 1,075 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1938 | 1,142 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1939 | 1,210 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1940 | 1,276 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1941 | 1,323 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1942 | 1,369 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1943 | 1,417 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1944 | 1,468 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1945 | 1,520 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1946 | 1,619 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1947 | 1,722 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1948 | 1,825 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1949 | 1,931 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1950 | 5,862 tonnes | +203.5% |
| 1951 | 6,148 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1952 | 6,960 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1953 | 7,309 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1954 | 6,868 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1955 | 6,138 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1956 | 7,561 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1957 | 7,382 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1958 | 7,284 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1959 | 6,721 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1960 | 7,795 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1961 | 7,709 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 8,352 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1963 | 8,897 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 9,505 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 10,725 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1966 | 12,140 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1967 | 11,291 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1968 | 13,036 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1969 | 14,217 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1970 | 14,887 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1971 | 20,045 tonnes | +34.6% |
| 1972 | 20,259 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 21,230 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 21,352 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 23,140 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 23,930 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 29,133 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1978 | 32,113 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1979 | 31,737 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1980 | 32,447 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 31,580 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1982 | 26,946 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1983 | 28,362 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 29,815 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 31,668 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1986 | 39,780 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1987 | 38,519 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 42,813 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1989 | 49,224 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1990 | 41,703 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 1991 | 42,694 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 55,223 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1993 | 57,839 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 61,322 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 67,734 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 65,554 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 59,361 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1998 | 67,686 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1999 | 67,087 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 65,512 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 68,686 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 73,214 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 63,410 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2004 | 72,647 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 2005 | 73,537 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 72,031 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 79,710 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 73,109 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2009 | 70,165 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 71,369 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 72,507 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 70,746 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 74,289 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 75,080 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 70,154 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 76,378 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 76,815 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 78,227 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 77,444 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 69,452 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 75,727 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 79,121 tonnes | +4.5% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 79,121 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 88% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 79,121 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 54,155 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Costa Rica 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 | +203.5% | 1,931 tonnes | 5,862 tonnes |
| 1971 | +34.6% | 14,887 tonnes | 20,045 tonnes |
| 1992 | +29.3% | 42,694 tonnes | 55,223 tonnes |
| 1986 | +25.6% | 31,668 tonnes | 39,780 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 14.66 tonnes | 14.14 tonnes | 15.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 15.83 tonnes | 15.28 tonnes | 16.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 17.1 tonnes | 16.5 tonnes | 17.69 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 18.46 tonnes | 17.82 tonnes | 19.1 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 19.93 tonnes | 19.24 tonnes | 20.62 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 22.06 tonnes | 20.77 tonnes | 23.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 25.09 tonnes | 23.64 tonnes | 26.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 29.31 tonnes | 26.88 tonnes | 31.76 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 35.45 tonnes | 32.31 tonnes | 38.61 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 42.64 tonnes | 39.32 tonnes | 45.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 50.91 tonnes | 46.34 tonnes | 55.67 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 65.85 tonnes | 56.77 tonnes | 75.74 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 92.04 tonnes | 78.1 tonnes | 106.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 129.56 tonnes | 110.33 tonnes | 150.61 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 188.06 tonnes | 155.97 tonnes | 221.45 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 316.8 tonnes | 228.62 tonnes | 413.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 512.63 tonnes | 436.94 tonnes | 610.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 741.68 tonnes | 636.75 tonnes | 841.51 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 988.12 tonnes | 858.72 tonnes | 1,210 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,547 tonnes | 1,276 tonnes | 1,931 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 6,823 tonnes | 5,862 tonnes | 7,561 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 10,367 tonnes | 7,709 tonnes | 14,217 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 23,783 tonnes | 14,887 tonnes | 32,113 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 35,115 tonnes | 26,946 tonnes | 49,224 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,620 tonnes | 41,703 tonnes | 67,734 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 71,202 tonnes | 63,410 tonnes | 79,710 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 74,301 tonnes | 70,154 tonnes | 78,227 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 74,767 tonnes | 69,452 tonnes | 79,121 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 104 Democratic Republic of Congo 82,418 tonnes compare
- 105 Cote d'Ivoire 80,310 tonnes compare
- 106 Jamaica 79,290 tonnes compare
- 108 Madagascar 77,423 tonnes compare
- 109 Zimbabwe 74,017 tonnes compare
- 110 Kyrgyzstan 70,959 tonnes compare
More environment data for Costa Rica
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.71 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.257 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.61 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.09 % 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 -0.3048 % 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 Costa Rica?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Costa Rica was 79,121 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 79,710 tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.14 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Costa Rica rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Costa Rica ranks 107th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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.