Emissions of air pollutants in Denmark
Denmark: Emissions of air pollutants was 111,133 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
111,133 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
91st
of 220 countries
All-time high
453,067 tonnes
in 1996
All-time low
522.53 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Denmark, 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 Denmark is 111,133 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Denmark peaked at 453,067 tonnes in 1996 and was at its lowest, 522.53 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Denmark 91st out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 522.53 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 523.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 525.4 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 526.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 528.26 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 529.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 531.1 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 532.52 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 533.93 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 535.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 536.75 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 538.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 539.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 541.15 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 542.61 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 544.07 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 545.52 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 546.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 548.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 549.87 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 551.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 552.81 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 554.32 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 555.82 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 557.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 558.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 560.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 561.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 563.26 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 564.74 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 566.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 567.76 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1782 | 569.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1783 | 570.84 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1784 | 572.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 573.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 575.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1787 | 576.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1788 | 578.46 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1789 | 579.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 581.48 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1791 | 583.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1792 | 584.64 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1793 | 586.21 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1794 | 587.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1795 | 589.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1796 | 590.91 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1797 | 592.46 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1798 | 594.02 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1799 | 595.57 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1800 | 597.11 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1801 | 599.23 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 601.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 603.47 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 605.59 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 607.71 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 609.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 611.93 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 614.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 616.17 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 618.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 625.35 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1812 | 632.41 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1813 | 639.47 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1814 | 646.53 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1815 | 653.58 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1816 | 660.63 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1817 | 667.68 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1818 | 674.74 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1819 | 681.79 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1820 | 688.84 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1821 | 695.83 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1822 | 702.82 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1823 | 709.8 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1824 | 716.78 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1825 | 723.77 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 730.74 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 737.72 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1828 | 744.7 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1829 | 751.68 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1830 | 758.65 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1831 | 763.6 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1832 | 768.55 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 773.5 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 778.45 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 783.4 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 788.33 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 793.28 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 798.22 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 803.17 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 808.11 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 816.51 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1842 | 824.9 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1843 | 982.79 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1844 | 1,015 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1845 | 1,080 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1846 | 1,109 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1847 | 1,057 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1848 | 1,219 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1849 | 1,183 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1850 | 1,268 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1851 | 1,244 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1852 | 1,275 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1853 | 1,309 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1854 | 1,419 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1855 | 1,420 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 1,613 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1857 | 1,619 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 1,439 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1859 | 1,564 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1860 | 1,475 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1861 | 1,725 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1862 | 1,643 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1863 | 1,736 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1864 | 1,651 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1865 | 2,029 tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1866 | 1,954 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1867 | 1,934 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1868 | 2,094 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1869 | 1,963 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1870 | 2,144 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1871 | 2,190 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 2,151 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1873 | 2,166 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1874 | 2,254 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1875 | 2,452 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1876 | 2,529 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1877 | 2,513 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1878 | 2,446 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1879 | 2,612 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1880 | 2,813 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1881 | 2,916 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1882 | 3,050 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1883 | 3,338 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1884 | 3,337 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1885 | 3,451 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1886 | 3,341 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1887 | 3,383 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1888 | 3,649 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1889 | 3,806 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1890 | 3,684 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1891 | 3,876 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1892 | 4,807 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1893 | 3,804 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 1894 | 4,163 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1895 | 4,278 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1896 | 5,020 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1897 | 5,347 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 5,560 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1899 | 6,026 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1900 | 5,986 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1901 | 6,205 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1902 | 6,358 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1903 | 6,587 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1904 | 7,027 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1905 | 6,889 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1906 | 7,431 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1907 | 6,809 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1908 | 8,166 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1909 | 8,931 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1910 | 8,359 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1911 | 8,979 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1912 | 10,560 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1913 | 10,988 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1914 | 11,418 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1915 | 12,313 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1916 | 12,026 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1917 | 9,214 tonnes | -23.4% |
| 1918 | 10,446 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1919 | 10,015 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1920 | 9,004 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1921 | 8,708 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1922 | 11,658 tonnes | +33.9% |
| 1923 | 12,689 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1924 | 14,623 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1925 | 13,170 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1926 | 13,029 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1927 | 16,021 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1928 | 14,950 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1929 | 17,673 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1930 | 16,390 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1931 | 17,090 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1932 | 16,225 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1933 | 16,136 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1934 | 17,355 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1935 | 18,019 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1936 | 18,612 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1937 | 19,265 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1938 | 17,674 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1939 | 19,423 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1940 | 18,143 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1941 | 22,077 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1942 | 22,199 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1943 | 28,188 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 1944 | 29,003 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1945 | 22,276 tonnes | -23.2% |
| 1946 | 25,724 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1947 | 29,256 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1948 | 23,364 tonnes | -20.1% |
| 1949 | 22,733 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1950 | 59,536 tonnes | +161.9% |
| 1951 | 64,186 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1952 | 65,779 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 66,372 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 70,934 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1955 | 79,818 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1956 | 83,565 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1957 | 81,805 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1958 | 86,323 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1959 | 86,351 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 139,206 tonnes | +61.2% |
| 1961 | 142,353 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 167,839 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 190,062 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1964 | 201,426 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1965 | 213,443 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1966 | 238,323 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1967 | 242,646 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 269,510 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1969 | 295,200 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1970 | 317,209 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1971 | 326,598 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 344,051 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 358,519 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 307,009 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1975 | 337,845 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 356,386 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 360,102 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 365,255 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 377,450 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 370,286 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 337,639 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1982 | 357,798 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1983 | 343,656 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1984 | 349,858 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 372,354 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 399,850 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1987 | 415,090 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 424,982 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 410,912 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1990 | 386,988 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 425,945 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 381,789 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1993 | 425,853 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1994 | 441,673 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 428,468 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 453,067 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 394,129 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1998 | 368,900 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 347,786 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 341,110 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 315,354 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 290,084 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2003 | 303,592 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 274,202 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2005 | 267,850 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 289,216 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 279,135 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 244,465 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2009 | 188,044 tonnes | -23.1% |
| 2010 | 196,563 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 187,884 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 160,779 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 2013 | 163,439 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 162,844 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 161,971 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 152,051 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2017 | 138,441 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 138,865 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 146,257 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 115,562 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2021 | 111,447 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 111,133 tonnes | -0.3% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 111,133 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 1.2× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 111,133 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Denmark 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 | +161.9% | 22,733 tonnes | 59,536 tonnes |
| 1960 | +61.2% | 86,351 tonnes | 139,206 tonnes |
| 1922 | +33.9% | 8,708 tonnes | 11,658 tonnes |
| 1943 | +27.0% | 22,199 tonnes | 28,188 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 528.96 tonnes | 522.53 tonnes | 535.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 543.33 tonnes | 536.75 tonnes | 549.87 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 558.04 tonnes | 551.31 tonnes | 564.74 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 573.12 tonnes | 566.22 tonnes | 579.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 588.55 tonnes | 581.48 tonnes | 595.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 606.64 tonnes | 597.11 tonnes | 616.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 650.05 tonnes | 618.29 tonnes | 681.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 720.27 tonnes | 688.84 tonnes | 751.68 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 780.92 tonnes | 758.65 tonnes | 803.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 1,010 tonnes | 808.11 tonnes | 1,219 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,417 tonnes | 1,244 tonnes | 1,619 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,820 tonnes | 1,475 tonnes | 2,094 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 2,346 tonnes | 2,144 tonnes | 2,612 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 3,308 tonnes | 2,813 tonnes | 3,806 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 4,656 tonnes | 3,684 tonnes | 6,026 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 7,039 tonnes | 5,986 tonnes | 8,931 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 10,432 tonnes | 8,359 tonnes | 12,313 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 13,152 tonnes | 8,708 tonnes | 17,673 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 17,619 tonnes | 16,136 tonnes | 19,423 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 24,296 tonnes | 18,143 tonnes | 29,256 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 74,467 tonnes | 59,536 tonnes | 86,351 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 210,001 tonnes | 139,206 tonnes | 295,200 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 345,042 tonnes | 307,009 tonnes | 377,450 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 378,242 tonnes | 337,639 tonnes | 424,982 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 405,460 tonnes | 347,786 tonnes | 453,067 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 279,305 tonnes | 188,044 tonnes | 341,110 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 160,909 tonnes | 138,441 tonnes | 196,563 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 112,714 tonnes | 111,133 tonnes | 115,562 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More environment data for Denmark
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.66 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.696 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.29 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.75 % 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 0.0189 % 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 Denmark?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Denmark was 111,133 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 453,067 tonnes in 1996.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 522.53 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Denmark rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Denmark ranks 91st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.