Emissions of air pollutants in Ecuador
Ecuador: Emissions of air pollutants was 341,155 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
341,155 tonnes
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
50th
of 220 countries
All-time high
342,254 tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
77.96 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Ecuador, 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 Ecuador is 341,155 tonnes, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Ecuador peaked at 342,254 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 77.96 tonnes, in 1750.
Ecuador ranks 50th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 77.96 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 78.36 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 78.77 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 79.17 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 79.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 79.97 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 80.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 80.77 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 81.17 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 81.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 81.97 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 82.39 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 82.81 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 83.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 83.65 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 84.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 84.49 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 84.91 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 85.33 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 85.75 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 86.17 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 86.61 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 87.05 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 87.49 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 87.93 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 88.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 88.81 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 89.25 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 89.69 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 90.13 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 90.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1781 | 91.03 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 91.49 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 91.95 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 92.42 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 92.88 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 93.34 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 93.8 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 94.26 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 94.72 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 95.18 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 95.67 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 96.15 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 96.63 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 97.12 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 97.6 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 98.08 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1797 | 98.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 99.05 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1799 | 99.53 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 100.02 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 100.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1802 | 101.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1803 | 102.32 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1804 | 103.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1805 | 103.86 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1806 | 104.64 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1807 | 105.42 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 106.2 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 106.99 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 107.77 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1811 | 108.59 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 109.41 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 110.23 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 111.06 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1815 | 111.88 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1816 | 112.71 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1817 | 113.54 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1818 | 114.37 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1819 | 115.21 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 116.05 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 119.21 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1822 | 122.38 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1823 | 125.57 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1824 | 128.77 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1825 | 131.98 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1826 | 135.2 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1827 | 138.44 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1828 | 141.69 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1829 | 144.95 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1830 | 148.23 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1831 | 150.67 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1832 | 153.12 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1833 | 155.59 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1834 | 158.06 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1835 | 160.53 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1836 | 163.01 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1837 | 165.51 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1838 | 168.02 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1839 | 170.53 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1840 | 173.06 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1841 | 175.9 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1842 | 178.75 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1843 | 181.61 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1844 | 184.48 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1845 | 187.35 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1846 | 190.24 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1847 | 193.15 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1848 | 196.06 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1849 | 198.98 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1850 | 201.69 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1851 | 205.98 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1852 | 210.34 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1853 | 214.71 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1854 | 219.09 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1855 | 223.48 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1856 | 232.66 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1857 | 233.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 234.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 236.68 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1860 | 239.18 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1861 | 242.53 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1862 | 245.9 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1863 | 249.31 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1864 | 252.74 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1865 | 256.19 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1866 | 259.74 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 263.32 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1868 | 266.92 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1869 | 270.56 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1870 | 274.23 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1871 | 277.38 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1872 | 280.63 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1873 | 283.97 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1874 | 287.41 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 290.92 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1876 | 297.55 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1877 | 304.26 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1878 | 311.05 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1879 | 316.85 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1880 | 322.68 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1881 | 328.12 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1882 | 333.62 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1883 | 339.13 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1884 | 344.68 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1885 | 350.27 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1886 | 356.46 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1887 | 362.69 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1888 | 369.2 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1889 | 375.77 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1890 | 382.41 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1891 | 389.73 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1892 | 397.12 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1893 | 404.57 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1894 | 412.07 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1895 | 419.63 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1896 | 427.7 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1897 | 435.81 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1898 | 446.37 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1899 | 457.14 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1900 | 468.16 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1901 | 491.33 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1902 | 515.24 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1903 | 539.84 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1904 | 565.12 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1905 | 591.18 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1906 | 618.12 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1907 | 645.74 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1908 | 674.07 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1909 | 703.15 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1910 | 732.91 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1911 | 756.75 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1912 | 780.91 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1913 | 805.38 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1914 | 829.08 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1915 | 853.03 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1916 | 881.7 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1917 | 1,197 tonnes | +35.7% |
| 1918 | 1,226 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1919 | 1,256 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1920 | 1,286 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1921 | 1,321 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1922 | 1,357 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1923 | 1,517 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1924 | 1,634 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1925 | 1,974 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1926 | 2,258 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1927 | 3,857 tonnes | +70.8% |
| 1928 | 6,479 tonnes | +68.0% |
| 1929 | 7,885 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1930 | 8,723 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1931 | 9,712 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1932 | 9,002 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1933 | 9,155 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1934 | 9,229 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 9,697 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1936 | 10,713 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1937 | 11,289 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1938 | 11,823 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1939 | 12,197 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 12,526 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1941 | 9,119 tonnes | -27.2% |
| 1942 | 12,422 tonnes | +36.2% |
| 1943 | 12,652 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 15,383 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 1945 | 14,255 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1946 | 13,066 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1947 | 13,300 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 14,326 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1949 | 14,444 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 11,200 tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1951 | 10,962 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1952 | 13,163 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1953 | 12,615 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1954 | 14,320 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1955 | 16,804 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1956 | 17,802 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1957 | 16,078 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1958 | 18,069 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1959 | 17,806 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1960 | 22,413 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1961 | 21,253 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1962 | 20,803 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 23,285 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1964 | 26,630 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1965 | 28,001 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 29,701 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1967 | 33,558 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1968 | 39,360 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1969 | 39,138 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1970 | 43,962 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1971 | 53,718 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1972 | 52,359 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1973 | 60,436 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1974 | 55,851 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1975 | 62,179 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1976 | 69,184 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 81,133 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1978 | 93,124 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1979 | 114,560 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1980 | 128,060 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1981 | 143,618 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1982 | 147,690 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 142,098 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1984 | 153,054 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 159,179 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 158,412 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 162,631 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 174,264 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1989 | 172,734 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 190,709 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1991 | 189,317 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 207,244 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1993 | 220,941 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1994 | 224,006 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 229,360 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 271,653 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1997 | 295,108 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 245,223 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1999 | 217,259 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2000 | 217,798 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 218,347 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 239,263 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2003 | 240,103 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 263,471 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 266,318 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 260,177 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 265,405 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 256,236 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 272,253 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 301,302 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 302,140 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 300,184 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 307,285 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 327,057 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 316,301 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 304,011 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 295,303 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 342,254 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2019 | 326,515 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 259,906 tonnes | -20.4% |
| 2021 | 336,276 tonnes | +29.4% |
| 2022 | 341,155 tonnes | +1.5% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 341,155 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 3.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 341,155 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 54,155 tonnes, 6.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Ecuador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +70.8% | 2,258 tonnes | 3,857 tonnes |
| 1928 | +68.0% | 3,857 tonnes | 6,479 tonnes |
| 1942 | +36.2% | 9,119 tonnes | 12,422 tonnes |
| 1917 | +35.7% | 881.7 tonnes | 1,197 tonnes |
| 1941 | -27.2% | 12,526 tonnes | 9,119 tonnes |
| 2021 | +29.4% | 259,906 tonnes | 336,276 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 79.77 tonnes | 77.96 tonnes | 81.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 83.86 tonnes | 81.97 tonnes | 85.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 88.15 tonnes | 86.17 tonnes | 90.13 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 92.65 tonnes | 90.57 tonnes | 94.72 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 97.36 tonnes | 95.18 tonnes | 99.53 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 103.49 tonnes | 100.02 tonnes | 106.99 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 111.48 tonnes | 107.77 tonnes | 115.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 130.43 tonnes | 116.05 tonnes | 144.95 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 159.33 tonnes | 148.23 tonnes | 170.53 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 185.96 tonnes | 173.06 tonnes | 198.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 221.22 tonnes | 201.69 tonnes | 236.68 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 254.64 tonnes | 239.18 tonnes | 270.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 292.43 tonnes | 274.23 tonnes | 316.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 348.26 tonnes | 322.68 tonnes | 375.77 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 417.25 tonnes | 382.41 tonnes | 457.14 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 581.19 tonnes | 468.16 tonnes | 703.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 931.79 tonnes | 732.91 tonnes | 1,256 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2,957 tonnes | 1,286 tonnes | 7,885 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 10,154 tonnes | 8,723 tonnes | 12,197 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 13,149 tonnes | 9,119 tonnes | 15,383 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 14,882 tonnes | 10,962 tonnes | 18,069 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 28,414 tonnes | 20,803 tonnes | 39,360 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 68,651 tonnes | 43,962 tonnes | 114,560 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 154,174 tonnes | 128,060 tonnes | 174,264 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 229,082 tonnes | 189,317 tonnes | 295,108 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 249,937 tonnes | 217,798 tonnes | 272,253 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 312,235 tonnes | 295,303 tonnes | 342,254 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 312,446 tonnes | 259,906 tonnes | 341,155 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More environment data for Ecuador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.3767 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.4 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.49 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.65 % 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 -1.14 % 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 Ecuador?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Ecuador was 341,155 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 342,254 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 77.96 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Ecuador rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Ecuador ranks 50th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.