Emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Emissions of air pollutants was 242,659 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
242,659 tonnes
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
60th
of 220 countries
All-time high
248,561 tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
968.22 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia stood at 242,659 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia peaked at 248,561 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 968.22 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Ethiopia 60th 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 968.22 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 970.11 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 972 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 973.89 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 975.78 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 977.66 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 979.55 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 981.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 983.33 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 985.22 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 987.11 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 989 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 990.89 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 992.77 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 994.66 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 996.55 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 998.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 1,000 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 1,002 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 1,004 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 1,006 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 1,008 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 1,010 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 1,012 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 1,014 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 1,015 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 1,017 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 1,019 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 1,021 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 1,023 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 1,025 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 1,027 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 1,029 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 1,030 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 1,032 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 1,034 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 1,036 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 1,038 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 1,040 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 1,042 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 1,044 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 1,046 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 1,047 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 1,049 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 1,051 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 1,053 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 1,055 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 1,057 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 1,059 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 1,061 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 1,062 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 1,067 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 1,072 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 1,077 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 1,082 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 1,087 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 1,092 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 1,097 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 1,102 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 1,107 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 1,112 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 1,117 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1812 | 1,122 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1813 | 1,127 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 1,132 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 1,138 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 1,143 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 1,148 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 1,153 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 1,158 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 1,163 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 1,216 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1822 | 1,268 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1823 | 1,321 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1824 | 1,374 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1825 | 1,428 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1826 | 1,482 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1827 | 1,536 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1828 | 1,590 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1829 | 1,644 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1830 | 1,699 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1831 | 1,754 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1832 | 1,810 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1833 | 1,865 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1834 | 1,921 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1835 | 1,977 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1836 | 2,033 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1837 | 2,090 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1838 | 2,147 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1839 | 2,204 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1840 | 2,262 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1841 | 2,319 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1842 | 2,377 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1843 | 2,435 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1844 | 2,494 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1845 | 2,553 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1846 | 2,612 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1847 | 2,671 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1848 | 2,730 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1849 | 2,790 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1850 | 2,850 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1851 | 2,905 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1852 | 2,959 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1853 | 3,014 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1854 | 3,069 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1855 | 3,124 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1856 | 3,180 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1857 | 3,235 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1858 | 3,291 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1859 | 3,348 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1860 | 3,404 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1861 | 3,474 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1862 | 3,543 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1863 | 3,614 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1864 | 3,685 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1865 | 3,757 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1866 | 3,829 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1867 | 3,903 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1868 | 3,978 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1869 | 4,053 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1870 | 4,129 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1871 | 4,206 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1872 | 4,283 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1873 | 4,361 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1874 | 4,439 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1875 | 4,518 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1876 | 4,599 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1877 | 4,679 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1878 | 4,760 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1879 | 4,843 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1880 | 4,925 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1881 | 5,009 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1882 | 5,093 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1883 | 5,177 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1884 | 5,263 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1885 | 5,349 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1886 | 5,436 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 5,523 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1888 | 5,611 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1889 | 5,700 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1890 | 5,790 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1891 | 5,888 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 5,986 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 6,085 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1894 | 6,185 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1895 | 6,286 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 6,388 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1897 | 6,491 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1898 | 6,594 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1899 | 6,699 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1900 | 6,804 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1901 | 6,986 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1902 | 7,172 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 7,361 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1904 | 7,554 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1905 | 7,751 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1906 | 7,952 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1907 | 8,157 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1908 | 8,367 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1909 | 8,580 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1910 | 8,798 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1911 | 9,020 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1912 | 9,247 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1913 | 9,478 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 9,707 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1915 | 9,941 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1916 | 10,178 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1917 | 10,420 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1918 | 10,666 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1919 | 10,916 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1920 | 11,145 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1921 | 11,386 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1922 | 11,631 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 11,855 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1924 | 12,096 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1925 | 12,612 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1926 | 13,060 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1927 | 13,400 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1928 | 13,702 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 13,940 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 14,167 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1931 | 14,453 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1932 | 14,701 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1933 | 14,914 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1934 | 15,120 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 15,331 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 15,647 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 15,941 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1938 | 16,214 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1939 | 16,465 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1940 | 16,695 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 16,959 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1942 | 17,199 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1943 | 17,460 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1944 | 17,753 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 18,079 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 18,505 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1947 | 18,992 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1948 | 19,509 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1949 | 20,125 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1950 | 23,060 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1951 | 23,078 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1952 | 25,398 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1953 | 29,699 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1954 | 32,361 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1955 | 31,841 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1956 | 33,136 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1957 | 38,596 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1958 | 38,204 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1959 | 40,549 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1960 | 41,440 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 41,701 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 44,939 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1963 | 47,242 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 48,329 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 58,095 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1966 | 67,048 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1967 | 79,236 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1968 | 106,861 tonnes | +34.9% |
| 1969 | 105,612 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 109,576 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 110,602 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 101,862 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1973 | 113,654 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1974 | 112,012 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 100,872 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1976 | 103,789 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 97,706 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1978 | 92,549 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1979 | 95,410 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 103,420 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1981 | 127,584 tonnes | +23.4% |
| 1982 | 102,202 tonnes | -19.9% |
| 1983 | 105,282 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 108,565 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 115,986 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1986 | 125,785 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1987 | 122,506 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1988 | 129,648 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 134,771 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 148,012 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1991 | 160,159 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 98,361 tonnes | -38.6% |
| 1993 | 86,944 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 88,840 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 93,195 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 97,714 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 98,052 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 101,846 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 103,434 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 105,428 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 114,833 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2002 | 119,526 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 120,153 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 126,957 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 130,172 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 136,503 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 147,820 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 162,823 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2009 | 169,217 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 160,821 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 168,796 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 177,158 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 185,784 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 199,752 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2015 | 202,912 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 221,113 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 224,097 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 235,648 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2019 | 248,561 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 229,572 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2021 | 235,250 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 242,659 tonnes | +3.1% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 242,659 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 44,196 tonnes, 5.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 242,659 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 5.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -38.6% | 160,159 tonnes | 98,361 tonnes |
| 1968 | +34.9% | 79,236 tonnes | 106,861 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 976.72 tonnes | 968.22 tonnes | 985.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 995.61 tonnes | 987.11 tonnes | 1,004 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 1,014 tonnes | 1,006 tonnes | 1,023 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,033 tonnes | 1,025 tonnes | 1,042 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,052 tonnes | 1,044 tonnes | 1,061 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 1,085 tonnes | 1,062 tonnes | 1,107 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,135 tonnes | 1,112 tonnes | 1,158 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,402 tonnes | 1,163 tonnes | 1,644 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1,950 tonnes | 1,699 tonnes | 2,204 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 2,524 tonnes | 2,262 tonnes | 2,790 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 3,097 tonnes | 2,850 tonnes | 3,348 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 3,724 tonnes | 3,404 tonnes | 4,053 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 4,482 tonnes | 4,129 tonnes | 4,843 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 5,309 tonnes | 4,925 tonnes | 5,700 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 6,239 tonnes | 5,790 tonnes | 6,699 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 7,668 tonnes | 6,804 tonnes | 8,580 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 9,837 tonnes | 8,798 tonnes | 10,916 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 12,483 tonnes | 11,145 tonnes | 13,940 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 15,295 tonnes | 14,167 tonnes | 16,465 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 18,128 tonnes | 16,695 tonnes | 20,125 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 31,592 tonnes | 23,060 tonnes | 40,549 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 64,050 tonnes | 41,440 tonnes | 106,861 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 103,803 tonnes | 92,549 tonnes | 113,654 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 117,575 tonnes | 102,202 tonnes | 134,771 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 107,656 tonnes | 86,944 tonnes | 160,159 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 133,343 tonnes | 105,428 tonnes | 169,217 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 202,464 tonnes | 160,821 tonnes | 248,561 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 235,827 tonnes | 229,572 tonnes | 242,659 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More environment data for Ethiopia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.272 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.39 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 2.83 % 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 0.1478 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Ethiopia was 242,659 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 248,561 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 968.22 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Ethiopia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Ethiopia ranks 60th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.