Emissions of air pollutants in Finland
Finland: Emissions of air pollutants was 125,339 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
125,339 tonnes
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
86th
of 220 countries
All-time high
461,681 tonnes
in 1980
All-time low
262.25 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Finland, 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 Finland is 125,339 tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Finland peaked at 461,681 tonnes in 1980 and was at its lowest, 262.25 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Finland 86th 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 Finland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 262.25 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 264.55 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1752 | 266.84 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1753 | 269.13 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1754 | 271.42 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1755 | 273.7 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1756 | 275.99 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1757 | 278.27 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1758 | 280.54 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1759 | 282.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1760 | 285.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1761 | 287.58 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1762 | 290.07 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1763 | 292.56 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1764 | 295.05 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1765 | 297.53 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1766 | 300.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1767 | 302.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1768 | 304.96 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1769 | 307.43 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1770 | 309.9 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1771 | 312.61 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1772 | 315.32 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1773 | 318.02 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1774 | 320.73 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1775 | 323.42 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1776 | 326.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1777 | 328.81 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1778 | 331.5 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1779 | 334.18 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1780 | 336.86 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1781 | 339.81 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1782 | 342.75 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1783 | 345.69 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1784 | 348.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1785 | 351.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1786 | 354.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1787 | 357.4 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1788 | 360.32 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1789 | 363.24 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1790 | 366.15 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1791 | 369.36 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1792 | 372.55 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1793 | 375.74 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1794 | 378.93 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1795 | 382.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1796 | 385.3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1797 | 388.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1798 | 391.65 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1799 | 394.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1800 | 397.98 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1801 | 401.76 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1802 | 405.53 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1803 | 409.31 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1804 | 413.09 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1805 | 416.87 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1806 | 420.66 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1807 | 424.43 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1808 | 428.22 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1809 | 432 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1810 | 435.79 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1811 | 439.93 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1812 | 444.06 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1813 | 448.2 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1814 | 452.34 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1815 | 456.48 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1816 | 460.61 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1817 | 464.76 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1818 | 468.9 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1819 | 473.04 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1820 | 477.19 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1821 | 485.22 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1822 | 493.25 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1823 | 501.28 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1824 | 509.32 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1825 | 517.36 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1826 | 525.39 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1827 | 533.43 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1828 | 541.48 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1829 | 549.52 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1830 | 557.57 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 561.18 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 564.78 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 568.38 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 571.99 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 575.59 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 579.19 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 582.8 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 586.41 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 590.01 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 593.63 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 601.55 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1842 | 609.48 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1843 | 617.41 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1844 | 625.34 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1845 | 633.27 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1846 | 641.21 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1847 | 652.46 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1848 | 659.45 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1849 | 667.87 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 676.28 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1851 | 682.44 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1852 | 687.89 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 694.44 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1854 | 698.42 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1855 | 704.73 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1856 | 708.62 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1857 | 715.21 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1858 | 721.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 725.66 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 735.78 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1861 | 743.03 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1862 | 751.84 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1863 | 760.07 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 764.58 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 773.84 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 786.07 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1867 | 790.08 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 791.83 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 791.26 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1870 | 840.41 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1871 | 857.79 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 869.63 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1873 | 921.11 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1874 | 940.23 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1875 | 912.95 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1876 | 959.81 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1877 | 1,003 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1878 | 974.47 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1879 | 981.28 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 1,030 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1881 | 1,054 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1882 | 1,086 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1883 | 1,145 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1884 | 1,153 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 1,298 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1886 | 1,231 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1887 | 1,290 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1888 | 1,344 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1889 | 1,463 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1890 | 1,528 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1891 | 1,555 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1892 | 1,567 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1893 | 1,647 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1894 | 1,636 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1895 | 1,767 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1896 | 1,925 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1897 | 2,173 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1898 | 2,224 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1899 | 2,637 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1900 | 2,505 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1901 | 2,694 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1902 | 3,006 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1903 | 3,519 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1904 | 3,931 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1905 | 4,489 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1906 | 4,857 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1907 | 5,715 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1908 | 6,954 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1909 | 7,340 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1910 | 7,532 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1911 | 8,319 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1912 | 9,047 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1913 | 9,787 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1914 | 8,437 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1915 | 8,135 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1916 | 8,743 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1917 | 8,738 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1918 | 8,059 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1919 | 10,195 tonnes | +26.5% |
| 1920 | 9,543 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1921 | 10,272 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1922 | 11,789 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1923 | 14,291 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1924 | 15,987 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1925 | 16,713 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1926 | 17,030 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 21,285 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1928 | 22,654 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1929 | 23,697 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1930 | 22,483 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1931 | 23,678 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1932 | 24,450 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1933 | 24,958 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 27,476 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1935 | 26,621 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1936 | 31,994 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1937 | 43,280 tonnes | +35.3% |
| 1938 | 41,734 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1939 | 40,905 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1940 | 27,899 tonnes | -31.8% |
| 1941 | 30,010 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1942 | 29,474 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1943 | 32,794 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1944 | 28,279 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1945 | 21,944 tonnes | -22.4% |
| 1946 | 32,030 tonnes | +46.0% |
| 1947 | 41,734 tonnes | +30.3% |
| 1948 | 50,959 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1949 | 40,833 tonnes | -19.9% |
| 1950 | 43,918 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1951 | 48,161 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1952 | 52,561 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1953 | 52,970 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 58,378 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1955 | 68,712 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1956 | 77,196 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1957 | 79,152 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1958 | 76,574 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1959 | 86,166 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1960 | 100,292 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1961 | 106,987 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1962 | 109,612 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 123,195 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1964 | 137,958 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1965 | 148,841 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1966 | 172,252 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1967 | 175,170 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 197,460 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1969 | 240,433 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1970 | 266,128 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1971 | 268,995 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 281,923 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 306,948 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 297,258 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 305,346 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 367,639 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 1977 | 359,600 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 407,732 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1979 | 432,776 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 461,681 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1981 | 388,649 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1982 | 391,268 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 383,060 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 387,909 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 361,343 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1986 | 368,882 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 378,510 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 381,093 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 393,178 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 359,367 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1991 | 354,645 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 354,159 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 343,012 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 331,611 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 300,398 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 309,537 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 306,848 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 309,454 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 314,045 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 313,970 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 310,605 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 315,383 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 323,658 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 297,112 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2005 | 265,489 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2006 | 283,838 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 262,376 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2008 | 237,198 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 205,843 tonnes | -13.2% |
| 2010 | 210,904 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 194,133 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 177,425 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 174,741 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 163,767 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2015 | 168,176 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 162,798 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 162,925 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 158,667 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 152,447 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 129,724 tonnes | -14.9% |
| 2021 | 127,497 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 125,339 tonnes | -1.7% |
Finland compared with similar countries
- Finland's 125,339 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 1.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Finland's 125,339 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Finland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +46.0% | 21,944 tonnes | 32,030 tonnes |
| 1937 | +35.3% | 31,994 tonnes | 43,280 tonnes |
| 1940 | -31.8% | 40,905 tonnes | 27,899 tonnes |
| 1947 | +30.3% | 32,030 tonnes | 41,734 tonnes |
| 1919 | +26.5% | 8,059 tonnes | 10,195 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 272.55 tonnes | 262.25 tonnes | 282.82 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 296.28 tonnes | 285.09 tonnes | 307.43 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 322.06 tonnes | 309.9 tonnes | 334.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 350.07 tonnes | 336.86 tonnes | 363.24 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 380.51 tonnes | 366.15 tonnes | 394.82 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 414.99 tonnes | 397.98 tonnes | 432 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 454.41 tonnes | 435.79 tonnes | 473.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 513.34 tonnes | 477.19 tonnes | 549.52 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 573.79 tonnes | 557.57 tonnes | 590.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 630.17 tonnes | 593.63 tonnes | 667.87 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 701.47 tonnes | 676.28 tonnes | 725.66 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 768.84 tonnes | 735.78 tonnes | 791.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 926.12 tonnes | 840.41 tonnes | 1,003 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,209 tonnes | 1,030 tonnes | 1,463 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,866 tonnes | 1,528 tonnes | 2,637 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 4,501 tonnes | 2,505 tonnes | 7,340 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 8,699 tonnes | 7,532 tonnes | 10,195 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 16,326 tonnes | 9,543 tonnes | 23,697 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 30,758 tonnes | 22,483 tonnes | 43,280 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 33,595 tonnes | 21,944 tonnes | 50,959 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 64,379 tonnes | 43,918 tonnes | 86,166 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 151,220 tonnes | 100,292 tonnes | 240,433 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 329,434 tonnes | 266,128 tonnes | 432,776 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 389,557 tonnes | 361,343 tonnes | 461,681 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 328,308 tonnes | 300,398 tonnes | 359,367 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 281,547 tonnes | 205,843 tonnes | 323,658 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 172,598 tonnes | 152,447 tonnes | 210,904 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 127,520 tonnes | 125,339 tonnes | 129,724 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Finland
More environment data for Finland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 4.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.986 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.94 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.4 % 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 0.3579 % 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 Finland?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Finland was 125,339 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 Finland?
- The highest recorded value was 461,681 tonnes in 1980.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Finland?
- The lowest recorded value was 262.25 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Finland rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Finland ranks 86th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Finland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Finland 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.