Emissions of air pollutants in France
France: Emissions of air pollutants was 820,688 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
820,688 tonnes
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
32nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.77 million tonnes
in 1978
All-time low
18,128 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in France, 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 France is 820,688 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in France peaked at 2.77 million tonnes in 1978 and was at its lowest, 18,128 tonnes, in 1750.
France ranks 32nd 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 France, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 18,128 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 18,165 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 18,202 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 18,239 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 18,277 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 18,314 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 18,351 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 18,388 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 18,425 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 18,462 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 18,499 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 18,535 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 18,572 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 18,609 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 18,646 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 18,682 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 18,719 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 18,755 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 18,792 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 18,828 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 18,864 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 18,901 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 18,937 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 18,973 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 19,009 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 19,046 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 19,082 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 19,118 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 19,153 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 19,189 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 19,225 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 19,261 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 19,297 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 19,332 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 19,368 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 19,404 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 19,439 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 19,474 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 19,510 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 19,545 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 19,581 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 19,616 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 19,651 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 19,686 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 19,721 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 19,756 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 19,791 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 19,826 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 19,861 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 19,896 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 19,931 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 20,076 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 21,672 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1803 | 20,367 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1804 | 21,922 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1805 | 20,658 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1806 | 20,803 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1807 | 20,949 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 21,094 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 21,240 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 22,760 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1811 | 22,841 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 23,074 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1813 | 23,091 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 23,246 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1815 | 23,534 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1816 | 23,762 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1817 | 23,993 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1818 | 23,939 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1819 | 24,268 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1820 | 24,630 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1821 | 24,806 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 25,013 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 25,117 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 25,447 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1825 | 25,824 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1826 | 26,006 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1827 | 27,285 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1828 | 27,596 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1829 | 27,575 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1830 | 28,013 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1831 | 27,786 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1832 | 28,320 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1833 | 28,824 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1834 | 30,062 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1835 | 30,429 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1836 | 31,459 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1837 | 32,069 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1838 | 32,544 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1839 | 32,482 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1840 | 32,755 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1841 | 34,212 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1842 | 34,812 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1843 | 34,970 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1844 | 35,558 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1845 | 37,360 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1846 | 37,998 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1847 | 39,676 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1848 | 37,017 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1849 | 37,547 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1850 | 39,873 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1851 | 40,895 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1852 | 42,800 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1853 | 46,640 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1854 | 50,879 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1855 | 55,938 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1856 | 58,101 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1857 | 59,487 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 59,510 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 60,570 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1860 | 64,319 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1861 | 68,114 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1862 | 71,232 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1863 | 72,797 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1864 | 76,398 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1865 | 79,856 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1866 | 84,685 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1867 | 85,764 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1868 | 87,364 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1869 | 89,300 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1870 | 82,743 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1871 | 82,938 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1872 | 95,615 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1873 | 102,345 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1874 | 100,016 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1875 | 104,396 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1876 | 104,507 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 102,897 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1878 | 104,680 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1879 | 107,471 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1880 | 118,307 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1881 | 120,645 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1882 | 125,921 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1883 | 130,742 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1884 | 126,625 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1885 | 123,874 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1886 | 123,911 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 129,759 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1888 | 134,734 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1889 | 138,233 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1890 | 150,493 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1891 | 150,391 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1892 | 150,475 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 147,950 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1894 | 154,681 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1895 | 155,801 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 161,416 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1897 | 169,284 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1898 | 175,633 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1899 | 182,536 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1900 | 194,097 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1901 | 186,112 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1902 | 174,377 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1903 | 186,521 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1904 | 179,498 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1905 | 179,482 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1906 | 190,760 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1907 | 201,896 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1908 | 203,066 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1909 | 207,233 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1910 | 208,101 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 217,592 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1912 | 221,605 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 238,638 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1914 | 169,891 tonnes | -28.8% |
| 1915 | 150,503 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 1916 | 160,281 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1917 | 176,666 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1918 | 162,556 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1919 | 174,379 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1920 | 224,170 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1921 | 203,820 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1922 | 239,989 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1923 | 273,543 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1924 | 315,896 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1925 | 436,227 tonnes | +38.1% |
| 1926 | 355,694 tonnes | -18.5% |
| 1927 | 287,172 tonnes | -19.3% |
| 1928 | 285,306 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1929 | 312,340 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 324,596 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1931 | 301,941 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1932 | 286,431 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1933 | 352,765 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1934 | 384,883 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1935 | 419,564 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1936 | 441,702 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1937 | 462,306 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1938 | 466,007 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1939 | 433,921 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1940 | 290,193 tonnes | -33.1% |
| 1941 | 220,922 tonnes | -23.9% |
| 1942 | 167,710 tonnes | -24.1% |
| 1943 | 171,898 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1944 | 121,012 tonnes | -29.6% |
| 1945 | 156,457 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1946 | 277,964 tonnes | +77.7% |
| 1947 | 348,942 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1948 | 421,153 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1949 | 522,432 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1950 | 502,798 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1951 | 567,702 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1952 | 579,766 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 575,031 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1954 | 619,560 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1955 | 654,169 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1956 | 722,419 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1957 | 737,574 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1958 | 741,404 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 752,921 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 1.00 million tonnes | +33.0% |
| 1961 | 1.10 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1962 | 1.14 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1963 | 1.22 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1964 | 1.34 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1965 | 1.37 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 1.44 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1967 | 1.59 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1968 | 1.73 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1969 | 1.87 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1970 | 2.07 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1971 | 2.18 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 2.34 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 2.69 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1974 | 2.58 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 2.48 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 2.70 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 2.67 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1978 | 2.77 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 2.76 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 2.64 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 2.50 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1982 | 2.38 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1983 | 2.35 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 2.29 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 2.28 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 2.26 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 2.29 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 2.33 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 2.37 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 2.41 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 2.47 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 2.44 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 2.35 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 2.24 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1995 | 2.21 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 2.20 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 2.15 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 2.20 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 2.17 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 2.11 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 2.02 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 1.97 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 1.94 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 1.94 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 1.85 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 1.78 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 1.72 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 1.59 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 1.51 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 1.46 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.42 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.38 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 1.34 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 1.23 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 1.20 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 1.14 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 1.12 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 1.08 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 1.02 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 805,450 tonnes | -21.3% |
| 2021 | 841,309 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 820,688 tonnes | -2.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 820,688 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 9.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- France's 820,688 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 8.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in France 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 | +77.7% | 156,457 tonnes | 277,964 tonnes |
| 1925 | +38.1% | 315,896 tonnes | 436,227 tonnes |
| 1940 | -33.1% | 433,921 tonnes | 290,193 tonnes |
| 1960 | +33.0% | 752,921 tonnes | 1.00 million tonnes |
| 1944 | -29.6% | 171,898 tonnes | 121,012 tonnes |
| 1914 | -28.8% | 238,638 tonnes | 169,891 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 18,295 tonnes | 18,128 tonnes | 18,462 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 18,664 tonnes | 18,499 tonnes | 18,828 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 19,027 tonnes | 18,864 tonnes | 19,189 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 19,385 tonnes | 19,225 tonnes | 19,545 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 19,739 tonnes | 19,581 tonnes | 19,896 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 20,871 tonnes | 19,931 tonnes | 21,922 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 23,451 tonnes | 22,760 tonnes | 24,268 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 25,930 tonnes | 24,630 tonnes | 27,596 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 30,199 tonnes | 27,786 tonnes | 32,544 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 36,191 tonnes | 32,755 tonnes | 39,676 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 51,469 tonnes | 39,873 tonnes | 60,570 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 77,983 tonnes | 64,319 tonnes | 89,300 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 98,761 tonnes | 82,743 tonnes | 107,471 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 127,275 tonnes | 118,307 tonnes | 138,233 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 159,866 tonnes | 147,950 tonnes | 182,536 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 190,304 tonnes | 174,377 tonnes | 207,233 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 188,021 tonnes | 150,503 tonnes | 238,638 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 293,416 tonnes | 203,820 tonnes | 436,227 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 387,412 tonnes | 286,431 tonnes | 466,007 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 269,868 tonnes | 121,012 tonnes | 522,432 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 645,334 tonnes | 502,798 tonnes | 752,921 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.38 million tonnes | 1.00 million tonnes | 1.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.52 million tonnes | 2.07 million tonnes | 2.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.37 million tonnes | 2.26 million tonnes | 2.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.28 million tonnes | 2.15 million tonnes | 2.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.84 million tonnes | 1.51 million tonnes | 2.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.24 million tonnes | 1.02 million tonnes | 1.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 822,482 tonnes | 805,450 tonnes | 841,309 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near France
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % 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 -0.1777 % 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 France?
- Emissions of air pollutants in France was 820,688 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.77 million tonnes in 1978.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,128 tonnes in 1750.
- How does France rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- France ranks 32nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.