Emissions of air pollutants in Germany
Germany: Emissions of air pollutants was 986,642 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
986,642 tonnes
Change on year
down 8.2%
World rank
25th
of 220 countries
All-time high
3.24 million tonnes
in 1986
All-time low
5,263 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Germany, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Germany recorded 986,642 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
That represents a change of down 8.2% on the previous year and down 40.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Germany peaked at 3.24 million tonnes in 1986 and was at its lowest, 5,263 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Germany 25th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 Germany, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 5,263 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 5,276 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 5,290 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 5,303 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 5,316 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 5,329 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 5,342 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 5,355 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 5,368 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 5,381 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 5,394 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 5,406 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 5,419 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 5,431 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 5,444 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 5,456 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 5,468 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 5,480 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 5,493 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 5,505 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 5,516 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 5,528 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 5,540 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 5,552 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 5,563 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 5,575 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 5,586 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 5,598 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 5,609 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 5,620 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 5,631 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 5,642 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 5,653 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 5,664 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 5,675 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 5,686 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 5,696 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 5,707 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 5,717 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 5,728 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 5,738 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 5,748 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 6,894 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1793 | 6,930 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 6,852 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1795 | 6,870 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1796 | 7,093 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1797 | 7,138 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1798 | 7,210 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1799 | 7,344 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1800 | 6,824 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1801 | 7,305 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1802 | 7,783 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1803 | 8,286 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1804 | 8,384 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1805 | 8,857 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1806 | 9,435 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1807 | 9,441 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 10,082 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1809 | 10,188 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1810 | 10,284 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1811 | 10,436 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1812 | 10,571 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1813 | 10,709 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1814 | 10,841 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1815 | 10,898 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 9,788 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1817 | 9,665 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1818 | 9,843 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1819 | 9,301 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1820 | 9,392 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1821 | 9,629 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1822 | 9,770 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1823 | 10,566 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1824 | 10,937 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1825 | 11,069 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1826 | 10,793 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1827 | 11,417 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1828 | 11,407 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1829 | 11,782 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1830 | 11,961 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 11,738 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1832 | 12,004 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1833 | 12,904 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1834 | 13,078 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1835 | 13,278 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1836 | 14,361 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1837 | 15,369 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1838 | 16,366 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1839 | 17,439 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1840 | 18,218 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1841 | 19,313 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1842 | 20,275 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1843 | 21,529 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1844 | 22,598 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1845 | 23,490 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1846 | 24,530 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1847 | 25,504 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1848 | 26,761 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1849 | 27,676 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1850 | 28,560 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1851 | 32,787 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1852 | 37,168 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1853 | 41,897 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1854 | 46,634 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1855 | 51,567 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1856 | 54,573 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1857 | 57,557 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1858 | 60,385 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1859 | 63,614 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1860 | 64,400 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1861 | 70,941 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1862 | 78,820 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1863 | 86,359 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1864 | 97,598 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1865 | 109,604 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1866 | 109,481 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1867 | 119,532 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1868 | 129,414 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1869 | 135,779 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1870 | 134,959 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1871 | 155,339 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1872 | 172,416 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1873 | 188,291 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1874 | 193,062 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1875 | 201,760 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1876 | 206,628 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1877 | 203,362 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1878 | 208,719 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 219,613 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1880 | 235,718 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1881 | 247,265 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1882 | 264,811 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1883 | 282,827 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1884 | 293,935 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1885 | 302,435 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1886 | 306,074 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1887 | 320,949 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1888 | 348,838 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1889 | 373,261 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1890 | 394,320 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1891 | 417,683 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1892 | 413,296 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1893 | 422,762 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1894 | 437,222 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1895 | 459,650 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1896 | 494,509 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1897 | 530,256 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1898 | 555,956 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1899 | 591,507 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1900 | 647,807 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1901 | 655,512 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 639,158 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1903 | 681,355 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1904 | 704,638 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1905 | 727,185 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1906 | 795,770 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1907 | 855,413 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1908 | 856,315 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 851,479 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1910 | 856,116 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1911 | 880,443 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 962,002 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1913 | 1.02 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1914 | 867,162 tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1915 | 846,275 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1916 | 931,051 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1917 | 930,620 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1918 | 921,410 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1919 | 758,306 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1920 | 837,848 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1921 | 913,435 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1922 | 950,488 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1923 | 589,448 tonnes | -38.0% |
| 1924 | 831,016 tonnes | +41.0% |
| 1925 | 892,599 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1926 | 856,765 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1927 | 962,386 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1928 | 1.01 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1929 | 1.07 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1930 | 862,807 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1931 | 736,481 tonnes | -14.6% |
| 1932 | 661,795 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1933 | 684,530 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 746,102 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1935 | 812,466 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1936 | 895,554 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1937 | 1.03 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1938 | 1.10 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1939 | 1.19 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1940 | 1.30 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1941 | 1.35 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1942 | 1.35 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1943 | 1.36 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1944 | 1.25 million tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1945 | 464,596 tonnes | -62.7% |
| 1946 | 502,299 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1947 | 556,254 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1948 | 690,353 tonnes | +24.1% |
| 1949 | 716,865 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 816,955 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1951 | 931,240 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1952 | 972,696 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1953 | 1.02 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1954 | 1.08 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1955 | 1.18 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1956 | 1.27 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1957 | 1.30 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 1.31 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 1.36 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1960 | 1.72 million tonnes | +26.4% |
| 1961 | 1.81 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 1.98 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1963 | 2.13 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 2.27 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 2.35 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 2.36 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 2.21 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1968 | 2.33 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 2.48 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 2.64 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 2.73 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 2.83 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 2.92 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 2.91 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 2.85 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 2.94 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 2.98 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 3.08 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 3.18 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 3.20 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 3.13 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 3.02 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 3.00 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.01 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 3.08 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 3.24 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 3.17 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 3.15 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 3.09 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 3.11 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 2.87 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1992 | 2.69 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1993 | 2.63 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 2.49 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1995 | 2.44 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 2.34 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 2.28 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 2.23 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 2.20 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 2.13 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 2.07 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 2.02 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 1.96 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 1.92 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.86 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 1.88 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.86 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 1.80 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 1.69 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 1.72 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 1.68 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 1.66 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 1.64 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 1.59 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 1.56 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 1.56 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 1.48 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 1.35 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 1.25 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 1.05 million tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 1.08 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 986,642 tonnes | -8.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 986,642 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 10.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Germany's 986,642 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 9.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | -62.7% | 1.25 million tonnes | 464,596 tonnes |
| 1923 | -38.0% | 950,488 tonnes | 589,448 tonnes |
| 1924 | +41.0% | 589,448 tonnes | 831,016 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 5,322 tonnes | 5,263 tonnes | 5,381 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 5,450 tonnes | 5,394 tonnes | 5,505 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 5,569 tonnes | 5,516 tonnes | 5,620 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 5,680 tonnes | 5,631 tonnes | 5,728 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 6,782 tonnes | 5,738 tonnes | 7,344 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 8,659 tonnes | 6,824 tonnes | 10,188 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 10,234 tonnes | 9,301 tonnes | 10,898 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 10,676 tonnes | 9,392 tonnes | 11,782 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 13,850 tonnes | 11,738 tonnes | 17,439 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 22,989 tonnes | 18,218 tonnes | 27,676 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 47,474 tonnes | 28,560 tonnes | 63,614 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 100,193 tonnes | 64,400 tonnes | 135,779 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 188,415 tonnes | 134,959 tonnes | 219,613 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 297,611 tonnes | 235,718 tonnes | 373,261 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 471,716 tonnes | 394,320 tonnes | 591,507 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 741,463 tonnes | 639,158 tonnes | 856,315 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 897,294 tonnes | 758,306 tonnes | 1.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 891,250 tonnes | 589,448 tonnes | 1.07 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 871,412 tonnes | 661,795 tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 953,027 tonnes | 464,596 tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.12 million tonnes | 816,955 tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.16 million tonnes | 1.72 million tonnes | 2.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.91 million tonnes | 2.64 million tonnes | 3.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.11 million tonnes | 3.00 million tonnes | 3.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.53 million tonnes | 2.20 million tonnes | 3.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.92 million tonnes | 1.69 million tonnes | 2.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.55 million tonnes | 1.25 million tonnes | 1.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.04 million tonnes | 986,642 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °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 -0.0079 % 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 Germany?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Germany was 986,642 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 3.24 million tonnes in 1986.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,263 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Germany rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Germany ranks 25th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.