Long run air pollution in Germany
Germany: Long run air pollution was 986,642 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
986,642
Change on year
down 8.2%
World rank
25th
of 220 countries
All-time high
3.24 million
in 1986
All-time low
5,263
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Germany, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Germany recorded 986,642 for long run air pollution 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, long run air pollution in Germany peaked at 3.24 million in 1986 and was at its lowest, 5,263, 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.
Long run air pollution in Germany, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 5,263 | — |
| 1751 | 5,276 | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 5,290 | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 5,303 | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 5,316 | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 5,329 | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 5,342 | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 5,355 | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 5,368 | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 5,381 | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 5,394 | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 5,406 | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 5,419 | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 5,431 | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 5,444 | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 5,456 | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 5,468 | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 5,480 | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 5,493 | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 5,505 | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 5,516 | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 5,528 | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 5,540 | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 5,552 | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 5,563 | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 5,575 | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 5,586 | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 5,598 | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 5,609 | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 5,620 | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 5,631 | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 5,642 | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 5,653 | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 5,664 | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 5,675 | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 5,686 | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 5,696 | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 5,707 | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 5,717 | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 5,728 | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 5,738 | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 5,748 | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 6,894 | +19.9% |
| 1793 | 6,930 | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 6,852 | -1.1% |
| 1795 | 6,870 | +0.3% |
| 1796 | 7,093 | +3.2% |
| 1797 | 7,138 | +0.6% |
| 1798 | 7,210 | +1.0% |
| 1799 | 7,344 | +1.9% |
| 1800 | 6,824 | -7.1% |
| 1801 | 7,305 | +7.0% |
| 1802 | 7,783 | +6.6% |
| 1803 | 8,286 | +6.5% |
| 1804 | 8,384 | +1.2% |
| 1805 | 8,857 | +5.6% |
| 1806 | 9,435 | +6.5% |
| 1807 | 9,441 | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 10,082 | +6.8% |
| 1809 | 10,188 | +1.1% |
| 1810 | 10,284 | +0.9% |
| 1811 | 10,436 | +1.5% |
| 1812 | 10,571 | +1.3% |
| 1813 | 10,709 | +1.3% |
| 1814 | 10,841 | +1.2% |
| 1815 | 10,898 | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 9,788 | -10.2% |
| 1817 | 9,665 | -1.3% |
| 1818 | 9,843 | +1.8% |
| 1819 | 9,301 | -5.5% |
| 1820 | 9,392 | +1.0% |
| 1821 | 9,629 | +2.5% |
| 1822 | 9,770 | +1.5% |
| 1823 | 10,566 | +8.1% |
| 1824 | 10,937 | +3.5% |
| 1825 | 11,069 | +1.2% |
| 1826 | 10,793 | -2.5% |
| 1827 | 11,417 | +5.8% |
| 1828 | 11,407 | -0.1% |
| 1829 | 11,782 | +3.3% |
| 1830 | 11,961 | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 11,738 | -1.9% |
| 1832 | 12,004 | +2.3% |
| 1833 | 12,904 | +7.5% |
| 1834 | 13,078 | +1.3% |
| 1835 | 13,278 | +1.5% |
| 1836 | 14,361 | +8.2% |
| 1837 | 15,369 | +7.0% |
| 1838 | 16,366 | +6.5% |
| 1839 | 17,439 | +6.6% |
| 1840 | 18,218 | +4.5% |
| 1841 | 19,313 | +6.0% |
| 1842 | 20,275 | +5.0% |
| 1843 | 21,529 | +6.2% |
| 1844 | 22,598 | +5.0% |
| 1845 | 23,490 | +3.9% |
| 1846 | 24,530 | +4.4% |
| 1847 | 25,504 | +4.0% |
| 1848 | 26,761 | +4.9% |
| 1849 | 27,676 | +3.4% |
| 1850 | 28,560 | +3.2% |
| 1851 | 32,787 | +14.8% |
| 1852 | 37,168 | +13.4% |
| 1853 | 41,897 | +12.7% |
| 1854 | 46,634 | +11.3% |
| 1855 | 51,567 | +10.6% |
| 1856 | 54,573 | +5.8% |
| 1857 | 57,557 | +5.5% |
| 1858 | 60,385 | +4.9% |
| 1859 | 63,614 | +5.3% |
| 1860 | 64,400 | +1.2% |
| 1861 | 70,941 | +10.2% |
| 1862 | 78,820 | +11.1% |
| 1863 | 86,359 | +9.6% |
| 1864 | 97,598 | +13.0% |
| 1865 | 109,604 | +12.3% |
| 1866 | 109,481 | -0.1% |
| 1867 | 119,532 | +9.2% |
| 1868 | 129,414 | +8.3% |
| 1869 | 135,779 | +4.9% |
| 1870 | 134,959 | -0.6% |
| 1871 | 155,339 | +15.1% |
| 1872 | 172,416 | +11.0% |
| 1873 | 188,291 | +9.2% |
| 1874 | 193,062 | +2.5% |
| 1875 | 201,760 | +4.5% |
| 1876 | 206,628 | +2.4% |
| 1877 | 203,362 | -1.6% |
| 1878 | 208,719 | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 219,613 | +5.2% |
| 1880 | 235,718 | +7.3% |
| 1881 | 247,265 | +4.9% |
| 1882 | 264,811 | +7.1% |
| 1883 | 282,827 | +6.8% |
| 1884 | 293,935 | +3.9% |
| 1885 | 302,435 | +2.9% |
| 1886 | 306,074 | +1.2% |
| 1887 | 320,949 | +4.9% |
| 1888 | 348,838 | +8.7% |
| 1889 | 373,261 | +7.0% |
| 1890 | 394,320 | +5.6% |
| 1891 | 417,683 | +5.9% |
| 1892 | 413,296 | -1.1% |
| 1893 | 422,762 | +2.3% |
| 1894 | 437,222 | +3.4% |
| 1895 | 459,650 | +5.1% |
| 1896 | 494,509 | +7.6% |
| 1897 | 530,256 | +7.2% |
| 1898 | 555,956 | +4.8% |
| 1899 | 591,507 | +6.4% |
| 1900 | 647,807 | +9.5% |
| 1901 | 655,512 | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 639,158 | -2.5% |
| 1903 | 681,355 | +6.6% |
| 1904 | 704,638 | +3.4% |
| 1905 | 727,185 | +3.2% |
| 1906 | 795,770 | +9.4% |
| 1907 | 855,413 | +7.5% |
| 1908 | 856,315 | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 851,479 | -0.6% |
| 1910 | 856,116 | +0.5% |
| 1911 | 880,443 | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 962,002 | +9.3% |
| 1913 | 1.02 million | +6.0% |
| 1914 | 867,162 | -14.9% |
| 1915 | 846,275 | -2.4% |
| 1916 | 931,051 | +10.0% |
| 1917 | 930,620 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | 921,410 | -1.0% |
| 1919 | 758,306 | -17.7% |
| 1920 | 837,848 | +10.5% |
| 1921 | 913,435 | +9.0% |
| 1922 | 950,488 | +4.1% |
| 1923 | 589,448 | -38.0% |
| 1924 | 831,016 | +41.0% |
| 1925 | 892,599 | +7.4% |
| 1926 | 856,765 | -4.0% |
| 1927 | 962,386 | +12.3% |
| 1928 | 1.01 million | +5.2% |
| 1929 | 1.07 million | +5.3% |
| 1930 | 862,807 | -19.1% |
| 1931 | 736,481 | -14.6% |
| 1932 | 661,795 | -10.1% |
| 1933 | 684,530 | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 746,102 | +9.0% |
| 1935 | 812,466 | +8.9% |
| 1936 | 895,554 | +10.2% |
| 1937 | 1.03 million | +15.0% |
| 1938 | 1.10 million | +6.7% |
| 1939 | 1.19 million | +7.9% |
| 1940 | 1.30 million | +9.4% |
| 1941 | 1.35 million | +3.9% |
| 1942 | 1.35 million | +0.3% |
| 1943 | 1.36 million | +0.6% |
| 1944 | 1.25 million | -8.4% |
| 1945 | 464,596 | -62.7% |
| 1946 | 502,299 | +8.1% |
| 1947 | 556,254 | +10.7% |
| 1948 | 690,353 | +24.1% |
| 1949 | 716,865 | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 816,955 | +14.0% |
| 1951 | 931,240 | +14.0% |
| 1952 | 972,696 | +4.5% |
| 1953 | 1.02 million | +4.4% |
| 1954 | 1.08 million | +6.8% |
| 1955 | 1.18 million | +9.1% |
| 1956 | 1.27 million | +7.0% |
| 1957 | 1.30 million | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 1.31 million | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 1.36 million | +4.1% |
| 1960 | 1.72 million | +26.4% |
| 1961 | 1.81 million | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 1.98 million | +9.7% |
| 1963 | 2.13 million | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 2.27 million | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 2.35 million | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 2.36 million | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 2.21 million | -6.1% |
| 1968 | 2.33 million | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 2.48 million | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 2.64 million | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 2.73 million | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 2.83 million | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 2.92 million | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 2.91 million | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 2.85 million | -1.8% |
| 1976 | 2.94 million | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 2.98 million | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 3.08 million | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 3.18 million | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 3.20 million | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 3.13 million | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 3.02 million | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 3.00 million | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 3.01 million | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 3.08 million | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 3.24 million | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 3.17 million | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 3.15 million | -0.7% |
| 1989 | 3.09 million | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 3.11 million | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 2.87 million | -7.8% |
| 1992 | 2.69 million | -6.4% |
| 1993 | 2.63 million | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 2.49 million | -5.3% |
| 1995 | 2.44 million | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 2.34 million | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 2.28 million | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 2.23 million | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 2.20 million | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 2.13 million | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 2.07 million | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 2.02 million | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 1.96 million | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 1.92 million | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.86 million | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 1.88 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.86 million | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 1.80 million | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 1.69 million | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 1.72 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 1.68 million | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 1.66 million | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 1.64 million | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 1.59 million | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 1.56 million | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 1.56 million | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 1.48 million | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 1.35 million | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 1.25 million | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 1.05 million | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 1.08 million | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 986,642 | -8.2% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 986,642 is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409, 10.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Germany's 986,642 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006, 9.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution 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 | 464,596 |
| 1923 | -38.0% | 950,488 | 589,448 |
| 1924 | +41.0% | 589,448 | 831,016 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 5,322 | 5,263 | 5,381 | 10 |
| 1760s | 5,450 | 5,394 | 5,505 | 10 |
| 1770s | 5,569 | 5,516 | 5,620 | 10 |
| 1780s | 5,680 | 5,631 | 5,728 | 10 |
| 1790s | 6,782 | 5,738 | 7,344 | 10 |
| 1800s | 8,659 | 6,824 | 10,188 | 10 |
| 1810s | 10,234 | 9,301 | 10,898 | 10 |
| 1820s | 10,676 | 9,392 | 11,782 | 10 |
| 1830s | 13,850 | 11,738 | 17,439 | 10 |
| 1840s | 22,989 | 18,218 | 27,676 | 10 |
| 1850s | 47,474 | 28,560 | 63,614 | 10 |
| 1860s | 100,193 | 64,400 | 135,779 | 10 |
| 1870s | 188,415 | 134,959 | 219,613 | 10 |
| 1880s | 297,611 | 235,718 | 373,261 | 10 |
| 1890s | 471,716 | 394,320 | 591,507 | 10 |
| 1900s | 741,463 | 639,158 | 856,315 | 10 |
| 1910s | 897,294 | 758,306 | 1.02 million | 10 |
| 1920s | 891,250 | 589,448 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 871,412 | 661,795 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 953,027 | 464,596 | 1.36 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.12 million | 816,955 | 1.36 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.16 million | 1.72 million | 2.48 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.91 million | 2.64 million | 3.18 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.11 million | 3.00 million | 3.24 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.53 million | 2.20 million | 3.11 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.92 million | 1.69 million | 2.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.55 million | 1.25 million | 1.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.04 million | 986,642 | 1.08 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0401 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 0.0568 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 13.56 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate -2.13 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in Germany?
- Long run air pollution in Germany was 986,642 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 3.24 million in 1986.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,263 in 1750.
- How does Germany rank for long run air pollution?
- Germany ranks 25th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. 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).