Emissions of air pollutants in Ghana
Ghana: Emissions of air pollutants was 132,088 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
132,088 tonnes
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
85th
of 220 countries
All-time high
132,088 tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
256.23 tonnes
in 1810
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Ghana, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 132,088 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Ghana peaked at 132,088 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 256.23 tonnes, in 1810.
That places Ghana 85th 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 285.17 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 284.59 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1752 | 284.02 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1753 | 283.44 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1754 | 282.87 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1755 | 282.3 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1756 | 281.72 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1757 | 281.15 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1758 | 280.57 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1759 | 280 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1760 | 279.42 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1761 | 278.86 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1762 | 278.29 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1763 | 277.73 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1764 | 277.16 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1765 | 276.6 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1766 | 276.04 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1767 | 275.47 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1768 | 274.91 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1769 | 274.34 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1770 | 273.78 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1771 | 273.22 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1772 | 272.67 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1773 | 272.11 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1774 | 271.56 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1775 | 271 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1776 | 270.45 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1777 | 269.89 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1778 | 269.34 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1779 | 268.79 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1780 | 268.23 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1781 | 267.69 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1782 | 267.14 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1783 | 266.6 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1784 | 266.05 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1785 | 265.5 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1786 | 264.96 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1787 | 264.42 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1788 | 263.87 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1789 | 263.33 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1790 | 262.78 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1791 | 262.25 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1792 | 261.71 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1793 | 261.17 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1794 | 260.64 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1795 | 260.1 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1796 | 259.56 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1797 | 259.03 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1798 | 258.49 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1799 | 257.96 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1800 | 257.42 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1801 | 257.31 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1802 | 257.2 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1803 | 257.08 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1804 | 256.97 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1805 | 256.85 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1806 | 256.73 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1807 | 256.6 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1808 | 256.48 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1809 | 256.36 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1810 | 256.23 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1811 | 256.83 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1812 | 257.43 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1813 | 258.04 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1814 | 258.64 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1815 | 259.24 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1816 | 259.84 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1817 | 260.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1818 | 261.05 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1819 | 261.65 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1820 | 262.26 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 262.86 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1822 | 263.47 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1823 | 264.07 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1824 | 264.68 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1825 | 265.29 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1826 | 265.89 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1827 | 266.5 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1828 | 267.12 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1829 | 267.73 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1830 | 268.34 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1831 | 268.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1832 | 269.56 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1833 | 270.18 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1834 | 270.79 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1835 | 271.4 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1836 | 272.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1837 | 272.63 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1838 | 273.24 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1839 | 273.86 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1840 | 274.48 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1841 | 275.1 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1842 | 275.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1843 | 276.33 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1844 | 276.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1845 | 277.56 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1846 | 278.18 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1847 | 278.81 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1848 | 279.43 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1849 | 280.05 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1850 | 280.35 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 281.41 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 282.21 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 283.01 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 283.81 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 284.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 285.63 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 286.67 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 287.7 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 288.74 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 289.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 291.44 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1862 | 293.1 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1863 | 294.76 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1864 | 296.44 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 298.11 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 300.02 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1867 | 301.94 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1868 | 303.86 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1869 | 305.79 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 307.72 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1871 | 311.06 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1872 | 314.66 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1873 | 318.3 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1874 | 321.97 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 325.66 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 329.39 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 335.59 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1878 | 344.21 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 353.31 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1880 | 362.92 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1881 | 373.53 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1882 | 384.74 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1883 | 396.6 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1884 | 409.15 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1885 | 422.46 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1886 | 436.6 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1887 | 441.63 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1888 | 446.82 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1889 | 452.02 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 457.25 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1891 | 462.96 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1892 | 467.41 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 471.88 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 476.34 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 480.81 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 485.29 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 490.06 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 494.83 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1899 | 499.62 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1900 | 504.4 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1901 | 522.12 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1902 | 544.22 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1903 | 567.09 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1904 | 590.74 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1905 | 615.21 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1906 | 641.25 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1907 | 656.52 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1908 | 671.65 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1909 | 686.63 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1910 | 701.48 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1911 | 722.39 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1912 | 791.02 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1913 | 870.3 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1914 | 902.06 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1915 | 934.22 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1916 | 971.39 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1917 | 1,009 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1918 | 1,047 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1919 | 1,086 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1920 | 1,126 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1921 | 1,210 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1922 | 1,257 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1923 | 1,305 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1924 | 1,354 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1925 | 1,414 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1926 | 1,473 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1927 | 1,529 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1928 | 1,615 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1929 | 1,705 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1930 | 1,797 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1931 | 1,898 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1932 | 1,960 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1933 | 2,024 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1934 | 2,088 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1935 | 2,154 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1936 | 2,228 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1937 | 2,308 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1938 | 2,384 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1939 | 2,462 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1940 | 2,537 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1941 | 2,592 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1942 | 2,646 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1943 | 2,702 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1944 | 2,760 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1945 | 2,819 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1946 | 2,854 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1947 | 2,895 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 2,927 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1949 | 2,988 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1950 | 8,949 tonnes | +199.5% |
| 1951 | 10,360 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1952 | 11,115 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1953 | 13,225 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1954 | 13,213 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1955 | 16,748 tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1956 | 14,659 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 1957 | 17,074 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1958 | 17,231 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 16,543 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1960 | 17,970 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1961 | 16,337 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1962 | 17,358 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1963 | 19,318 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1964 | 18,102 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1965 | 18,556 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 15,529 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 1967 | 16,376 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 17,582 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1969 | 16,346 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1970 | 22,789 tonnes | +39.4% |
| 1971 | 25,011 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1972 | 26,553 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1973 | 27,060 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 25,281 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1975 | 27,251 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1976 | 27,699 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 28,354 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 28,196 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 25,673 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1980 | 27,089 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 28,572 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1982 | 26,212 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1983 | 21,172 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 1984 | 22,253 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 25,762 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1986 | 27,187 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 27,770 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 28,748 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 31,020 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1990 | 30,963 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 30,042 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 34,574 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1993 | 35,140 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 37,059 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 39,955 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1996 | 42,216 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 42,208 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 60,208 tonnes | +42.6% |
| 1999 | 65,474 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 61,096 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2001 | 62,804 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 72,931 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 66,991 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 61,462 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 65,854 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 77,560 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 2007 | 80,796 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 76,798 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 91,372 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 2010 | 98,628 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2011 | 97,567 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 119,456 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 2013 | 124,673 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 115,856 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 112,532 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 122,857 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 117,474 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 120,841 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 122,273 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 118,738 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 129,746 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 132,088 tonnes | +1.8% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 132,088 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 132,088 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 2.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +199.5% | 2,988 tonnes | 8,949 tonnes |
| 1998 | +42.6% | 42,208 tonnes | 60,208 tonnes |
| 1970 | +39.4% | 16,346 tonnes | 22,789 tonnes |
| 1955 | +26.8% | 13,213 tonnes | 16,748 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 282.58 tonnes | 280 tonnes | 285.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 276.88 tonnes | 274.34 tonnes | 279.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 271.28 tonnes | 268.79 tonnes | 273.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 265.78 tonnes | 263.33 tonnes | 268.23 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 260.37 tonnes | 257.96 tonnes | 262.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 256.9 tonnes | 256.36 tonnes | 257.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 258.94 tonnes | 256.23 tonnes | 261.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 264.99 tonnes | 262.26 tonnes | 267.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 271.1 tonnes | 268.34 tonnes | 273.86 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 277.26 tonnes | 274.48 tonnes | 280.05 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 284.41 tonnes | 280.35 tonnes | 288.74 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 297.52 tonnes | 289.78 tonnes | 305.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 326.19 tonnes | 307.72 tonnes | 353.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 412.65 tonnes | 362.92 tonnes | 452.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 478.64 tonnes | 457.25 tonnes | 499.62 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 599.98 tonnes | 504.4 tonnes | 686.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 903.57 tonnes | 701.48 tonnes | 1,086 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1,399 tonnes | 1,126 tonnes | 1,705 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2,130 tonnes | 1,797 tonnes | 2,462 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2,772 tonnes | 2,537 tonnes | 2,988 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 13,912 tonnes | 8,949 tonnes | 17,231 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 17,347 tonnes | 15,529 tonnes | 19,318 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 26,387 tonnes | 22,789 tonnes | 28,354 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 26,578 tonnes | 21,172 tonnes | 31,020 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 41,784 tonnes | 30,042 tonnes | 65,474 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 71,766 tonnes | 61,096 tonnes | 91,372 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 115,216 tonnes | 97,567 tonnes | 124,673 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 126,857 tonnes | 118,738 tonnes | 132,088 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More environment data for Ghana
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -13.57 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -11.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.26 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.34 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.72 % 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 0.8796 % 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 Ghana?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Ghana was 132,088 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 132,088 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 256.23 tonnes in 1810.
- How does Ghana rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Ghana ranks 85th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.