Emissions of air pollutants in Greece
Greece: Emissions of air pollutants was 349,501 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
349,501 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
49th
of 220 countries
All-time high
784,343 tonnes
in 1998
All-time low
190.03 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Greece, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Greece recorded 349,501 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and down 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Greece peaked at 784,343 tonnes in 1998 and was at its lowest, 190.03 tonnes, in 1750.
Greece ranks 49th 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 Greece, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 190.03 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 190.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 191.16 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 191.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 192.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 192.86 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 193.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 193.98 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 194.54 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 195.1 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 195.66 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 196.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 196.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 197.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 197.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 198.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 198.99 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 199.54 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 200.09 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 200.65 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 201.19 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 201.74 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 202.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 202.84 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 203.38 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 203.92 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 204.47 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 205.01 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 205.55 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 206.09 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 206.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 207.17 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1782 | 207.71 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1783 | 208.24 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1784 | 208.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 209.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 209.84 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1787 | 210.38 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1788 | 210.91 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1789 | 211.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 211.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1791 | 212.5 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 213.03 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 213.55 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 214.08 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 214.6 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 215.13 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 215.65 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 216.17 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 216.69 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 217.21 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 217.92 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 218.62 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 219.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 220.03 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 220.74 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 221.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 222.15 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 222.85 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 223.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 224.26 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 224.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 225.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 226.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 227.09 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 227.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 228.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 229.21 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 229.92 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 230.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 231.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 233.59 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1822 | 235.84 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1823 | 238.1 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1824 | 240.35 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1825 | 242.61 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1826 | 244.86 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1827 | 247.12 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1828 | 249.38 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1829 | 251.63 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1830 | 253.89 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1831 | 256.36 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1832 | 258.83 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1833 | 261.3 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1834 | 263.77 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1835 | 266.25 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1836 | 268.71 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1837 | 271.19 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1838 | 273.66 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1839 | 276.14 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1840 | 278.61 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1841 | 281.33 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1842 | 284.05 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1843 | 286.76 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1844 | 289.48 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1845 | 292.2 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1846 | 294.92 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1847 | 297.64 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1848 | 300.36 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1849 | 303.08 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1850 | 306.36 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1851 | 309.59 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1852 | 312.83 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1853 | 316.12 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1854 | 319.4 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1855 | 322.69 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1856 | 326.04 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1857 | 329.44 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1858 | 332.7 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 336.25 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1860 | 339.65 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1861 | 343.64 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1862 | 347.63 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1863 | 351.69 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1864 | 355.7 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1865 | 359.77 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1866 | 363.93 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1867 | 823.56 tonnes | +126.3% |
| 1868 | 600.07 tonnes | -27.1% |
| 1869 | 901.16 tonnes | +50.2% |
| 1870 | 925.36 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1871 | 1,188 tonnes | +28.4% |
| 1872 | 867.14 tonnes | -27.0% |
| 1873 | 922.21 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1874 | 809.01 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1875 | 854.22 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1876 | 414.53 tonnes | -51.5% |
| 1877 | 420.39 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1878 | 426.25 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1879 | 442.05 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1880 | 438.04 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1881 | 444.28 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 450.58 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1883 | 466.76 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1884 | 463.18 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1885 | 469.49 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1886 | 476.02 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1887 | 482.59 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1888 | 501.95 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1889 | 501.56 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1890 | 511.1 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1891 | 521.14 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1892 | 1,531 tonnes | +193.8% |
| 1893 | 1,423 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1894 | 1,453 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1895 | 1,404 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1896 | 1,583 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1897 | 1,564 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1898 | 1,842 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1899 | 1,259 tonnes | -31.7% |
| 1900 | 1,745 tonnes | +38.6% |
| 1901 | 1,892 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1902 | 1,809 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1903 | 2,133 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1904 | 2,155 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1905 | 2,088 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1906 | 2,191 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1907 | 2,808 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 1908 | 3,795 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1909 | 3,493 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1910 | 4,099 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1911 | 4,771 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1912 | 2,395 tonnes | -49.8% |
| 1913 | 6,261 tonnes | +161.4% |
| 1914 | 2,736 tonnes | -56.3% |
| 1915 | 2,923 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1916 | 3,197 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1917 | 3,417 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1918 | 3,651 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1919 | 3,757 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1920 | 5,203 tonnes | +38.5% |
| 1921 | 5,632 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1922 | 5,729 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1923 | 6,660 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1924 | 7,926 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1925 | 11,619 tonnes | +46.6% |
| 1926 | 11,699 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1927 | 13,815 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1928 | 14,341 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1929 | 16,000 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1930 | 16,919 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1931 | 16,885 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1932 | 17,335 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1933 | 16,459 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1934 | 18,897 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1935 | 20,137 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1936 | 22,487 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1937 | 24,147 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1938 | 17,094 tonnes | -29.2% |
| 1939 | 7,489 tonnes | -56.2% |
| 1940 | 7,903 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1941 | 7,949 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1942 | 8,334 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1943 | 8,400 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1944 | 8,141 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1945 | 7,983 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1946 | 8,218 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1947 | 8,356 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 14,815 tonnes | +77.3% |
| 1949 | 16,279 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1950 | 37,554 tonnes | +130.7% |
| 1951 | 40,035 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1952 | 42,759 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1953 | 42,024 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1954 | 42,278 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 47,619 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1956 | 49,814 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 52,397 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1958 | 56,244 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1959 | 58,735 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1960 | 110,436 tonnes | +88.0% |
| 1961 | 139,554 tonnes | +26.4% |
| 1962 | 162,790 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1963 | 181,557 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1964 | 173,599 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 189,159 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1966 | 185,503 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1967 | 200,874 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1968 | 181,298 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1969 | 189,858 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1970 | 194,016 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 213,373 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 259,282 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1973 | 289,269 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1974 | 251,580 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1975 | 276,956 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1976 | 339,818 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1977 | 344,774 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 370,643 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1979 | 386,690 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 379,917 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 396,949 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 380,610 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 399,920 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 416,103 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 457,111 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 518,610 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1987 | 552,374 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 596,343 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 610,324 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 646,001 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 623,313 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 661,636 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1993 | 699,377 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 727,070 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 729,280 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 695,022 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 712,945 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 784,343 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 746,584 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2000 | 768,161 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 781,542 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 736,540 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 752,863 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 747,324 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 722,042 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 738,652 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 741,634 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 699,801 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 642,450 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 576,018 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 2011 | 532,005 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 445,746 tonnes | -16.2% |
| 2013 | 417,180 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 390,597 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 383,420 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 374,941 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 416,242 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 412,075 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 431,632 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 321,459 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 2021 | 341,673 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 349,501 tonnes | +2.3% |
Greece compared with similar countries
- Greece's 349,501 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 3.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Greece's 349,501 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 3.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Greece 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1892 | +193.8% | 521.14 tonnes | 1,531 tonnes |
| 1913 | +161.4% | 2,395 tonnes | 6,261 tonnes |
| 1950 | +130.7% | 16,279 tonnes | 37,554 tonnes |
| 1867 | +126.3% | 363.93 tonnes | 823.56 tonnes |
| 1960 | +88.0% | 58,735 tonnes | 110,436 tonnes |
| 1948 | +77.3% | 8,356 tonnes | 14,815 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 192.57 tonnes | 190.03 tonnes | 195.1 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 198.16 tonnes | 195.66 tonnes | 200.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 203.65 tonnes | 201.19 tonnes | 206.09 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 209.04 tonnes | 206.63 tonnes | 211.44 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 214.34 tonnes | 211.97 tonnes | 216.69 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 220.38 tonnes | 217.21 tonnes | 223.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 227.45 tonnes | 224.26 tonnes | 230.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 241.48 tonnes | 231.34 tonnes | 251.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 265.01 tonnes | 253.89 tonnes | 276.14 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 290.84 tonnes | 278.61 tonnes | 303.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 321.14 tonnes | 306.36 tonnes | 336.25 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 478.68 tonnes | 339.65 tonnes | 901.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 726.94 tonnes | 414.53 tonnes | 1,188 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 469.44 tonnes | 438.04 tonnes | 501.95 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,309 tonnes | 511.1 tonnes | 1,842 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 2,411 tonnes | 1,745 tonnes | 3,795 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 3,721 tonnes | 2,395 tonnes | 6,261 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 9,863 tonnes | 5,203 tonnes | 16,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 17,785 tonnes | 7,489 tonnes | 24,147 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 9,638 tonnes | 7,903 tonnes | 16,279 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 46,946 tonnes | 37,554 tonnes | 58,735 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 171,463 tonnes | 110,436 tonnes | 200,874 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 292,640 tonnes | 194,016 tonnes | 386,690 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 470,826 tonnes | 379,917 tonnes | 610,324 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 702,557 tonnes | 623,313 tonnes | 784,343 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 733,101 tonnes | 642,450 tonnes | 781,542 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 437,986 tonnes | 374,941 tonnes | 576,018 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 337,544 tonnes | 321,459 tonnes | 349,501 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Greece
More environment data for Greece
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.43 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.43 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.95 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.28 % 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 -1.16 % 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 Greece?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Greece was 349,501 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 Greece?
- The highest recorded value was 784,343 tonnes in 1998.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Greece?
- The lowest recorded value was 190.03 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Greece rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Greece ranks 49th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Greece?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Greece 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.