Emissions of air pollutants in India
India: Emissions of air pollutants was 9.56 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
9.56 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
2nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
10.05 million tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
30,488 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in India, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
India recorded 9.56 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in India peaked at 10.05 million tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 30,488 tonnes, in 1750.
India ranks 2nd of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in India, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 30,488 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 30,548 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 30,608 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 30,668 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 30,728 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 30,787 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 30,847 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 30,907 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 30,966 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 31,026 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 31,086 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 31,147 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 31,207 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 31,268 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 31,329 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 31,390 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 31,450 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 31,511 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 31,571 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 31,632 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 31,693 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 31,754 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 31,816 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 31,878 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 31,939 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 32,001 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 32,062 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 32,124 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 32,186 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 32,247 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 32,309 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 32,371 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 32,434 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 32,496 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 32,559 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 32,621 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 32,684 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 32,746 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 32,808 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 32,871 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 32,933 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 32,997 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 33,060 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 33,124 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 33,187 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 33,250 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 33,314 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 33,377 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 33,440 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 33,504 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 33,567 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 33,676 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 33,785 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 33,895 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 34,004 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 34,114 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 34,224 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 34,334 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 34,444 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 34,555 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 34,665 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 34,777 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 34,889 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 35,001 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 35,114 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 35,226 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 35,338 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 35,451 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 35,564 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 35,677 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 35,790 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 35,932 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1822 | 36,074 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1823 | 36,216 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 36,358 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1825 | 36,501 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 36,643 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1827 | 36,786 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1828 | 36,930 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1829 | 37,073 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 37,217 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1831 | 37,436 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 37,656 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 37,876 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 38,097 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 38,318 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 38,539 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 38,761 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 38,983 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 39,206 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 39,429 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 39,660 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1842 | 39,892 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1843 | 40,124 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1844 | 40,357 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1845 | 40,589 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1846 | 40,822 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 41,056 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1848 | 41,290 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1849 | 41,525 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1850 | 41,859 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 42,092 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1852 | 42,326 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1853 | 42,560 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1854 | 42,796 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1855 | 43,031 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1856 | 43,269 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1857 | 43,508 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1858 | 44,832 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1859 | 45,739 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1860 | 45,998 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1861 | 45,920 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1862 | 46,389 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1863 | 46,879 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 47,114 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1865 | 47,415 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 47,946 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1867 | 46,518 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1868 | 46,850 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 47,184 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 48,124 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1871 | 48,404 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1872 | 48,684 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1873 | 48,965 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1874 | 49,247 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1875 | 49,528 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1876 | 49,813 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1877 | 50,099 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 55,248 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1879 | 55,932 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1880 | 57,090 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1881 | 57,500 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 60,229 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1883 | 60,901 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 63,598 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1885 | 62,735 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1886 | 65,590 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1887 | 67,037 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1888 | 69,505 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1889 | 73,615 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1890 | 75,687 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1891 | 77,270 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1892 | 79,631 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1893 | 82,561 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1894 | 79,858 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1895 | 85,136 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1896 | 87,373 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1897 | 91,593 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1898 | 93,883 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1899 | 97,450 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1900 | 103,716 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1901 | 112,904 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1902 | 119,448 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1903 | 125,658 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1904 | 137,478 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1905 | 142,208 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1906 | 154,318 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1907 | 161,635 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1908 | 175,897 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1909 | 184,079 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1910 | 175,892 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1911 | 183,028 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1912 | 198,187 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1913 | 211,749 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1914 | 212,418 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1915 | 221,986 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1916 | 226,905 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1917 | 231,649 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1918 | 245,349 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1919 | 261,032 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1920 | 242,566 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1921 | 253,298 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1922 | 251,117 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1923 | 253,605 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1924 | 260,633 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1925 | 259,961 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1926 | 261,199 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1927 | 271,003 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1928 | 234,317 tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1929 | 242,116 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1930 | 246,339 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1931 | 241,029 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1932 | 236,345 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1933 | 235,961 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1934 | 248,741 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1935 | 255,010 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1936 | 255,159 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1937 | 269,882 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1938 | 288,661 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1939 | 289,110 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1940 | 301,286 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1941 | 309,206 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1942 | 315,270 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1943 | 305,435 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1944 | 315,170 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1945 | 332,962 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1946 | 335,624 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1947 | 317,433 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1948 | 321,952 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1949 | 334,177 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 417,026 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1951 | 439,274 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1952 | 452,701 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 464,805 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1954 | 500,340 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1955 | 556,203 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1956 | 577,212 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1957 | 623,751 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1958 | 645,920 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 675,861 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1960 | 712,090 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1961 | 751,467 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1962 | 816,023 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1963 | 863,431 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1964 | 866,152 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 931,687 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1966 | 994,980 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 992,520 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 1.11 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1969 | 1.13 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 1.20 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1971 | 1.29 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1972 | 1.34 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 1.39 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 1.51 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1975 | 1.58 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 1.67 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 1.73 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 1.73 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 1.89 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1980 | 2.00 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 2.11 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 2.12 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 2.27 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1984 | 2.42 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 2.53 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 2.73 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 2.95 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1988 | 3.14 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 3.37 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 3.54 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 3.76 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 3.95 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 4.17 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 4.40 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 4.80 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 5.02 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 5.12 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 5.22 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 5.47 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 5.56 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 5.59 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 5.64 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5.72 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 6.11 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 6.31 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 6.54 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 7.11 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 7.59 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 8.02 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 8.33 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 8.61 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 9.01 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 9.05 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 9.47 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 9.64 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 9.53 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 9.87 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 10.05 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 9.69 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 8.74 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2021 | 9.24 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 9.56 million tonnes | +3.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 9.56 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 129.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 9.56 million tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 270,525 tonnes, 35.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 30,757 tonnes | 30,488 tonnes | 31,026 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 31,359 tonnes | 31,086 tonnes | 31,632 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 31,970 tonnes | 31,693 tonnes | 32,247 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 32,590 tonnes | 32,309 tonnes | 32,871 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 33,219 tonnes | 32,933 tonnes | 33,504 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 34,060 tonnes | 33,567 tonnes | 34,555 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 35,170 tonnes | 34,665 tonnes | 35,677 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 36,430 tonnes | 35,790 tonnes | 37,073 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 38,209 tonnes | 37,217 tonnes | 39,206 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 40,474 tonnes | 39,429 tonnes | 41,525 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 43,201 tonnes | 41,859 tonnes | 45,739 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 46,821 tonnes | 45,920 tonnes | 47,946 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 50,404 tonnes | 48,124 tonnes | 55,932 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 63,780 tonnes | 57,090 tonnes | 73,615 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 85,044 tonnes | 75,687 tonnes | 97,450 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 141,734 tonnes | 103,716 tonnes | 184,079 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 216,820 tonnes | 175,892 tonnes | 261,032 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 252,982 tonnes | 234,317 tonnes | 271,003 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 256,624 tonnes | 235,961 tonnes | 289,110 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 318,852 tonnes | 301,286 tonnes | 335,624 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 535,309 tonnes | 417,026 tonnes | 675,861 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 916,624 tonnes | 712,090 tonnes | 1.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.53 million tonnes | 1.20 million tonnes | 1.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.56 million tonnes | 2.00 million tonnes | 3.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.54 million tonnes | 3.54 million tonnes | 5.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.42 million tonnes | 5.56 million tonnes | 8.02 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.32 million tonnes | 8.33 million tonnes | 10.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.18 million tonnes | 8.74 million tonnes | 9.56 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near India
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.92 % 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 1.12 % 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 India?
- Emissions of air pollutants in India was 9.56 million 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 10.05 million tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 30,488 tonnes in 1750.
- How does India rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- India ranks 2nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.