Emissions of air pollutants in Iraq
Iraq: Emissions of air pollutants was 858,061 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
858,061 tonnes
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
30th
of 220 countries
All-time high
975,788 tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
239.13 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Iraq, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in Iraq stood at 858,061 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.0% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Iraq peaked at 975,788 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 239.13 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Iraq 30th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 239.13 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 239.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 240.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 241.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 242.47 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 243.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 244.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 244.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 245.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 246.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 247.47 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 248.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 249.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 250.04 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 250.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 251.76 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 252.62 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 253.47 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 254.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 255.19 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 256.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 256.93 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 257.81 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 258.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 259.58 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 260.46 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 261.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 262.23 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 263.11 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 263.99 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 264.87 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 265.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1782 | 266.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1783 | 267.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1784 | 268.51 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 269.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 270.32 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1787 | 271.23 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1788 | 272.14 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1789 | 273.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 273.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1791 | 274.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1792 | 275.82 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1793 | 276.76 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1794 | 277.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1795 | 278.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1796 | 279.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1797 | 280.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1798 | 281.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1799 | 282.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1800 | 283.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1801 | 284.68 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 286.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 287.46 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 288.85 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 290.24 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 291.64 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 293.03 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 294.44 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 295.85 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 297.26 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 299.21 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1812 | 301.16 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1813 | 303.12 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1814 | 305.08 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1815 | 307.05 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1816 | 309.01 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1817 | 310.99 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1818 | 312.97 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1819 | 314.96 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1820 | 316.96 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1821 | 319.04 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 321.12 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1823 | 323.21 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1824 | 325.3 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 327.4 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 329.49 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 331.61 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 333.72 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 335.85 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 337.97 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 340.19 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1832 | 342.41 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1833 | 344.64 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1834 | 346.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 349.11 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 351.34 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 353.59 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 355.85 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 358.11 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 360.38 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 362.75 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 365.11 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1843 | 367.49 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1844 | 369.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1845 | 372.24 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1846 | 374.64 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 377.04 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1848 | 379.44 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1849 | 381.86 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1850 | 385.06 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 388.05 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1852 | 391.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 393.99 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 396.94 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 399.87 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 402.85 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 405.81 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 408.76 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 411.7 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 414.63 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 421.47 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1862 | 428.33 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1863 | 435.25 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1864 | 442.19 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1865 | 449.16 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1866 | 456.24 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1867 | 463.35 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1868 | 470.47 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1869 | 477.65 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1870 | 484.86 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1871 | 493.75 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1872 | 502.66 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1873 | 511.59 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1874 | 520.55 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1875 | 529.51 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1876 | 538.72 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1877 | 547.95 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1878 | 557.18 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1879 | 566.44 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1880 | 575.72 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1881 | 585.97 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1882 | 596.27 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1883 | 606.58 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1884 | 616.89 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1885 | 627.24 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1886 | 637.83 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1887 | 648.43 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1888 | 659.08 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1889 | 669.75 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1890 | 680.44 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1891 | 692.28 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1892 | 704.16 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1893 | 716.05 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1894 | 727.94 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1895 | 739.86 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1896 | 752.07 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1897 | 764.25 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1898 | 776.48 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1899 | 788.71 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1900 | 800.92 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1901 | 823.65 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1902 | 846.36 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1903 | 869.02 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1904 | 891.6 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1905 | 914.13 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1906 | 936.97 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1907 | 959.69 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1908 | 982.32 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1909 | 1,005 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1910 | 1,027 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1911 | 1,049 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1912 | 1,071 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1913 | 1,093 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1914 | 1,114 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 1,136 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1916 | 1,158 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1917 | 1,180 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 1,202 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1919 | 1,224 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1920 | 1,246 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1921 | 1,258 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1922 | 1,270 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1923 | 1,279 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1924 | 1,289 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1925 | 1,329 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1926 | 1,360 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1927 | 2,381 tonnes | +75.1% |
| 1928 | 3,467 tonnes | +45.7% |
| 1929 | 4,040 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1930 | 4,031 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1931 | 4,028 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1932 | 4,097 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1933 | 3,956 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1934 | 21,272 tonnes | +437.7% |
| 1935 | 40,830 tonnes | +91.9% |
| 1936 | 41,214 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1937 | 44,138 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1938 | 41,800 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1939 | 83,328 tonnes | +99.4% |
| 1940 | 53,128 tonnes | -36.2% |
| 1941 | 33,725 tonnes | -36.5% |
| 1942 | 54,585 tonnes | +61.9% |
| 1943 | 74,262 tonnes | +36.0% |
| 1944 | 85,993 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1945 | 94,653 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1946 | 96,513 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1947 | 97,403 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1948 | 53,667 tonnes | -44.9% |
| 1949 | 52,124 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1950 | 50,782 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1951 | 48,422 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1952 | 46,196 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1953 | 44,117 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1954 | 41,391 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1955 | 41,618 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1956 | 39,426 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1957 | 35,340 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1958 | 40,001 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1959 | 43,310 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1960 | 47,939 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1961 | 48,786 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 49,713 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 51,450 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1964 | 49,440 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 52,031 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 82,803 tonnes | +59.1% |
| 1967 | 44,177 tonnes | -46.6% |
| 1968 | 55,749 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1969 | 60,744 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1970 | 66,615 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1971 | 70,804 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 76,760 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 81,186 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 87,523 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1975 | 104,938 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1976 | 128,766 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1977 | 135,411 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 151,371 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1979 | 177,520 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1980 | 179,118 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 173,776 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 195,160 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1983 | 213,230 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1984 | 230,937 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1985 | 257,461 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1986 | 270,188 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 289,116 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 307,074 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 337,412 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1990 | 335,969 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 276,059 tonnes | -17.8% |
| 1992 | 394,061 tonnes | +42.7% |
| 1993 | 487,361 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1994 | 526,486 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 509,423 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 502,241 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 573,044 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1998 | 442,048 tonnes | -22.9% |
| 1999 | 361,615 tonnes | -18.2% |
| 2000 | 400,782 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2001 | 453,721 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 425,745 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 364,915 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2004 | 421,326 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 2005 | 393,039 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 352,032 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 321,178 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 363,240 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 2009 | 489,520 tonnes | +34.8% |
| 2010 | 548,186 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2011 | 565,808 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 652,686 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 2013 | 715,740 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 774,678 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 768,627 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 833,295 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2017 | 880,737 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 906,749 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 975,788 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 821,948 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 2021 | 809,234 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 858,061 tonnes | +6.0% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 858,061 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 8.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 858,061 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040 tonnes, 3.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | +437.7% | 3,956 tonnes | 21,272 tonnes |
| 1939 | +99.4% | 41,800 tonnes | 83,328 tonnes |
| 1935 | +91.9% | 21,272 tonnes | 40,830 tonnes |
| 1927 | +75.1% | 1,360 tonnes | 2,381 tonnes |
| 1942 | +61.9% | 33,725 tonnes | 54,585 tonnes |
| 1966 | +59.1% | 52,031 tonnes | 82,803 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 242.88 tonnes | 239.13 tonnes | 246.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 251.33 tonnes | 247.47 tonnes | 255.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 260.02 tonnes | 256.05 tonnes | 263.99 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 268.96 tonnes | 264.87 tonnes | 273.05 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 278.16 tonnes | 273.95 tonnes | 282.37 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 289.56 tonnes | 283.3 tonnes | 295.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 306.08 tonnes | 297.26 tonnes | 314.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 326.37 tonnes | 316.96 tonnes | 335.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 348.01 tonnes | 337.97 tonnes | 358.11 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 371.08 tonnes | 360.38 tonnes | 381.86 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 398.41 tonnes | 385.06 tonnes | 411.7 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 445.87 tonnes | 414.63 tonnes | 477.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 525.32 tonnes | 484.86 tonnes | 566.44 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 622.37 tonnes | 575.72 tonnes | 669.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 734.22 tonnes | 680.44 tonnes | 788.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 902.95 tonnes | 800.92 tonnes | 1,005 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1,126 tonnes | 1,027 tonnes | 1,224 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1,892 tonnes | 1,246 tonnes | 4,040 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 28,869 tonnes | 3,956 tonnes | 83,328 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 69,605 tonnes | 33,725 tonnes | 97,403 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 43,060 tonnes | 35,340 tonnes | 50,782 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 54,283 tonnes | 44,177 tonnes | 82,803 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 108,089 tonnes | 66,615 tonnes | 177,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 245,347 tonnes | 173,776 tonnes | 337,412 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 440,831 tonnes | 276,059 tonnes | 573,044 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 398,550 tonnes | 321,178 tonnes | 489,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 762,229 tonnes | 548,186 tonnes | 975,788 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 829,748 tonnes | 809,234 tonnes | 858,061 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % 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 Iraq?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Iraq was 858,061 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 975,788 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 239.13 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Iraq rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Iraq ranks 30th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.