Emissions of air pollutants in Jamaica
Jamaica: Emissions of air pollutants was 79,290 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
79,290 tonnes
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
106th
of 220 countries
All-time high
110,352 tonnes
in 2003
All-time low
62.99 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Jamaica, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Jamaica is 79,290 tonnes, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 33.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Jamaica peaked at 110,352 tonnes in 2003 and was at its lowest, 62.99 tonnes, in 1750.
Jamaica ranks 106th of 220 countries on this measure, 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 62.99 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 63.5 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1752 | 64.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1753 | 64.51 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1754 | 65.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1755 | 65.53 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1756 | 66.04 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1757 | 66.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1758 | 67.06 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1759 | 67.57 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1760 | 68.07 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1761 | 68.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1762 | 69.17 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1763 | 69.72 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1764 | 70.27 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1765 | 70.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1766 | 71.37 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1767 | 71.92 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1768 | 72.47 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1769 | 73.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1770 | 73.56 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1771 | 74.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1772 | 74.75 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1773 | 75.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1774 | 75.94 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1775 | 76.53 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1776 | 77.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1777 | 77.71 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1778 | 78.3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1779 | 78.9 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1780 | 79.49 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1781 | 80.13 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1782 | 80.77 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1783 | 81.41 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1784 | 82.05 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1785 | 82.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1786 | 83.32 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1787 | 83.96 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1788 | 84.6 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1789 | 85.24 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1790 | 85.88 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1791 | 86.57 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1792 | 87.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1793 | 87.95 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1794 | 88.64 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1795 | 89.33 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1796 | 90.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1797 | 90.7 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1798 | 91.39 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1799 | 92.08 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1800 | 92.77 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1801 | 93.6 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1802 | 94.43 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1803 | 95.26 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1804 | 96.09 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1805 | 96.92 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1806 | 97.76 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1807 | 98.59 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1808 | 99.43 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1809 | 100.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1810 | 101.1 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1811 | 101.45 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 101.79 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 102.14 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 102.48 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 102.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 103.17 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 103.52 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 103.87 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 104.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 104.57 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 104.92 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 105.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 105.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 105.98 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 106.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 106.7 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 107.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 107.41 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 107.77 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 108.12 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 108.49 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 108.85 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 109.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 109.58 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 109.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 110.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 110.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 111.04 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 111.41 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 111.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 112.15 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 112.52 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 112.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 113.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 113.64 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 114.02 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 114.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 114.77 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 115.15 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 120.46 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1851 | 117.48 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1852 | 114.71 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1853 | 112.51 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1854 | 110.31 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1855 | 108.11 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1856 | 110.23 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1857 | 112.37 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1858 | 114.53 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1859 | 116.71 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1860 | 118.92 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1861 | 120.14 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1862 | 121.34 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1863 | 122.56 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 123.82 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 124.58 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 125.72 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1867 | 126.88 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1868 | 128.04 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1869 | 128.98 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 129.93 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 130.59 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1872 | 131.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 131.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 132.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 132.8 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1876 | 136.07 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1877 | 139.36 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1878 | 142.56 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1879 | 145.78 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1880 | 149 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1881 | 149.19 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 150.35 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 151.06 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1884 | 151.25 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 151.23 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1886 | 150.04 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1887 | 149.17 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1888 | 148.23 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1889 | 147.53 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1890 | 148.21 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1891 | 151.58 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1892 | 155.27 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1893 | 159.12 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1894 | 162.91 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1895 | 166.63 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1896 | 169.22 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1897 | 171.83 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1898 | 174.52 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1899 | 177.3 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1900 | 178.27 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 184.3 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1902 | 190.46 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1903 | 196.59 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1904 | 202.9 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1905 | 209.27 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 220.53 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1907 | 231.97 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1908 | 243.62 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1909 | 255.46 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1910 | 267.48 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1911 | 271.85 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1912 | 276.09 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 280.41 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1914 | 283.9 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 287.2 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 302.24 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1917 | 317.38 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1918 | 332.88 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1919 | 348.47 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 364.41 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1921 | 385.9 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1922 | 409.98 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1923 | 433.83 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1924 | 457.11 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1925 | 485.35 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1926 | 497.19 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 506.92 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1928 | 516.66 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1929 | 526.01 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1930 | 534.46 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1931 | 572.9 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1932 | 609.39 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1933 | 646.48 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1934 | 683.15 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1935 | 720.25 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1936 | 775.86 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1937 | 849.75 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1938 | 923.89 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1939 | 997.92 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1940 | 1,069 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1941 | 1,108 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1942 | 1,146 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1943 | 1,181 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1944 | 1,218 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1945 | 1,255 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1946 | 1,350 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1947 | 1,443 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1948 | 1,532 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1949 | 1,621 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1950 | 4,352 tonnes | +168.4% |
| 1951 | 6,880 tonnes | +58.1% |
| 1952 | 7,206 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1953 | 7,531 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1954 | 9,184 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1955 | 10,827 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1956 | 13,065 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1957 | 16,005 tonnes | +22.5% |
| 1958 | 13,299 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1959 | 16,917 tonnes | +27.2% |
| 1960 | 13,399 tonnes | -20.8% |
| 1961 | 17,896 tonnes | +33.6% |
| 1962 | 17,054 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1963 | 18,259 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1964 | 28,403 tonnes | +55.6% |
| 1965 | 20,435 tonnes | -28.1% |
| 1966 | 23,284 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1967 | 25,061 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1968 | 24,561 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1969 | 26,434 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1970 | 30,080 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1971 | 54,788 tonnes | +82.1% |
| 1972 | 54,496 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 58,883 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1974 | 56,670 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 51,449 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1976 | 48,378 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 43,554 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1978 | 41,497 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 42,455 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 39,245 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1981 | 40,497 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 37,767 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1983 | 40,178 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 35,537 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1985 | 43,035 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1986 | 40,749 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 43,060 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 44,120 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 52,828 tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 48,885 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 49,692 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 67,914 tonnes | +36.7% |
| 1993 | 80,717 tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1994 | 76,876 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1995 | 93,829 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1996 | 96,384 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 101,713 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 104,205 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 106,165 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 105,273 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 104,736 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 107,498 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 110,352 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 94,300 tonnes | -14.5% |
| 2005 | 94,342 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 93,931 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 92,981 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 85,840 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 69,392 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 2010 | 64,200 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 66,452 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 59,517 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2013 | 74,788 tonnes | +25.7% |
| 2014 | 73,642 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 78,860 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 82,512 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 83,646 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 85,974 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 94,285 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 76,961 tonnes | -18.4% |
| 2021 | 80,254 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 79,290 tonnes | -1.2% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 79,290 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 76% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 79,290 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 54,155 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Jamaica 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 | +168.4% | 1,621 tonnes | 4,352 tonnes |
| 1971 | +82.1% | 30,080 tonnes | 54,788 tonnes |
| 1951 | +58.1% | 4,352 tonnes | 6,880 tonnes |
| 1964 | +55.6% | 18,259 tonnes | 28,403 tonnes |
| 1992 | +36.7% | 49,692 tonnes | 67,914 tonnes |
| 1961 | +33.6% | 13,399 tonnes | 17,896 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 65.28 tonnes | 62.99 tonnes | 67.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 70.55 tonnes | 68.07 tonnes | 73.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 76.23 tonnes | 73.56 tonnes | 78.9 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 82.37 tonnes | 79.49 tonnes | 85.24 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 88.98 tonnes | 85.88 tonnes | 92.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 96.51 tonnes | 92.77 tonnes | 100.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 102.66 tonnes | 101.1 tonnes | 104.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 106.16 tonnes | 104.57 tonnes | 107.77 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 109.76 tonnes | 108.12 tonnes | 111.41 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 113.46 tonnes | 111.78 tonnes | 115.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 113.74 tonnes | 108.11 tonnes | 120.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 124.1 tonnes | 118.92 tonnes | 128.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 135.22 tonnes | 129.93 tonnes | 145.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 149.7 tonnes | 147.53 tonnes | 151.25 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 163.66 tonnes | 148.21 tonnes | 177.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 211.34 tonnes | 178.27 tonnes | 255.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 296.79 tonnes | 267.48 tonnes | 348.47 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 458.34 tonnes | 364.41 tonnes | 526.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 731.41 tonnes | 534.46 tonnes | 997.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,292 tonnes | 1,069 tonnes | 1,621 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 10,527 tonnes | 4,352 tonnes | 16,917 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 21,479 tonnes | 13,399 tonnes | 28,403 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 48,225 tonnes | 30,080 tonnes | 58,883 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 41,702 tonnes | 35,537 tonnes | 52,828 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 82,638 tonnes | 48,885 tonnes | 106,165 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 95,865 tonnes | 69,392 tonnes | 110,352 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 76,388 tonnes | 59,517 tonnes | 94,285 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 78,835 tonnes | 76,961 tonnes | 80,254 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 103 Uruguay 83,677 tonnes compare
- 104 Democratic Republic of Congo 82,418 tonnes compare
- 105 Cote d'Ivoire 80,310 tonnes compare
- 107 Costa Rica 79,121 tonnes compare
- 108 Madagascar 77,423 tonnes compare
- 109 Zimbabwe 74,017 tonnes compare
More environment data for Jamaica
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.284 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.76 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.23 % 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 -0.7158 % 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 Jamaica?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Jamaica was 79,290 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 110,352 tonnes in 2003.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.99 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Jamaica rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Jamaica ranks 106th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.