Emissions of air pollutants in Japan
Japan: Emissions of air pollutants was 2.07 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.07 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
9th
of 220 countries
All-time high
7.43 million tonnes
in 1975
All-time low
3,144 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Japan, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Japan recorded 2.07 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Japan peaked at 7.43 million tonnes in 1975 and was at its lowest, 3,144 tonnes, in 1750.
Japan ranks 9th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 3,144 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 3,147 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 3,150 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 3,153 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 3,156 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 3,159 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 3,162 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 3,166 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 3,169 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 3,172 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 3,175 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 3,178 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 3,181 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 3,184 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 3,187 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 3,190 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 3,193 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 3,196 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 3,200 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 3,203 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 3,206 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 3,209 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 3,212 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 3,215 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 3,218 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 3,221 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 3,224 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 3,227 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 3,230 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 3,233 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 3,237 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 3,240 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 3,243 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 3,246 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 3,249 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 3,252 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 3,255 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 3,258 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 3,261 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 3,264 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 3,267 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 3,270 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 3,273 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 3,276 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 3,279 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 3,282 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 3,286 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 3,289 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 3,292 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 3,295 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 3,298 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 3,303 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 3,309 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 3,314 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 3,320 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 3,326 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 3,331 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 3,337 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 3,342 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 3,348 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 3,353 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 3,359 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1812 | 3,365 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1813 | 3,370 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1814 | 3,376 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1815 | 3,381 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1816 | 3,387 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1817 | 3,392 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1818 | 3,398 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1819 | 3,404 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1820 | 3,409 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 3,414 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1822 | 3,419 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1823 | 3,424 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 3,429 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 3,434 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 3,439 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 3,444 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 3,449 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 3,454 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 3,459 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 3,465 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1832 | 3,471 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1833 | 3,476 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1834 | 3,482 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1835 | 3,488 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1836 | 3,493 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1837 | 3,499 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1838 | 3,504 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1839 | 3,510 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1840 | 3,516 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1841 | 3,521 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1842 | 3,527 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1843 | 3,533 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1844 | 3,538 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1845 | 3,544 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1846 | 3,550 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1847 | 3,555 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1848 | 3,561 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1849 | 3,566 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1850 | 3,618 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1851 | 3,610 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1852 | 3,601 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1853 | 3,593 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1854 | 3,585 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1855 | 3,576 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1856 | 3,554 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1857 | 3,532 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1858 | 3,509 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1859 | 3,488 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1860 | 3,466 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1861 | 3,436 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1862 | 3,407 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1863 | 3,379 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1864 | 3,351 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1865 | 3,323 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1866 | 3,288 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1867 | 3,252 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1868 | 3,246 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1869 | 3,231 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1870 | 3,188 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1871 | 3,232 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 3,235 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 3,269 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1874 | 4,658 tonnes | +42.5% |
| 1875 | 6,889 tonnes | +47.9% |
| 1876 | 6,809 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1877 | 6,533 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1878 | 8,257 tonnes | +26.4% |
| 1879 | 9,645 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1880 | 9,680 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1881 | 9,610 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1882 | 10,245 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1883 | 10,830 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1884 | 11,277 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1885 | 12,290 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1886 | 13,208 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1887 | 15,342 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1888 | 17,482 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1889 | 20,644 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1890 | 22,240 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1891 | 25,605 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1892 | 25,260 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1893 | 27,226 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1894 | 33,782 tonnes | +24.1% |
| 1895 | 36,362 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1896 | 38,709 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1897 | 40,635 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1898 | 50,487 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 1899 | 50,321 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1900 | 57,056 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1901 | 67,756 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1902 | 72,983 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1903 | 74,432 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1904 | 85,356 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1905 | 86,805 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1906 | 95,607 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1907 | 103,071 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1908 | 110,379 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1909 | 111,403 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 111,193 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1911 | 125,575 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1912 | 139,514 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1913 | 155,322 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1914 | 169,131 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1915 | 157,858 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1916 | 173,218 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1917 | 196,474 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1918 | 205,693 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1919 | 225,137 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 211,392 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1921 | 191,293 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1922 | 203,607 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1923 | 215,003 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1924 | 224,341 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1925 | 232,188 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1926 | 233,858 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1927 | 252,614 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1928 | 257,584 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1929 | 264,945 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1930 | 243,046 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1931 | 221,864 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1932 | 220,569 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1933 | 254,518 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1934 | 283,222 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1935 | 298,636 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1936 | 326,618 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1937 | 348,518 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1938 | 364,384 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1939 | 352,254 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1940 | 417,466 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1941 | 418,045 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1942 | 400,574 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1943 | 408,192 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 377,141 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1945 | 216,621 tonnes | -42.6% |
| 1946 | 153,985 tonnes | -28.9% |
| 1947 | 198,459 tonnes | +28.9% |
| 1948 | 244,250 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 1949 | 270,991 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1950 | 311,331 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1951 | 399,307 tonnes | +28.3% |
| 1952 | 444,417 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1953 | 550,076 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1954 | 555,450 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 580,386 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1956 | 663,000 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1957 | 809,378 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1958 | 807,574 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 907,347 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1960 | 1.38 million tonnes | +52.1% |
| 1961 | 1.61 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1962 | 1.82 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1963 | 2.24 million tonnes | +23.1% |
| 1964 | 2.68 million tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1965 | 3.06 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1966 | 3.73 million tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1967 | 4.16 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1968 | 4.52 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1969 | 5.22 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1970 | 5.96 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1971 | 6.34 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 6.51 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 7.29 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1974 | 7.30 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 7.43 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 7.11 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1977 | 7.13 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 6.99 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 7.09 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 6.84 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 6.45 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 5.79 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1983 | 5.59 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 5.70 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 5.40 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 5.11 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 5.03 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 5.17 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 5.19 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 4.95 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1991 | 4.93 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 4.80 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 4.72 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 4.70 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 4.68 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 4.46 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 4.52 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 4.36 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 4.33 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 4.39 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 4.26 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 4.23 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 4.21 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 4.07 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 4.02 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 3.89 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 3.81 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 3.45 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 3.13 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 3.06 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 2.85 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2012 | 2.76 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 2.66 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 2.50 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 2.42 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 2.34 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 2.28 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 2.23 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 2.16 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 2.02 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 2.04 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 2.07 million tonnes | +1.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 2.07 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 22.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Japan's 2.07 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 20.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +52.1% | 907,347 tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes |
| 1875 | +47.9% | 4,658 tonnes | 6,889 tonnes |
| 1945 | -42.6% | 377,141 tonnes | 216,621 tonnes |
| 1874 | +42.5% | 3,269 tonnes | 4,658 tonnes |
| 1946 | -28.9% | 216,621 tonnes | 153,985 tonnes |
| 1947 | +28.9% | 153,985 tonnes | 198,459 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 3,158 tonnes | 3,144 tonnes | 3,172 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 3,189 tonnes | 3,175 tonnes | 3,203 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3,220 tonnes | 3,206 tonnes | 3,233 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 3,250 tonnes | 3,237 tonnes | 3,264 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 3,281 tonnes | 3,267 tonnes | 3,295 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 3,323 tonnes | 3,298 tonnes | 3,348 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 3,379 tonnes | 3,353 tonnes | 3,404 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 3,432 tonnes | 3,409 tonnes | 3,454 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 3,485 tonnes | 3,459 tonnes | 3,510 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 3,541 tonnes | 3,516 tonnes | 3,566 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 3,567 tonnes | 3,488 tonnes | 3,618 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 3,338 tonnes | 3,231 tonnes | 3,466 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 5,571 tonnes | 3,188 tonnes | 9,645 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 13,061 tonnes | 9,610 tonnes | 20,644 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 35,063 tonnes | 22,240 tonnes | 50,487 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 86,485 tonnes | 57,056 tonnes | 111,403 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 165,912 tonnes | 111,193 tonnes | 225,137 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 228,682 tonnes | 191,293 tonnes | 264,945 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 291,363 tonnes | 220,569 tonnes | 364,384 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 310,572 tonnes | 153,985 tonnes | 418,045 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 602,827 tonnes | 311,331 tonnes | 907,347 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.04 million tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes | 5.22 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.92 million tonnes | 5.96 million tonnes | 7.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.63 million tonnes | 5.03 million tonnes | 6.84 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.64 million tonnes | 4.33 million tonnes | 4.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.95 million tonnes | 3.13 million tonnes | 4.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.53 million tonnes | 2.16 million tonnes | 3.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.04 million tonnes | 2.02 million tonnes | 2.07 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 6 Singapore 4.03 million tonnes compare
- 7 Brazil 2.83 million tonnes compare
- 8 Saudi Arabia 2.69 million tonnes compare
- 10 United Arab Emirates 2.06 million tonnes compare
- 11 South Africa 1.86 million tonnes compare
- 12 Iran 1.74 million tonnes compare
More environment data for Japan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.8 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.358 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.86 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.8 % 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 -0.4957 % 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 Japan?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Japan was 2.07 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 7.43 million tonnes in 1975.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,144 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Japan rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Japan ranks 9th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.