Emissions of air pollutants in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Emissions of air pollutants was 928,518 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
928,518 tonnes
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
27th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.24 million tonnes
in 1991
All-time low
571.39 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Kazakhstan, 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 Kazakhstan stood at 928,518 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Kazakhstan peaked at 1.24 million tonnes in 1991 and was at its lowest, 571.39 tonnes, in 1750.
Kazakhstan ranks 27th 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 Kazakhstan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 571.39 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 573.5 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 575.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 577.74 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 579.85 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 581.97 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 584.09 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 586.2 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 588.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 590.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 592.55 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 594.75 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 596.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 599.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 601.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 603.52 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 605.72 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 607.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 610.11 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 612.3 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 614.5 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 616.77 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 619.05 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 621.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 623.6 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 625.88 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 628.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 630.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 632.7 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 634.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 640.89 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1781 | 643.12 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1782 | 645.57 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 648.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 650.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 652.86 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 655.41 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 657.83 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 660.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 662.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 665.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 667.75 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 669.66 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1793 | 672.52 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 674.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1795 | 677.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 679.47 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1797 | 682.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 684.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 687.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 690.41 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 694.98 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 699.12 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1803 | 703.27 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1804 | 707.89 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1805 | 711.94 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1806 | 716.26 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1807 | 720.6 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1808 | 725.08 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1809 | 729.57 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1810 | 733.98 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1811 | 736.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 739.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 741.88 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 744.46 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 747.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 750.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 753.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 755.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 758.75 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 761.67 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 765.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 767.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 770.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 773.19 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 776.58 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 779.37 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1827 | 783.03 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1828 | 785.72 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 788.88 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 795.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 798.84 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1832 | 799.72 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 802.8 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1834 | 802.57 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1835 | 805.65 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 808.66 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1837 | 811.8 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 814.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 817.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 820.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 823.12 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 826.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1843 | 829.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 832.12 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 835.1 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1846 | 838.75 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1847 | 841.24 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 844.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1849 | 847.08 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 868.95 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1851 | 853.43 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1852 | 856.59 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 860.09 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 862.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 917.71 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1856 | 869.46 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1857 | 871.53 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1858 | 946.63 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1859 | 953.83 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 980.1 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1861 | 1,019 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1862 | 1,018 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1863 | 1,035 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1864 | 1,062 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1865 | 1,068 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 1,344 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1867 | 1,412 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1868 | 1,349 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1869 | 1,492 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1870 | 1,548 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1871 | 1,781 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1872 | 1,844 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1873 | 1,833 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1874 | 2,027 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1875 | 2,197 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1876 | 2,478 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1877 | 2,530 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1878 | 2,980 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1879 | 3,057 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1880 | 3,415 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1881 | 3,521 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1882 | 3,666 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1883 | 4,020 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1884 | 4,006 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1885 | 4,215 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1886 | 4,319 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1887 | 4,438 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1888 | 4,611 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1889 | 4,966 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1890 | 5,422 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1891 | 5,884 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1892 | 6,320 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1893 | 7,251 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1894 | 7,664 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1895 | 8,468 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1896 | 8,831 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1897 | 10,083 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1898 | 11,230 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1899 | 13,034 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1900 | 14,598 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1901 | 14,894 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1902 | 14,763 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1903 | 14,928 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1904 | 16,633 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1905 | 15,850 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1906 | 17,865 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1907 | 20,001 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1908 | 20,446 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1909 | 21,648 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1910 | 21,538 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1911 | 23,470 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1912 | 27,400 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1913 | 30,908 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1914 | 29,317 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1915 | 28,041 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1916 | 30,648 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1917 | 30,050 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1918 | 17,062 tonnes | -43.2% |
| 1919 | 15,827 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1920 | 15,884 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1921 | 17,052 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1922 | 19,415 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1923 | 21,444 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1924 | 24,540 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1925 | 25,331 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1926 | 32,866 tonnes | +29.7% |
| 1927 | 38,744 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1928 | 42,654 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1929 | 45,402 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1930 | 54,276 tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1931 | 63,444 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1932 | 72,851 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1933 | 82,655 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1934 | 99,454 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1935 | 113,474 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1936 | 131,637 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1937 | 137,088 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1938 | 146,899 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1939 | 151,897 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1940 | 184,590 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1941 | 162,833 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1942 | 113,941 tonnes | -30.0% |
| 1943 | 145,873 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1944 | 130,045 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1945 | 145,756 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1946 | 159,354 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1947 | 185,293 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1948 | 192,752 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1949 | 213,828 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1950 | 232,775 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1951 | 255,008 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1952 | 270,801 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1953 | 286,040 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1954 | 312,333 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1955 | 351,971 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1956 | 382,460 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1957 | 413,295 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1958 | 434,519 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1959 | 451,719 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 463,023 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 455,243 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1962 | 475,835 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1963 | 513,091 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1964 | 552,935 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1965 | 601,334 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1966 | 639,292 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1967 | 675,348 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1968 | 698,353 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 727,655 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 861,518 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1971 | 872,474 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 893,809 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 975,057 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1974 | 987,146 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 982,107 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 1.06 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1977 | 1.05 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 1.11 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 1.08 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 1.12 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 1.08 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 1.09 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.07 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 1.08 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 1.12 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 1.14 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 1.15 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 1.16 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 1.24 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 1.24 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 1.24 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 1.12 million tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 1.01 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1995 | 897,859 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 1996 | 814,733 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1997 | 696,052 tonnes | -14.6% |
| 1998 | 656,212 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 615,811 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 567,927 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 580,710 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 619,707 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 668,286 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 685,599 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 704,687 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 795,447 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 2007 | 821,472 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 859,080 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 794,684 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2010 | 789,814 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 863,967 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 813,774 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 852,304 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 783,208 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2015 | 818,217 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 864,606 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 815,576 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 852,768 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 827,076 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 867,418 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 914,770 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 928,518 tonnes | +1.5% |
Kazakhstan compared with similar countries
- Kazakhstan's 928,518 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 8.9× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Kazakhstan's 928,518 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 9.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Kazakhstan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | -43.2% | 30,050 tonnes | 17,062 tonnes |
| 1942 | -30.0% | 162,833 tonnes | 113,941 tonnes |
| 1926 | +29.7% | 25,331 tonnes | 32,866 tonnes |
| 1943 | +28.0% | 113,941 tonnes | 145,873 tonnes |
| 1866 | +25.9% | 1,068 tonnes | 1,344 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 580.91 tonnes | 571.39 tonnes | 590.43 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 602.43 tonnes | 592.55 tonnes | 612.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 624.74 tonnes | 614.5 tonnes | 634.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 651.67 tonnes | 640.89 tonnes | 662.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 676.14 tonnes | 665.02 tonnes | 687.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 709.91 tonnes | 690.41 tonnes | 729.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 746.15 tonnes | 733.98 tonnes | 758.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 775.22 tonnes | 761.67 tonnes | 788.88 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 805.7 tonnes | 795.16 tonnes | 817.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 833.77 tonnes | 820.43 tonnes | 847.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 886.11 tonnes | 853.43 tonnes | 953.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,178 tonnes | 980.1 tonnes | 1,492 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 2,228 tonnes | 1,548 tonnes | 3,057 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 4,118 tonnes | 3,415 tonnes | 4,966 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 8,419 tonnes | 5,422 tonnes | 13,034 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 17,162 tonnes | 14,598 tonnes | 21,648 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 25,426 tonnes | 15,827 tonnes | 30,908 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 28,333 tonnes | 15,884 tonnes | 45,402 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 105,367 tonnes | 54,276 tonnes | 151,897 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 163,426 tonnes | 113,941 tonnes | 213,828 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 339,092 tonnes | 232,775 tonnes | 451,719 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 580,211 tonnes | 455,243 tonnes | 727,655 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 988,053 tonnes | 861,518 tonnes | 1.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.11 million tonnes | 1.07 million tonnes | 1.16 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 953,130 tonnes | 615,811 tonnes | 1.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 709,760 tonnes | 567,927 tonnes | 859,080 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 828,131 tonnes | 783,208 tonnes | 864,606 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 903,569 tonnes | 867,418 tonnes | 928,518 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kazakhstan
More environment data for Kazakhstan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.9617 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.801 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 3.29 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.08 % 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 1.11 % 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 Kazakhstan?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Kazakhstan was 928,518 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 Kazakhstan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.24 million tonnes in 1991.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The lowest recorded value was 571.39 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Kazakhstan rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Kazakhstan ranks 27th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Kazakhstan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kazakhstan 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.