Emissions of air pollutants in Kenya
Kenya: Emissions of air pollutants was 208,069 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
208,069 tonnes
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
66th
of 220 countries
All-time high
208,069 tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
772.26 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Kenya, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 208,069 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and up 37.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Kenya peaked at 208,069 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 772.26 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Kenya 66th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 772.26 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 772.52 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 772.77 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 773.02 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 773.27 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 773.52 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 773.77 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 774.02 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 774.27 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 774.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 774.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 775.03 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 775.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 775.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 775.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 776.04 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 776.29 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 776.54 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 776.79 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 777.04 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 777.29 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 777.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 777.8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 778.05 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 778.3 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 778.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 778.8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 779.05 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 779.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 779.56 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 779.81 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 780.06 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 780.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 780.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 780.82 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 781.07 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 781.32 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 781.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 781.82 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 782.08 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 782.33 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 782.58 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 782.83 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 783.08 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 783.33 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 783.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 783.84 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 784.09 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 784.34 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 784.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 784.84 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 787.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 790.03 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 792.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 795.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 797.82 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 800.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 802.99 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 805.59 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 808.2 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 810.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 813.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 816.85 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 819.87 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 822.9 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 825.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 828.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 831.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 835.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 838.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 841.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 844.2 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1822 | 847.27 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1823 | 850.34 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 853.41 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1825 | 856.49 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 859.54 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1827 | 862.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1828 | 865.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1829 | 868.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 871.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1831 | 875.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1832 | 878.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1833 | 881.24 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1834 | 884.36 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1835 | 887.49 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 890.58 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 893.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 896.84 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1839 | 899.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 903.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 906.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 909.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 912.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 915.76 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 918.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 922.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 925.24 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 928.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 931.61 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 935.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1851 | 939.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 943.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 946.95 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 950.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 954.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 958.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 962.83 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 966.87 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 970.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 975.04 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 983.81 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1862 | 992.59 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1863 | 1,001 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1864 | 1,010 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1865 | 1,019 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1866 | 1,028 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1867 | 1,037 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1868 | 1,047 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1869 | 1,056 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1870 | 1,065 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1871 | 1,075 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1872 | 1,086 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1873 | 1,096 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 1,106 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1875 | 1,117 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 1,127 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 1,138 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1878 | 1,149 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1879 | 1,160 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1880 | 1,172 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1881 | 1,185 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 1,198 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 1,211 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 1,224 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1885 | 1,237 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 1,251 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 1,264 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 1,278 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1889 | 1,292 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1890 | 1,296 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1891 | 1,310 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1892 | 1,325 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 1,340 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1894 | 1,356 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1895 | 1,371 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 1,387 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 1,403 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1898 | 1,419 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 1,435 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 1,452 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 1,511 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1902 | 1,578 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1903 | 1,652 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1904 | 1,663 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1905 | 1,673 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1906 | 1,723 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1907 | 1,775 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1908 | 1,828 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1909 | 1,884 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1910 | 1,941 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1911 | 2,065 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1912 | 2,228 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1913 | 2,415 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1914 | 2,507 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1915 | 2,573 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1916 | 2,621 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 2,700 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1918 | 2,818 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1919 | 2,834 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1920 | 2,877 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1921 | 3,009 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1922 | 3,136 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 3,174 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1924 | 3,252 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1925 | 3,410 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1926 | 3,587 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1927 | 3,734 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1928 | 3,845 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1929 | 3,964 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1930 | 4,046 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1931 | 4,144 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1932 | 4,244 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1933 | 4,353 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1934 | 4,425 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 4,487 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 4,679 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1937 | 4,787 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1938 | 4,866 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1939 | 4,996 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1940 | 5,064 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 5,112 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1942 | 5,228 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1943 | 5,296 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1944 | 5,463 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1945 | 5,555 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1946 | 6,333 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1947 | 6,452 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 6,748 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1949 | 6,961 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1950 | 15,972 tonnes | +129.4% |
| 1951 | 21,805 tonnes | +36.5% |
| 1952 | 23,534 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1953 | 22,922 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 24,315 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 26,696 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1956 | 28,386 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1957 | 29,062 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1958 | 27,197 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 28,028 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1960 | 29,943 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1961 | 29,808 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1962 | 31,722 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 34,170 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1964 | 33,875 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1965 | 30,222 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1966 | 32,603 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1967 | 33,366 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 34,512 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 37,508 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1970 | 36,228 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 87,623 tonnes | +141.9% |
| 1972 | 87,861 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 89,709 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 85,834 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1975 | 78,823 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1976 | 65,722 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 1977 | 71,449 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1978 | 75,175 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 79,268 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 75,109 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 76,295 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 77,159 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 68,087 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1984 | 77,418 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1985 | 77,794 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 83,649 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1987 | 84,328 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 86,142 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 86,332 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 90,680 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 87,463 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 88,011 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 90,208 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 87,443 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1995 | 83,454 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 87,271 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 84,224 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 92,852 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1999 | 100,042 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 108,508 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 105,221 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 97,204 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 2003 | 92,523 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 106,277 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 2005 | 111,329 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 119,513 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 127,673 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 136,408 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 152,878 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 151,114 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 158,949 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 151,095 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 165,703 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2014 | 164,710 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 174,726 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 188,424 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 188,685 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 189,397 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 194,144 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 184,347 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 199,480 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 208,069 tonnes | +4.3% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 208,069 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 208,069 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 4.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +141.9% | 36,228 tonnes | 87,623 tonnes |
| 1950 | +129.4% | 6,961 tonnes | 15,972 tonnes |
| 1951 | +36.5% | 15,972 tonnes | 21,805 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 773.4 tonnes | 772.26 tonnes | 774.53 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 775.91 tonnes | 774.78 tonnes | 777.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 778.43 tonnes | 777.29 tonnes | 779.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 780.94 tonnes | 779.81 tonnes | 782.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 783.46 tonnes | 782.33 tonnes | 784.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 796.52 tonnes | 784.84 tonnes | 808.2 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 824.42 tonnes | 810.8 tonnes | 838.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 854.95 tonnes | 841.13 tonnes | 868.81 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 885.93 tonnes | 871.91 tonnes | 899.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 917.34 tonnes | 903.13 tonnes | 931.61 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 952.95 tonnes | 935.25 tonnes | 970.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,015 tonnes | 975.04 tonnes | 1,056 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,112 tonnes | 1,065 tonnes | 1,160 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,231 tonnes | 1,172 tonnes | 1,292 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,364 tonnes | 1,296 tonnes | 1,435 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,674 tonnes | 1,452 tonnes | 1,884 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,470 tonnes | 1,941 tonnes | 2,834 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 3,399 tonnes | 2,877 tonnes | 3,964 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 4,503 tonnes | 4,046 tonnes | 4,996 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 5,821 tonnes | 5,064 tonnes | 6,961 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 24,792 tonnes | 15,972 tonnes | 29,062 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 32,773 tonnes | 29,808 tonnes | 37,508 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 75,769 tonnes | 36,228 tonnes | 89,709 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 79,231 tonnes | 68,087 tonnes | 86,332 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 89,165 tonnes | 83,454 tonnes | 100,042 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 115,753 tonnes | 92,523 tonnes | 152,878 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 172,695 tonnes | 151,095 tonnes | 194,144 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 197,299 tonnes | 184,347 tonnes | 208,069 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More environment data for Kenya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.08 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.12 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.25 % 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 2.87 % 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 Kenya?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Kenya was 208,069 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 208,069 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 772.26 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Kenya rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Kenya ranks 66th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.