Emissions of air pollutants in Kuwait
Kuwait: Emissions of air pollutants was 376,852 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
376,852 tonnes
Change on year
up 8.9%
World rank
47th
of 220 countries
All-time high
404,020 tonnes
in 1989
All-time low
3.51 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Kuwait, 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 Kuwait stood at 376,852 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 8.9% on the previous year and up 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Kuwait peaked at 404,020 tonnes in 1989 and was at its lowest, 3.51 tonnes, in 1750.
Kuwait ranks 47th 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 Kuwait, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 3.51 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 3.53 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 3.54 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 3.56 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 3.58 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 3.59 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 3.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 3.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 3.64 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 3.66 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 3.67 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 3.69 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 3.71 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 3.72 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 3.74 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 3.76 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 3.77 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 3.79 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 3.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 3.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 3.84 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 3.86 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 3.87 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 3.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 3.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 3.92 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 3.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 3.96 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 3.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 3.99 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 4.01 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 4.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 4.05 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 4.06 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 4.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 4.1 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 4.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 4.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 4.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 4.17 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 4.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 4.21 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 4.23 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 4.24 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 4.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 4.28 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 4.3 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 4.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 4.34 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 4.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 4.37 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 4.4 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 4.43 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1803 | 4.46 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1804 | 4.49 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1805 | 4.51 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1806 | 4.54 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1807 | 4.57 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1808 | 4.6 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1809 | 4.63 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1810 | 4.66 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1811 | 4.69 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1812 | 4.72 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1813 | 4.75 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1814 | 4.78 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1815 | 4.81 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1816 | 4.84 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1817 | 4.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1818 | 4.91 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1819 | 4.94 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1820 | 4.97 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1821 | 5 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1822 | 5.03 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1823 | 5.06 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1824 | 5.1 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 5.13 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 5.16 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 5.19 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 5.23 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 5.26 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 5.29 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 5.33 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 5.36 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 5.39 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 5.43 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 5.46 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 5.5 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 5.53 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 5.56 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 5.6 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 5.63 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 5.67 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1842 | 5.7 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1843 | 5.74 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1844 | 5.78 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1845 | 5.81 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1846 | 5.85 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1847 | 5.88 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1848 | 5.92 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1849 | 5.95 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1850 | 5.99 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1851 | 6.03 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1852 | 6.06 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1853 | 6.1 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1854 | 6.14 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1855 | 6.18 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1856 | 6.21 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1857 | 6.25 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1858 | 6.29 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1859 | 6.33 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 6.36 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1861 | 6.39 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1862 | 6.43 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1863 | 6.46 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1864 | 6.49 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1865 | 6.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1866 | 6.55 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 6.58 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 6.61 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1869 | 6.64 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 6.68 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1871 | 6.71 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1872 | 6.74 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1873 | 6.77 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1874 | 6.8 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1875 | 6.83 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1876 | 6.86 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1877 | 6.89 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1878 | 6.92 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1879 | 6.96 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1880 | 6.99 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1881 | 7.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1882 | 7.05 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1883 | 7.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 7.11 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 7.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 7.17 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1887 | 7.2 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 7.24 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1889 | 7.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1890 | 7.31 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1891 | 7.35 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 7.39 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 7.42 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 7.46 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 7.5 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 7.53 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 7.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 7.61 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 7.64 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 7.68 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 7.8 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1902 | 7.92 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 8.02 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1904 | 8.12 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1905 | 8.22 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 8.31 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 8.4 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1908 | 8.48 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 8.56 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1910 | 8.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1911 | 8.74 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1912 | 8.86 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1913 | 8.96 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 9.07 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 9.16 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 9.25 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1917 | 9.34 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1918 | 9.42 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1919 | 9.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1920 | 9.56 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1921 | 9.65 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1922 | 9.75 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1923 | 9.87 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1924 | 9.95 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1925 | 10.31 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1926 | 10.56 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 10.71 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 10.82 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1929 | 10.9 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1930 | 10.89 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1931 | 10.93 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1932 | 10.89 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1933 | 10.84 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1934 | 10.79 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1935 | 10.73 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1936 | 10.82 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1937 | 10.89 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1938 | 10.93 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1939 | 10.94 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1940 | 11.09 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1941 | 11.26 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1942 | 11.38 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1943 | 11.54 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1944 | 11.73 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1945 | 11.91 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1946 | 2,671 tonnes | +22331.1% |
| 1947 | 5,373 tonnes | +101.2% |
| 1948 | 8,297 tonnes | +54.4% |
| 1949 | 11,360 tonnes | +36.9% |
| 1950 | 14,392 tonnes | +26.7% |
| 1951 | 17,675 tonnes | +22.8% |
| 1952 | 20,418 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1953 | 33,486 tonnes | +64.0% |
| 1954 | 45,656 tonnes | +36.3% |
| 1955 | 57,671 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1956 | 34,034 tonnes | -41.0% |
| 1957 | 65,845 tonnes | +93.5% |
| 1958 | 106,184 tonnes | +61.3% |
| 1959 | 107,051 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1960 | 102,192 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1961 | 89,780 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1962 | 80,742 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1963 | 71,748 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1964 | 63,836 tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1965 | 55,948 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 1966 | 51,361 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1967 | 44,942 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 1968 | 40,629 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1969 | 35,753 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1970 | 26,180 tonnes | -26.8% |
| 1971 | 262,984 tonnes | +904.5% |
| 1972 | 294,597 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1973 | 294,879 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 271,377 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1975 | 259,067 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1976 | 272,273 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 271,149 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1978 | 278,269 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 314,788 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1980 | 301,865 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 283,587 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1982 | 262,777 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1983 | 265,137 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 236,993 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1985 | 277,869 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1986 | 282,632 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 289,968 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 345,132 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1989 | 404,020 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1990 | 113,143 tonnes | -72.0% |
| 1991 | 47,177 tonnes | -58.3% |
| 1992 | 143,124 tonnes | +203.4% |
| 1993 | 142,777 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 171,553 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1995 | 174,167 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 167,453 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 180,497 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 197,104 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 211,570 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 200,287 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 205,474 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 225,899 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 243,686 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 249,780 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 263,580 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 274,990 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 285,987 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 298,195 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 281,452 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 278,365 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 306,264 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2012 | 296,389 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 329,743 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 2014 | 316,045 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 328,795 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 323,298 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 343,392 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 345,874 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 338,501 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 319,749 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 346,092 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 376,852 tonnes | +8.9% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 376,852 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 4.2× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 376,852 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Kuwait 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +22331.1% | 11.91 tonnes | 2,671 tonnes |
| 1971 | +904.5% | 26,180 tonnes | 262,984 tonnes |
| 1992 | +203.4% | 47,177 tonnes | 143,124 tonnes |
| 1947 | +101.2% | 2,671 tonnes | 5,373 tonnes |
| 1957 | +93.5% | 34,034 tonnes | 65,845 tonnes |
| 1990 | -72.0% | 404,020 tonnes | 113,143 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 3.58 tonnes | 3.51 tonnes | 3.66 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 3.75 tonnes | 3.67 tonnes | 3.82 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3.92 tonnes | 3.84 tonnes | 3.99 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 4.09 tonnes | 4.01 tonnes | 4.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 4.27 tonnes | 4.19 tonnes | 4.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 4.5 tonnes | 4.37 tonnes | 4.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 4.8 tonnes | 4.66 tonnes | 4.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 5.11 tonnes | 4.97 tonnes | 5.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 5.45 tonnes | 5.29 tonnes | 5.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 5.79 tonnes | 5.63 tonnes | 5.95 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 6.16 tonnes | 5.99 tonnes | 6.33 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.5 tonnes | 6.36 tonnes | 6.64 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.82 tonnes | 6.68 tonnes | 6.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 7.13 tonnes | 6.99 tonnes | 7.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.48 tonnes | 7.31 tonnes | 7.64 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 8.15 tonnes | 7.68 tonnes | 8.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 9.09 tonnes | 8.62 tonnes | 9.49 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 10.21 tonnes | 9.56 tonnes | 10.9 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 10.86 tonnes | 10.73 tonnes | 10.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2,777 tonnes | 11.09 tonnes | 11,360 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 50,241 tonnes | 14,392 tonnes | 107,051 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 63,693 tonnes | 35,753 tonnes | 102,192 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 254,556 tonnes | 26,180 tonnes | 314,788 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 294,998 tonnes | 236,993 tonnes | 404,020 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 154,857 tonnes | 47,177 tonnes | 211,570 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 252,933 tonnes | 200,287 tonnes | 298,195 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 320,667 tonnes | 278,365 tonnes | 345,874 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 347,564 tonnes | 319,749 tonnes | 376,852 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More environment data for Kuwait
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -57.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -61.88 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.516 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.95 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.24 % 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 1.84 % 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 Kuwait?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Kuwait was 376,852 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 404,020 tonnes in 1989.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.51 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Kuwait rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Kuwait ranks 47th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.