Emissions of air pollutants in Laos
Laos: Emissions of air pollutants was 143,985 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
143,985 tonnes
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
79th
of 220 countries
All-time high
157,599 tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
114.02 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Laos, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Laos recorded 143,985 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 81.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Laos peaked at 157,599 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 114.02 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Laos 79th 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 114.02 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 114.23 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 114.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 114.64 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 114.85 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 115.06 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 115.27 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 115.48 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 115.69 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 115.89 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 116.1 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 116.31 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 116.53 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 116.74 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 116.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 117.16 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 117.37 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 117.59 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 117.8 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 118.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 118.22 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 118.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 118.65 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 118.87 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 119.08 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 119.3 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 119.51 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 119.73 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 119.94 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 120.16 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 120.38 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 120.59 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 120.81 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 121.03 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 121.25 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 121.47 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 121.69 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 121.91 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 122.13 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 122.35 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 122.57 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 122.79 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 123.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 123.23 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 123.46 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 123.68 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 123.9 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 124.12 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 124.35 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 124.57 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 124.79 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 125.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 125.58 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 125.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 126.36 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 126.75 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 127.15 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 127.54 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 127.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 128.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 128.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 129.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 129.53 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 129.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 130.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 130.74 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 131.14 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 131.55 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 131.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 132.36 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 132.77 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 133.65 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 134.53 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1823 | 135.42 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1824 | 136.31 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1825 | 137.19 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1826 | 138.08 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 138.97 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 139.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 140.77 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 141.66 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 143.41 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1832 | 145.17 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1833 | 146.92 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1834 | 148.69 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1835 | 150.45 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1836 | 152.22 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1837 | 153.99 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1838 | 155.76 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1839 | 157.54 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1840 | 159.33 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1841 | 161.29 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1842 | 163.26 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1843 | 165.23 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1844 | 167.21 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1845 | 169.19 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1846 | 171.17 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1847 | 173.16 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1848 | 175.16 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1849 | 177.16 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1850 | 179.16 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1851 | 181.39 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1852 | 183.63 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1853 | 185.88 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1854 | 188.13 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1855 | 190.4 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1856 | 192.68 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1857 | 194.97 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1858 | 197.26 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1859 | 199.57 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1860 | 201.89 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1861 | 204.76 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1862 | 207.65 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1863 | 210.56 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1864 | 213.48 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1865 | 216.43 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1866 | 219.39 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 222.37 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1868 | 225.37 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1869 | 228.4 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1870 | 229.04 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 279.37 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1872 | 288.3 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 297.29 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1874 | 306.33 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 315.43 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 324.57 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1877 | 333.78 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1878 | 343.03 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1879 | 352.34 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1880 | 361.7 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1881 | 366.75 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 371.83 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1883 | 376.94 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1884 | 382.07 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1885 | 387.25 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1886 | 392.44 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 397.68 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 417.6 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1889 | 437.85 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1890 | 458.44 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1891 | 479.8 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1892 | 501.55 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1893 | 523.65 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1894 | 546.11 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1895 | 568.95 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1896 | 592.15 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1897 | 615.72 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1898 | 639.65 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1899 | 663.95 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1900 | 688.61 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1901 | 733.35 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1902 | 778.92 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1903 | 825.33 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1904 | 872.56 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1905 | 920.65 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1906 | 994.33 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1907 | 1,069 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1908 | 1,146 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1909 | 1,223 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1910 | 1,302 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1911 | 1,378 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1912 | 1,454 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1913 | 1,532 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1914 | 1,609 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1915 | 1,686 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1916 | 1,765 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1917 | 1,844 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1918 | 1,924 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 2,005 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 2,086 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1921 | 2,158 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1922 | 2,285 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1923 | 2,523 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1924 | 2,647 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1925 | 2,890 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1926 | 3,016 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 3,138 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1928 | 3,257 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1929 | 3,483 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1930 | 3,486 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1931 | 3,487 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 3,378 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1933 | 3,377 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1934 | 3,374 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1935 | 3,372 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1936 | 3,586 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1937 | 3,796 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1938 | 4,004 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1939 | 4,208 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1940 | 4,409 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1941 | 4,610 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1942 | 4,703 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1943 | 4,900 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1944 | 5,095 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1945 | 5,187 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 5,382 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1947 | 5,577 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1948 | 5,669 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 5,864 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1950 | 6,055 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1951 | 6,810 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1952 | 7,572 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1953 | 8,344 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1954 | 9,121 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1955 | 10,071 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1956 | 10,962 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1957 | 11,643 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 12,419 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1959 | 13,129 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1960 | 13,835 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1961 | 18,858 tonnes | +36.3% |
| 1962 | 18,956 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 19,026 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 19,144 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 19,169 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1966 | 19,411 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 19,777 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 19,070 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1969 | 19,695 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 19,955 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 18,772 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1972 | 18,278 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 17,522 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 16,539 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1975 | 15,955 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 15,298 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 16,274 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 16,898 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 18,044 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 20,257 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1981 | 20,855 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 21,413 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1983 | 22,084 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 23,351 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 23,744 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 24,699 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 25,951 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 26,265 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 27,545 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 29,927 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1991 | 30,650 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 32,630 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 33,016 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 34,956 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 35,627 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 36,724 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 37,946 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 35,378 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1999 | 33,866 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 41,043 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 2001 | 48,936 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 2002 | 50,470 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 52,414 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 57,670 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2005 | 61,189 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 62,545 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 63,330 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 63,770 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 70,193 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 71,987 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 72,970 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 79,492 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 84,115 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 94,306 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2015 | 108,072 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 2016 | 143,855 tonnes | +33.1% |
| 2017 | 153,742 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2018 | 157,599 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 139,945 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 2020 | 139,889 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 143,215 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 143,985 tonnes | +0.5% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 143,985 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 143,985 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 1.4× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | +36.3% | 13,835 tonnes | 18,858 tonnes |
| 2016 | +33.1% | 108,072 tonnes | 143,855 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 114.96 tonnes | 114.02 tonnes | 115.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 117.06 tonnes | 116.1 tonnes | 118.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 119.19 tonnes | 118.22 tonnes | 120.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 121.36 tonnes | 120.38 tonnes | 122.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 123.57 tonnes | 122.57 tonnes | 124.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 126.56 tonnes | 124.79 tonnes | 128.33 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 130.54 tonnes | 128.73 tonnes | 132.36 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 136.76 tonnes | 132.77 tonnes | 140.77 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 149.58 tonnes | 141.66 tonnes | 157.54 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 168.22 tonnes | 159.33 tonnes | 177.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 189.31 tonnes | 179.16 tonnes | 199.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 215.03 tonnes | 201.89 tonnes | 228.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 306.95 tonnes | 229.04 tonnes | 352.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 389.21 tonnes | 361.7 tonnes | 437.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 559 tonnes | 458.44 tonnes | 663.95 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 925.2 tonnes | 688.61 tonnes | 1,223 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1,650 tonnes | 1,302 tonnes | 2,005 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2,748 tonnes | 2,086 tonnes | 3,483 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 3,607 tonnes | 3,372 tonnes | 4,208 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 5,139 tonnes | 4,409 tonnes | 5,864 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 9,613 tonnes | 6,055 tonnes | 13,129 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 18,694 tonnes | 13,835 tonnes | 19,777 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 17,353 tonnes | 15,298 tonnes | 19,955 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 23,616 tonnes | 20,257 tonnes | 27,545 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 34,072 tonnes | 29,927 tonnes | 37,946 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 57,156 tonnes | 41,043 tonnes | 70,193 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 110,608 tonnes | 71,987 tonnes | 157,599 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 142,363 tonnes | 139,889 tonnes | 143,985 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Laos?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Laos was 143,985 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 157,599 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 114.02 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Laos rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Laos ranks 79th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.