Emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia
Malaysia: Emissions of air pollutants was 900,940 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
900,940 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
28th
of 220 countries
All-time high
990,354 tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
19.57 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia is 900,940 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia peaked at 990,354 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 19.57 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Malaysia 28th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 19.57 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 19.6 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 19.63 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 19.67 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 19.7 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 19.73 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 19.76 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 19.8 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 19.83 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 19.86 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 19.89 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 19.93 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 19.96 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 19.99 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 20.02 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 20.06 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 20.09 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 20.12 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 20.16 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 20.19 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 20.22 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 20.25 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 20.29 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 20.32 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 20.35 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 20.39 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 20.42 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 20.45 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 20.48 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 20.52 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 20.55 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 20.58 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 20.62 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 20.65 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 20.68 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 20.72 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 20.75 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 20.78 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 20.81 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 20.85 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 20.88 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 20.91 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 20.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 20.98 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 21.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 21.05 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 21.08 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 21.11 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 21.14 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 21.18 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 21.21 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 21.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 21.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 21.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 21.45 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 21.51 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 21.57 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 21.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 21.7 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 21.76 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 21.82 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 21.88 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 21.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 22.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 22.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 22.19 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 22.25 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 22.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 22.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 22.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 22.86 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1822 | 23.29 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1823 | 23.72 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1824 | 24.15 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1825 | 24.59 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1826 | 25.02 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1827 | 25.45 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1828 | 25.89 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1829 | 26.32 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1830 | 26.76 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1831 | 27.45 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1832 | 28.14 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1833 | 28.84 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1834 | 29.54 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1835 | 30.23 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1836 | 30.93 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1837 | 31.63 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1838 | 32.33 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 33.04 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1840 | 33.74 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1841 | 34.61 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1842 | 35.49 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1843 | 36.36 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1844 | 37.24 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1845 | 38.11 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1846 | 38.99 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1847 | 39.87 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1848 | 40.76 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1849 | 41.64 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1850 | 42.53 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1851 | 43.56 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1852 | 44.61 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1853 | 45.67 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1854 | 46.74 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1855 | 47.83 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1856 | 48.93 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1857 | 50.04 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1858 | 51.16 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1859 | 52.3 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1860 | 53.46 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1861 | 54.72 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1862 | 56 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1863 | 57.3 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1864 | 58.62 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1865 | 59.96 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1866 | 61.32 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1867 | 62.7 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1868 | 64.09 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1869 | 65.51 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1870 | 67.03 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1871 | 71.15 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1872 | 75.35 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1873 | 79.62 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1874 | 83.96 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1875 | 88.64 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1876 | 93.81 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1877 | 99.02 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1878 | 104.29 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1879 | 109.61 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1880 | 114.98 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1881 | 116.89 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1882 | 118.83 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1883 | 120.74 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1884 | 122.68 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1885 | 125.42 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1886 | 128.33 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1887 | 131.42 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1888 | 135.63 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1889 | 139.94 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1890 | 144.41 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1891 | 152.69 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1892 | 161.35 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1893 | 169.85 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1894 | 179.05 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1895 | 188.68 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1896 | 198.29 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1897 | 207.88 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1898 | 218.14 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1899 | 228.4 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1900 | 238.59 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1901 | 250.05 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1902 | 262 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1903 | 274.3 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1904 | 286.95 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1905 | 300.17 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1906 | 316.5 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1907 | 333.67 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1908 | 351.03 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1909 | 369.41 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1910 | 387.9 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1911 | 407.52 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1912 | 534.63 tonnes | +31.2% |
| 1913 | 809.74 tonnes | +51.5% |
| 1914 | 1,294 tonnes | +59.9% |
| 1915 | 1,482 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1916 | 2,109 tonnes | +42.3% |
| 1917 | 1,898 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1918 | 1,834 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1919 | 2,081 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1920 | 3,150 tonnes | +51.4% |
| 1921 | 4,127 tonnes | +31.0% |
| 1922 | 7,674 tonnes | +85.9% |
| 1923 | 10,374 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1924 | 9,145 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1925 | 11,149 tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1926 | 12,829 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1927 | 12,796 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1928 | 13,440 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1929 | 13,580 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1930 | 12,539 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1931 | 9,734 tonnes | -22.4% |
| 1932 | 6,642 tonnes | -31.8% |
| 1933 | 6,393 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1934 | 5,685 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1935 | 5,310 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1936 | 4,847 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1937 | 4,722 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1938 | 4,653 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1939 | 4,192 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1940 | 4,008 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1941 | 3,414 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 1942 | 1,785 tonnes | -47.7% |
| 1943 | 1,875 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1944 | 1,962 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1945 | 2,029 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1946 | 2,122 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1947 | 2,601 tonnes | +22.6% |
| 1948 | 2,944 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1949 | 3,305 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1950 | 3,985 tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1951 | 4,212 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1952 | 4,882 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1953 | 5,349 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1954 | 5,632 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1955 | 5,434 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1956 | 5,923 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1957 | 20,254 tonnes | +242.0% |
| 1958 | 22,124 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1959 | 18,923 tonnes | -14.5% |
| 1960 | 23,691 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1961 | 26,729 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1962 | 27,425 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 32,256 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1964 | 40,693 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1965 | 46,058 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1966 | 53,855 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1967 | 55,434 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 57,544 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1969 | 51,939 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1970 | 80,886 tonnes | +55.7% |
| 1971 | 113,067 tonnes | +39.8% |
| 1972 | 87,347 tonnes | -22.7% |
| 1973 | 92,609 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 99,565 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1975 | 111,548 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1976 | 116,546 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 121,618 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 130,278 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 145,513 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1980 | 156,908 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 163,374 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 177,346 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1983 | 190,874 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1984 | 195,974 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 202,387 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 207,546 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 217,019 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 229,051 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 269,511 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1990 | 323,565 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1991 | 358,622 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1992 | 383,498 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 407,897 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 450,800 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1995 | 483,602 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1996 | 519,056 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1997 | 533,278 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 531,961 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 515,830 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 509,033 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 520,614 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 545,890 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 559,577 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 592,371 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 610,225 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 640,284 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 697,934 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2008 | 722,227 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 692,132 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 774,703 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 2011 | 809,580 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 797,617 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 906,714 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 965,967 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 952,848 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 930,473 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 946,110 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 969,697 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 990,354 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 918,518 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 902,000 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 900,940 tonnes | -0.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 900,940 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 8.6× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 900,940 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 8.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | +242.0% | 5,923 tonnes | 20,254 tonnes |
| 1922 | +85.9% | 4,127 tonnes | 7,674 tonnes |
| 1914 | +59.9% | 809.74 tonnes | 1,294 tonnes |
| 1970 | +55.7% | 51,939 tonnes | 80,886 tonnes |
| 1942 | -47.7% | 3,414 tonnes | 1,785 tonnes |
| 1913 | +51.5% | 534.63 tonnes | 809.74 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 19.71 tonnes | 19.57 tonnes | 19.86 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 20.04 tonnes | 19.89 tonnes | 20.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 20.37 tonnes | 20.22 tonnes | 20.52 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 20.7 tonnes | 20.55 tonnes | 20.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 21.03 tonnes | 20.88 tonnes | 21.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 21.48 tonnes | 21.21 tonnes | 21.76 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 22.09 tonnes | 21.82 tonnes | 22.37 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 24.37 tonnes | 22.43 tonnes | 26.32 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 29.89 tonnes | 26.76 tonnes | 33.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 37.68 tonnes | 33.74 tonnes | 41.64 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 47.34 tonnes | 42.53 tonnes | 52.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 59.37 tonnes | 53.46 tonnes | 65.51 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 87.25 tonnes | 67.03 tonnes | 109.61 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 125.49 tonnes | 114.98 tonnes | 139.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 184.87 tonnes | 144.41 tonnes | 228.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 298.27 tonnes | 238.59 tonnes | 369.41 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1,284 tonnes | 387.9 tonnes | 2,109 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 9,826 tonnes | 3,150 tonnes | 13,580 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 6,472 tonnes | 4,192 tonnes | 12,539 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2,604 tonnes | 1,785 tonnes | 4,008 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 9,672 tonnes | 3,985 tonnes | 22,124 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 41,562 tonnes | 23,691 tonnes | 57,544 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 109,898 tonnes | 80,886 tonnes | 145,513 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 200,999 tonnes | 156,908 tonnes | 269,511 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 450,811 tonnes | 323,565 tonnes | 533,278 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 609,029 tonnes | 509,033 tonnes | 722,227 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 904,406 tonnes | 774,703 tonnes | 990,354 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 907,153 tonnes | 900,940 tonnes | 918,518 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % 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 0.9114 % 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 Malaysia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Malaysia was 900,940 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 990,354 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.57 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Malaysia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Malaysia ranks 28th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.