Emissions of air pollutants in Maldives
Maldives: Emissions of air pollutants was 12,723 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
12,723 tonnes
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
172nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
13,884 tonnes
in 2016
All-time low
0.3519 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Maldives, 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 Maldives stood at 12,723 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Maldives peaked at 13,884 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.3519 tonnes, in 1750.
Maldives ranks 172nd of 220 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Maldives, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 0.3519 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 0.3525 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 0.3531 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 0.3537 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 0.3543 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 0.3549 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 0.3555 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 0.3561 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 0.3567 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 0.3573 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 0.3578 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 0.3584 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 0.359 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 0.3596 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 0.3602 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 0.3608 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 0.3614 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 0.362 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 0.3626 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 0.3632 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 0.3638 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 0.3644 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 0.365 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 0.3656 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 0.3662 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 0.3668 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 0.3674 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 0.368 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 0.3686 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 0.3692 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 0.3698 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 0.3704 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 0.371 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 0.3716 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 0.3722 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 0.3728 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 0.3734 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 0.374 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 0.3746 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 0.3752 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 0.3758 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 0.3764 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 0.377 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 0.3776 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 0.3782 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 0.3788 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 0.3794 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 0.38 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 0.3806 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 0.3812 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 0.3819 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 0.3825 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 0.3831 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 0.3837 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 0.3843 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 0.3849 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 0.3855 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 0.3861 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 0.3867 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 0.3873 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 0.3879 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 0.3898 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1812 | 0.3917 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1813 | 0.3937 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 0.3956 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 0.3975 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 0.3994 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1817 | 0.4014 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1818 | 0.4033 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1819 | 0.4052 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1820 | 0.4071 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1821 | 0.4091 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 0.4111 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1823 | 0.4132 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1824 | 0.4152 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1825 | 0.4172 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1826 | 0.4192 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1827 | 0.4212 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1828 | 0.4232 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1829 | 0.4252 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1830 | 0.4272 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1831 | 0.4293 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1832 | 0.4314 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1833 | 0.4335 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1834 | 0.4356 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1835 | 0.4376 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1836 | 0.4397 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1837 | 0.4418 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1838 | 0.4439 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1839 | 0.446 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1840 | 0.4481 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1841 | 0.4503 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1842 | 0.4524 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1843 | 0.4546 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1844 | 0.4568 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1845 | 0.459 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1846 | 0.4612 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1847 | 0.4633 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1848 | 0.4655 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1849 | 0.4677 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1850 | 0.4698 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1851 | 0.4864 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1852 | 0.5036 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1853 | 0.5214 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1854 | 0.5397 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1855 | 0.5588 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1856 | 0.5785 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1857 | 0.5989 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1858 | 0.62 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1859 | 0.6418 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1860 | 0.6644 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1861 | 0.6878 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1862 | 0.712 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1863 | 0.7371 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1864 | 0.7631 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1865 | 0.7899 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1866 | 0.8177 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1867 | 0.8465 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1868 | 0.8763 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1869 | 0.9071 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1870 | 0.939 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1871 | 0.972 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1872 | 1.01 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1873 | 1.04 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1874 | 1.08 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1875 | 1.11 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1876 | 1.15 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1877 | 1.19 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1878 | 1.24 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1879 | 1.28 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1880 | 1.32 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1881 | 1.31 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1882 | 1.37 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1883 | 1.44 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1884 | 1.51 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1885 | 1.58 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1886 | 1.65 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1887 | 1.73 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1888 | 1.81 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1889 | 1.89 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1890 | 1.98 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1891 | 2 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1892 | 2.02 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 2.03 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 2.05 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 2.07 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 2.1 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 2.12 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1898 | 2.15 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 2.17 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 2.2 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 3.72 tonnes | +69.2% |
| 1902 | 5.31 tonnes | +42.5% |
| 1903 | 6.9 tonnes | +30.1% |
| 1904 | 8.51 tonnes | +23.3% |
| 1905 | 10.14 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1906 | 11.78 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1907 | 13.43 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1908 | 15.1 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1909 | 16.79 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1910 | 18.48 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1911 | 20.55 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1912 | 22.69 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1913 | 24.9 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1914 | 27.2 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1915 | 29.57 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1916 | 32.03 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1917 | 34.56 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1918 | 37.16 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1919 | 39.85 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1920 | 42.61 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1921 | 45.76 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1922 | 48.98 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1923 | 52.32 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1924 | 55.77 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1925 | 59.32 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1926 | 62.95 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1927 | 66.72 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1928 | 70.59 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1929 | 74.54 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1930 | 78.63 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1931 | 83.41 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1932 | 88.28 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1933 | 93.31 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1934 | 98.49 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1935 | 103.8 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1936 | 109.26 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1937 | 114.87 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1938 | 120.61 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1939 | 126.5 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1940 | 132.54 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1941 | 139.66 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1942 | 146.97 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1943 | 154.46 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1944 | 162.15 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1945 | 170 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1946 | 178.07 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1947 | 186.25 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1948 | 194.62 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1949 | 203.19 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1950 | 211.97 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1951 | 217.68 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1952 | 224.8 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1953 | 233.02 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 242.12 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1955 | 251.91 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1956 | 262.26 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1957 | 273.14 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 284.6 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1959 | 296.71 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1960 | 309.59 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1961 | 323.44 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1962 | 332.38 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 341.07 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 349.33 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 356.95 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 363.62 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1967 | 370.06 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 377.84 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 384.58 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 389.74 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1971 | 406.1 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 411.27 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 412.17 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 415.08 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 445.7 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 479.65 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1977 | 616.42 tonnes | +28.5% |
| 1978 | 589.18 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 664.28 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1980 | 805.5 tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1981 | 833.26 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 871.58 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 932.06 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 1,186 tonnes | +27.3% |
| 1985 | 1,264 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 1,514 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1987 | 1,438 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 1,637 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1989 | 1,825 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1990 | 2,427 tonnes | +33.0% |
| 1991 | 2,729 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1992 | 4,168 tonnes | +52.7% |
| 1993 | 3,783 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 3,773 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 4,518 tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1996 | 4,839 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1997 | 5,311 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1998 | 4,927 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 6,735 tonnes | +36.7% |
| 2000 | 7,137 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 7,848 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 9,658 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 2003 | 8,665 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 2004 | 10,673 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 2005 | 9,456 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2006 | 12,051 tonnes | +27.4% |
| 2007 | 12,046 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 13,362 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 13,077 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 11,976 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 11,353 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 11,553 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 11,153 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 12,118 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 13,236 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 13,884 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 13,136 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 13,790 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 13,687 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 12,584 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 12,275 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 12,723 tonnes | +3.7% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 12,723 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 12% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 12,723 tonnes is below the median for South Asia, which is 270,525 tonnes, 5% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Maldives 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | +69.2% | 2.2 tonnes | 3.72 tonnes |
| 1992 | +52.7% | 2,729 tonnes | 4,168 tonnes |
| 1902 | +42.5% | 3.72 tonnes | 5.31 tonnes |
| 1999 | +36.7% | 4,927 tonnes | 6,735 tonnes |
| 1990 | +33.0% | 1,825 tonnes | 2,427 tonnes |
| 1903 | +30.1% | 5.31 tonnes | 6.9 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 0.3546 tonnes | 0.3519 tonnes | 0.3573 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 0.3605 tonnes | 0.3578 tonnes | 0.3632 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 0.3665 tonnes | 0.3638 tonnes | 0.3692 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 0.3725 tonnes | 0.3698 tonnes | 0.3752 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 0.3785 tonnes | 0.3758 tonnes | 0.3812 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.3846 tonnes | 0.3819 tonnes | 0.3873 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.3966 tonnes | 0.3879 tonnes | 0.4052 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.4162 tonnes | 0.4071 tonnes | 0.4252 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.4366 tonnes | 0.4272 tonnes | 0.446 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.4579 tonnes | 0.4481 tonnes | 0.4677 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.5519 tonnes | 0.4698 tonnes | 0.6418 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.7802 tonnes | 0.6644 tonnes | 0.9071 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.1 tonnes | 0.939 tonnes | 1.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.56 tonnes | 1.31 tonnes | 1.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 2.07 tonnes | 1.98 tonnes | 2.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 9.39 tonnes | 2.2 tonnes | 16.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 28.7 tonnes | 18.48 tonnes | 39.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 57.96 tonnes | 42.61 tonnes | 74.54 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 101.72 tonnes | 78.63 tonnes | 126.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 166.79 tonnes | 132.54 tonnes | 203.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 249.82 tonnes | 211.97 tonnes | 296.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 350.89 tonnes | 309.59 tonnes | 384.58 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 482.96 tonnes | 389.74 tonnes | 664.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,231 tonnes | 805.5 tonnes | 1,825 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,321 tonnes | 2,427 tonnes | 6,735 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,397 tonnes | 7,137 tonnes | 13,362 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,589 tonnes | 11,153 tonnes | 13,884 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,528 tonnes | 12,275 tonnes | 12,723 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
- 169 Cape Verde 16,204 tonnes compare
- 170 Central African Republic 13,356 tonnes compare
- 171 Burundi 13,274 tonnes compare
- 173 Lesotho 12,414 tonnes compare
- 174 Brunei 11,077 tonnes compare
- 175 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 11,017 tonnes compare
More environment data for Maldives
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.252 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.911 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.75 % 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 -100 % change on previous year (1991)
- 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 4.35 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Maldives?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Maldives was 12,723 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 Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 13,884 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3519 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Maldives rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Maldives ranks 172nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives 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.