Emissions of air pollutants in Malta
Malta: Emissions of air pollutants was 159,322 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
159,322 tonnes
Change on year
up 5.8%
World rank
76th
of 220 countries
All-time high
177,603 tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
15.37 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Malta, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Malta recorded 159,322 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.8% on the previous year and up 58.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Malta peaked at 177,603 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.37 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Malta 76th 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 Malta, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 15.37 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 15.39 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 15.41 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 15.43 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 15.45 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 15.47 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 15.48 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 15.5 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 15.52 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 15.54 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 15.56 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 15.58 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 15.6 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 15.62 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 15.64 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 15.66 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 15.68 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 15.69 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 15.71 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 15.73 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 15.75 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 15.77 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 15.79 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 15.81 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 15.83 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 15.84 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 15.86 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 15.88 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 15.9 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 15.92 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 15.94 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 15.96 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 15.97 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 15.99 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 16.01 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 16.03 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 16.05 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 16.07 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 16.09 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 16.1 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 16.12 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 16.14 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 16.16 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 16.18 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 16.2 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 16.21 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 16.23 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 16.25 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 16.27 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 16.29 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 16.3 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 16.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 16.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 16.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 16.47 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 16.52 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 16.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 16.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 16.64 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 16.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 16.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 16.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 16.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 16.88 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 16.93 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 16.99 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 17.04 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 17.09 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 17.14 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 17.19 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 17.24 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 17.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 17.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 17.41 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 17.46 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 17.51 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 17.57 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 17.62 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 17.67 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 17.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 17.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 17.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 17.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 17.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 18.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 18.11 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 18.17 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 18.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 18.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 18.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 18.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 18.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 18.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 18.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 18.61 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 18.67 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 18.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 18.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 18.84 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 18.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1851 | 19.03 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 19.16 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 19.29 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 19.41 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 19.54 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1856 | 19.66 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1857 | 19.78 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1858 | 19.9 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1859 | 20.02 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1860 | 20.13 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1861 | 20.3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1862 | 20.45 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 20.59 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 20.74 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 20.88 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 21.03 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 21.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1868 | 21.21 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1869 | 21.3 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 21.38 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 21.47 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1872 | 21.5 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1873 | 21.54 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1874 | 21.57 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1875 | 21.6 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1876 | 21.64 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1877 | 21.73 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1878 | 21.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1879 | 21.9 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 21.99 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1881 | 22.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1882 | 22.27 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 22.46 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 22.66 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1885 | 22.85 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1886 | 23.04 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 23.18 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 23.36 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1889 | 23.53 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 23.71 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 23.89 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1892 | 24.07 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1893 | 24.25 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1894 | 24.43 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1895 | 24.61 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 24.79 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1897 | 24.99 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 25.2 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 25.4 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 25.61 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 28.15 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1902 | 30.82 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1903 | 33.53 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1904 | 36.27 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1905 | 39.06 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1906 | 41.93 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1907 | 44.83 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1908 | 47.77 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1909 | 50.75 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1910 | 53.78 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1911 | 56.87 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1912 | 58.1 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1913 | 59.21 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 61.85 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1915 | 64.12 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1916 | 66.36 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1917 | 68.97 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1918 | 71.03 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1919 | 73.06 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1920 | 75.05 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1921 | 76.66 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1922 | 78.38 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 80.2 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1924 | 81.81 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1925 | 84.19 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1926 | 86.18 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1927 | 87.89 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1928 | 89.69 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1929 | 92.44 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1930 | 94.82 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1931 | 97.37 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1932 | 99.32 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1933 | 101.41 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 103.5 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1935 | 105.64 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1936 | 108.42 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1937 | 111.18 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1938 | 113.54 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1939 | 116.4 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1940 | 118.94 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1941 | 121.81 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1942 | 124.49 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1943 | 127.43 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1944 | 130.5 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1945 | 133.5 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1946 | 136.41 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1947 | 138.38 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 141.94 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1949 | 142.5 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1950 | 2,067 tonnes | +1350.4% |
| 1951 | 2,277 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1952 | 2,299 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 2,236 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1954 | 2,695 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1955 | 3,146 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1956 | 2,924 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1957 | 2,926 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 2,992 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1959 | 3,472 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1960 | 2,937 tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1961 | 2,486 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 1962 | 2,704 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1963 | 3,246 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1964 | 3,774 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1965 | 3,511 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1966 | 2,908 tonnes | -17.2% |
| 1967 | 3,507 tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1968 | 4,085 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1969 | 4,048 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1970 | 3,985 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 9,688 tonnes | +143.1% |
| 1972 | 6,886 tonnes | -28.9% |
| 1973 | 6,710 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 6,490 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 6,014 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1976 | 6,566 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1977 | 6,844 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 7,218 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 7,727 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1980 | 8,143 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 7,877 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1982 | 9,068 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1983 | 6,620 tonnes | -27.0% |
| 1984 | 8,873 tonnes | +34.0% |
| 1985 | 7,197 tonnes | -18.9% |
| 1986 | 12,077 tonnes | +67.8% |
| 1987 | 12,324 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 12,840 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 13,525 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 13,489 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 14,482 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1992 | 15,481 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 15,954 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 14,828 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 16,107 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 14,391 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 18,028 tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1998 | 15,336 tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1999 | 15,053 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 74,091 tonnes | +392.2% |
| 2001 | 80,623 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2002 | 79,973 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 95,848 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 2004 | 98,893 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 68,551 tonnes | -30.7% |
| 2006 | 75,091 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 82,000 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 85,008 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 98,158 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 2010 | 126,928 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 2011 | 114,872 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 100,785 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 2013 | 98,887 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 100,302 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 124,881 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 2016 | 140,828 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 2017 | 169,979 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 2018 | 173,189 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 177,603 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 169,313 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 150,553 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 159,322 tonnes | +5.8% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 159,322 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Malta's 159,322 tonnes is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040 tonnes, 63% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Malta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +1350.4% | 142.5 tonnes | 2,067 tonnes |
| 2000 | +392.2% | 15,053 tonnes | 74,091 tonnes |
| 1971 | +143.1% | 3,985 tonnes | 9,688 tonnes |
| 1986 | +67.8% | 7,197 tonnes | 12,077 tonnes |
| 1984 | +34.0% | 6,620 tonnes | 8,873 tonnes |
| 2005 | -30.7% | 98,893 tonnes | 68,551 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 15.46 tonnes | 15.37 tonnes | 15.54 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 15.65 tonnes | 15.56 tonnes | 15.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 15.83 tonnes | 15.75 tonnes | 15.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 16.02 tonnes | 15.94 tonnes | 16.1 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 16.2 tonnes | 16.12 tonnes | 16.29 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 16.49 tonnes | 16.3 tonnes | 16.68 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 16.96 tonnes | 16.73 tonnes | 17.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 17.49 tonnes | 17.24 tonnes | 17.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 18.03 tonnes | 17.78 tonnes | 18.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 18.59 tonnes | 18.33 tonnes | 18.84 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 19.47 tonnes | 18.9 tonnes | 20.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 20.77 tonnes | 20.13 tonnes | 21.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 21.62 tonnes | 21.38 tonnes | 21.9 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 22.74 tonnes | 21.99 tonnes | 23.53 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 24.53 tonnes | 23.71 tonnes | 25.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 37.87 tonnes | 25.61 tonnes | 50.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 63.33 tonnes | 53.78 tonnes | 73.06 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 83.25 tonnes | 75.05 tonnes | 92.44 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 105.16 tonnes | 94.82 tonnes | 116.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 131.59 tonnes | 118.94 tonnes | 142.5 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2,703 tonnes | 2,067 tonnes | 3,472 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3,321 tonnes | 2,486 tonnes | 4,085 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,813 tonnes | 3,985 tonnes | 9,688 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,854 tonnes | 6,620 tonnes | 13,525 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 15,315 tonnes | 13,489 tonnes | 18,028 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 83,824 tonnes | 68,551 tonnes | 98,893 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 132,825 tonnes | 98,887 tonnes | 177,603 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 159,729 tonnes | 150,553 tonnes | 169,313 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More environment data for Malta
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.365 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.16 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8269 % 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 % 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 Malta?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Malta was 159,322 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 177,603 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.37 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Malta rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Malta ranks 76th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 58.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta 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.