Emissions of air pollutants in Namibia
Namibia: Emissions of air pollutants was 26,104 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
26,104 tonnes
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
150th
of 220 countries
All-time high
30,978 tonnes
in 2016
All-time low
57.87 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Namibia, 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 Namibia stood at 26,104 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Namibia peaked at 30,978 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 57.87 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Namibia 150th 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 Namibia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 57.87 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 58.47 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1752 | 59.07 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1753 | 59.67 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1754 | 60.27 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1755 | 60.87 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1756 | 61.47 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1757 | 62.07 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1758 | 62.67 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1759 | 63.27 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1760 | 63.87 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1761 | 64.54 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1762 | 65.21 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1763 | 65.89 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1764 | 66.56 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1765 | 67.24 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1766 | 67.91 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1767 | 68.59 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1768 | 69.26 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1769 | 69.93 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1770 | 70.61 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1771 | 71.37 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1772 | 72.13 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1773 | 72.89 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1774 | 73.65 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1775 | 74.41 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1776 | 75.17 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1777 | 75.93 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1778 | 76.69 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1779 | 77.45 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1780 | 78.21 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1781 | 79.07 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1782 | 79.93 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1783 | 80.79 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1784 | 81.65 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1785 | 82.51 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1786 | 83.37 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1787 | 84.23 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1788 | 85.09 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1789 | 85.95 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1790 | 86.81 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1791 | 87.79 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1792 | 88.76 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1793 | 89.74 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1794 | 90.71 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1795 | 91.69 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1796 | 92.67 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1797 | 93.64 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1798 | 94.62 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1799 | 95.59 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1800 | 96.57 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1801 | 98.02 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1802 | 99.48 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1803 | 100.94 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1804 | 102.42 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1805 | 103.9 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1806 | 105.38 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1807 | 106.87 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1808 | 108.38 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1809 | 109.89 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1810 | 111.41 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1811 | 113.1 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1812 | 114.8 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1813 | 116.51 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1814 | 118.23 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1815 | 119.96 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1816 | 121.69 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1817 | 123.44 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1818 | 125.19 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1819 | 126.96 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1820 | 128.73 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1821 | 130.72 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1822 | 132.71 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1823 | 134.72 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1824 | 136.73 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1825 | 138.76 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1826 | 140.79 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1827 | 142.84 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1828 | 144.89 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1829 | 146.96 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1830 | 149.03 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1831 | 151.37 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1832 | 153.72 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1833 | 156.08 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1834 | 158.46 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1835 | 160.84 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1836 | 163.23 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1837 | 165.64 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1838 | 168.06 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1839 | 170.49 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1840 | 172.93 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1841 | 175.7 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1842 | 178.48 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1843 | 181.27 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1844 | 184.08 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1845 | 186.89 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1846 | 189.72 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1847 | 192.57 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1848 | 195.43 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1849 | 198.31 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1850 | 201.2 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1851 | 204.51 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1852 | 207.84 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1853 | 211.19 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 214.55 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1855 | 217.92 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1856 | 221.32 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1857 | 224.74 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1858 | 228.18 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1859 | 231.63 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1860 | 235.1 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1861 | 240.05 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1862 | 245.03 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1863 | 250.07 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1864 | 255.16 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1865 | 260.29 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1866 | 265.47 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1867 | 270.7 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1868 | 275.97 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1869 | 281.3 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1870 | 286.68 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1871 | 292.79 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1872 | 298.88 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1873 | 305.03 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1874 | 311.24 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1875 | 318.23 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1876 | 324.53 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1877 | 330.89 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1878 | 337.29 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1879 | 343.75 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1880 | 350.28 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1881 | 357.65 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1882 | 365.1 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1883 | 372.62 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1884 | 380.19 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1885 | 387.83 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1886 | 395.55 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1887 | 403.33 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1888 | 411.21 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1889 | 419.17 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1890 | 427.2 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1891 | 436.33 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1892 | 445.56 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1893 | 454.87 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1894 | 464.25 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1895 | 473.71 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1896 | 483.26 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 492.88 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1898 | 502.59 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1899 | 512.38 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1900 | 522.23 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1901 | 537.6 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1902 | 553.18 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1903 | 568.98 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1904 | 584.96 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1905 | 601.18 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1906 | 617.71 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1907 | 634.44 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1908 | 651.42 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1909 | 668.63 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1910 | 686.04 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1911 | 705.53 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 725.28 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1913 | 745.26 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1914 | 765.53 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1915 | 786.06 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1916 | 806.87 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1917 | 827.91 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1918 | 849.26 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1919 | 870.89 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1920 | 892.77 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1921 | 913.24 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1922 | 934.59 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1923 | 953.79 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 974.02 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 1,022 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1926 | 1,063 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1927 | 1,092 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1928 | 1,118 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 1,137 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 1,153 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1931 | 1,178 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1932 | 1,199 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1933 | 1,216 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1934 | 1,231 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1935 | 1,246 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1936 | 1,273 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1937 | 1,298 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 1,320 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1939 | 1,339 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1940 | 1,355 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1941 | 1,378 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1942 | 1,397 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1943 | 1,418 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1944 | 1,442 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1945 | 1,469 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1946 | 1,507 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1947 | 1,560 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1948 | 1,619 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1949 | 1,692 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1950 | 1,812 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1951 | 1,872 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 1,928 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 1,985 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 2,033 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 2,069 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 2,114 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 2,171 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 2,243 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 2,315 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 2,367 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 2,401 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 2,463 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 2,515 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 2,563 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 2,645 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 2,713 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1967 | 2,799 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 2,864 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 2,915 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 3,020 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1971 | 3,081 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 3,157 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 3,187 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 3,374 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 2,882 tonnes | -14.6% |
| 1976 | 2,882 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3,177 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1978 | 3,206 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 3,328 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 3,444 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1981 | 3,067 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1982 | 2,893 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1983 | 2,841 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 2,918 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 2,937 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 3,073 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 3,021 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 3,164 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 3,261 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 4,312 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1991 | 12,357 tonnes | +186.6% |
| 1992 | 13,283 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1993 | 14,224 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 15,769 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1995 | 17,078 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 21,809 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1997 | 21,062 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 21,420 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 21,657 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 21,382 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 25,996 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 2002 | 23,093 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 2003 | 24,128 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 24,738 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 26,886 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2006 | 25,210 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 25,031 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 28,066 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2009 | 29,211 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 29,387 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 29,402 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 29,394 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 29,293 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 30,084 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 30,691 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 30,978 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 29,797 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 27,830 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 27,905 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 25,936 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 25,862 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 26,104 tonnes | +0.9% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 26,104 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 35% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 26,104 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 58% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Namibia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +186.6% | 4,312 tonnes | 12,357 tonnes |
| 1990 | +32.3% | 3,261 tonnes | 4,312 tonnes |
| 1996 | +27.7% | 17,078 tonnes | 21,809 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 60.57 tonnes | 57.87 tonnes | 63.27 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 66.9 tonnes | 63.87 tonnes | 69.93 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 74.03 tonnes | 70.61 tonnes | 77.45 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 82.08 tonnes | 78.21 tonnes | 85.95 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 91.2 tonnes | 86.81 tonnes | 95.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 103.18 tonnes | 96.57 tonnes | 109.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 119.13 tonnes | 111.41 tonnes | 126.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 137.78 tonnes | 128.73 tonnes | 146.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 159.69 tonnes | 149.03 tonnes | 170.49 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 185.54 tonnes | 172.93 tonnes | 198.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 216.31 tonnes | 201.2 tonnes | 231.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 257.92 tonnes | 235.1 tonnes | 281.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 314.93 tonnes | 286.68 tonnes | 343.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 384.29 tonnes | 350.28 tonnes | 419.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 469.3 tonnes | 427.2 tonnes | 512.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 594.03 tonnes | 522.23 tonnes | 668.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 776.86 tonnes | 686.04 tonnes | 870.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1,010 tonnes | 892.77 tonnes | 1,137 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1,245 tonnes | 1,153 tonnes | 1,339 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,484 tonnes | 1,355 tonnes | 1,692 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2,054 tonnes | 1,812 tonnes | 2,315 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2,624 tonnes | 2,367 tonnes | 2,915 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 3,129 tonnes | 2,882 tonnes | 3,374 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3,062 tonnes | 2,841 tonnes | 3,444 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 16,297 tonnes | 4,312 tonnes | 21,809 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 25,374 tonnes | 21,382 tonnes | 29,211 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 29,476 tonnes | 27,830 tonnes | 30,978 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,968 tonnes | 25,862 tonnes | 26,104 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 147 Martinique 28,568 tonnes compare
- 148 Congo 28,422 tonnes compare
- 149 Puerto Rico 27,455 tonnes compare
- 151 Suriname 25,681 tonnes compare
- 152 Guadeloupe 25,272 tonnes compare
- 153 Armenia 25,032 tonnes compare
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.32 % 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 4.07 % 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 Namibia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Namibia was 26,104 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 30,978 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.87 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Namibia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Namibia ranks 150th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.