Emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand
New Zealand: Emissions of air pollutants was 192,144 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
192,144 tonnes
Change on year
down 4.1%
World rank
70th
of 220 countries
All-time high
227,820 tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
178.09 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 192,144 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand peaked at 227,820 tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 178.09 tonnes, in 1750.
New Zealand ranks 70th of 220 countries on this measure, 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 178.09 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 181.05 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1752 | 184.02 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1753 | 186.99 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1754 | 189.95 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1755 | 192.92 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1756 | 195.89 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1757 | 198.85 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1758 | 201.82 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1759 | 204.79 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1760 | 207.75 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1761 | 211.22 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1762 | 214.68 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1763 | 218.14 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1764 | 221.6 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1765 | 225.06 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1766 | 228.52 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1767 | 231.98 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1768 | 235.44 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1769 | 238.9 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1770 | 242.36 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1771 | 246.4 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1772 | 250.44 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1773 | 254.48 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1774 | 258.51 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1775 | 262.55 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1776 | 266.59 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1777 | 270.62 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1778 | 274.66 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1779 | 278.7 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1780 | 282.74 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1781 | 287.44 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1782 | 292.15 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1783 | 296.87 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1784 | 301.57 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1785 | 306.28 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1786 | 310.99 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1787 | 315.7 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1788 | 320.41 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1789 | 325.12 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1790 | 329.83 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1791 | 335.32 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1792 | 340.82 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1793 | 346.31 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1794 | 351.8 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1795 | 357.3 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1796 | 362.79 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1797 | 368.28 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1798 | 373.77 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1799 | 379.27 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1800 | 384.76 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1801 | 392.5 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1802 | 400.29 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1803 | 408.13 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1804 | 416 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1805 | 423.92 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1806 | 431.89 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1807 | 439.87 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1808 | 447.92 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1809 | 456.01 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1810 | 464.15 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1811 | 473.44 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1812 | 482.78 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1813 | 492.18 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1814 | 501.62 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1815 | 511.11 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1816 | 520.63 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1817 | 530.22 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1818 | 539.87 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1819 | 549.56 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1820 | 559.31 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1821 | 570.45 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1822 | 581.64 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1823 | 592.89 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1824 | 604.2 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1825 | 615.57 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1826 | 626.97 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1827 | 638.46 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1828 | 650.01 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1829 | 661.62 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1830 | 673.28 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1831 | 686.62 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1832 | 700.02 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1833 | 713.49 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1834 | 727.03 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1835 | 740.64 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1836 | 754.28 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1837 | 768.03 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1838 | 781.85 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1839 | 795.73 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1840 | 809.69 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1841 | 825.64 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1842 | 841.68 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1843 | 857.8 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1844 | 874 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1845 | 890.23 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1846 | 906.59 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1847 | 923.03 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1848 | 939.55 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1849 | 956.15 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1850 | 968.35 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1851 | 989.93 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1852 | 1,012 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1853 | 1,033 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1854 | 1,055 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1855 | 1,077 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1856 | 1,100 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1857 | 1,124 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1858 | 1,148 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1859 | 1,172 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1860 | 1,196 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1861 | 1,232 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1862 | 1,267 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1863 | 1,304 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1864 | 1,340 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1865 | 1,376 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1866 | 1,419 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1867 | 1,462 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1868 | 1,505 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1869 | 1,548 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1870 | 1,591 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1871 | 1,645 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1872 | 1,698 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 1,751 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1874 | 1,805 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1875 | 1,859 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 1,907 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1877 | 1,955 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1878 | 2,502 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 1879 | 2,878 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1880 | 3,324 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1881 | 3,533 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1882 | 3,764 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1883 | 4,013 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1884 | 4,328 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1885 | 4,527 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1886 | 4,671 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1887 | 4,829 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 5,116 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1889 | 5,062 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1890 | 5,321 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1891 | 5,495 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1892 | 5,556 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 5,674 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1894 | 5,841 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1895 | 5,910 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 6,269 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1897 | 6,555 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1898 | 6,923 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1899 | 7,309 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1900 | 7,915 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1901 | 8,643 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1902 | 9,384 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1903 | 9,789 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1904 | 10,478 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1905 | 10,853 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1906 | 11,676 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1907 | 12,301 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1908 | 12,601 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1909 | 13,007 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1910 | 14,552 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1911 | 14,033 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1912 | 14,701 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1913 | 13,404 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1914 | 15,419 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1915 | 15,209 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1916 | 15,126 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1917 | 13,951 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1918 | 13,521 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1919 | 12,470 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1920 | 11,210 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1921 | 11,228 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 11,456 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1923 | 12,046 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1924 | 12,421 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1925 | 12,859 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1926 | 13,418 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 13,984 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1928 | 14,353 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1929 | 14,775 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1930 | 14,815 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1931 | 14,018 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1932 | 12,952 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1933 | 13,148 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1934 | 14,360 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1935 | 14,794 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1936 | 14,905 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1937 | 15,363 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1938 | 15,103 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1939 | 15,525 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1940 | 16,125 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1941 | 16,970 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1942 | 17,504 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1943 | 18,408 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1944 | 18,981 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1945 | 19,663 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1946 | 19,895 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1947 | 20,153 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1948 | 20,683 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1949 | 21,438 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1950 | 38,726 tonnes | +80.6% |
| 1951 | 39,030 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1952 | 43,113 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1953 | 40,422 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1954 | 42,869 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1955 | 44,872 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1956 | 46,163 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1957 | 49,878 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1958 | 48,681 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1959 | 49,119 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 68,349 tonnes | +39.1% |
| 1961 | 70,582 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 71,544 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 76,828 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 87,564 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1965 | 96,504 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1966 | 102,896 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1967 | 98,633 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1968 | 104,094 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 105,807 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 114,054 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1971 | 115,587 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1972 | 125,820 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 123,483 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 131,383 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1975 | 134,683 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 145,082 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1977 | 142,226 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 141,488 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 149,541 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 144,219 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 135,852 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 131,939 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 130,494 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 136,856 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 136,209 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 133,023 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 141,335 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 150,043 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 148,766 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1990 | 167,823 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1991 | 163,075 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 168,966 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 167,915 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 182,471 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1995 | 179,445 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 183,058 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 190,850 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1998 | 186,276 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 191,691 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 197,037 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 205,869 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 212,306 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 220,396 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 214,482 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 227,820 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 222,998 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 221,370 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 224,511 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 209,840 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 207,331 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 209,202 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 211,734 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 210,774 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 210,719 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 214,079 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 207,755 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 212,791 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 211,894 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 214,094 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 177,724 tonnes | -17.0% |
| 2021 | 200,267 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 2022 | 192,144 tonnes | -4.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 192,144 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 2.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 192,144 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 1.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand 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 | +80.6% | 21,438 tonnes | 38,726 tonnes |
| 1960 | +39.1% | 49,119 tonnes | 68,349 tonnes |
| 1878 | +28.0% | 1,955 tonnes | 2,502 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 191.44 tonnes | 178.09 tonnes | 204.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 223.33 tonnes | 207.75 tonnes | 238.9 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 260.53 tonnes | 242.36 tonnes | 278.7 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 303.93 tonnes | 282.74 tonnes | 325.12 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 354.55 tonnes | 329.83 tonnes | 379.27 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 420.13 tonnes | 384.76 tonnes | 456.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 506.56 tonnes | 464.15 tonnes | 549.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 610.11 tonnes | 559.31 tonnes | 661.62 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 734.1 tonnes | 673.28 tonnes | 795.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 882.44 tonnes | 809.69 tonnes | 956.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,068 tonnes | 968.35 tonnes | 1,172 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,365 tonnes | 1,196 tonnes | 1,548 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,959 tonnes | 1,591 tonnes | 2,878 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 4,317 tonnes | 3,324 tonnes | 5,116 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 6,085 tonnes | 5,321 tonnes | 7,309 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 10,665 tonnes | 7,915 tonnes | 13,007 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 14,239 tonnes | 12,470 tonnes | 15,419 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 12,775 tonnes | 11,210 tonnes | 14,775 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 14,498 tonnes | 12,952 tonnes | 15,525 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 18,982 tonnes | 16,125 tonnes | 21,438 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 44,287 tonnes | 38,726 tonnes | 49,878 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 88,280 tonnes | 68,349 tonnes | 105,807 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 132,335 tonnes | 114,054 tonnes | 149,541 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 138,874 tonnes | 130,494 tonnes | 150,043 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 178,157 tonnes | 163,075 tonnes | 191,691 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 215,663 tonnes | 197,037 tonnes | 227,820 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 211,037 tonnes | 207,331 tonnes | 214,094 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 190,045 tonnes | 177,724 tonnes | 200,267 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More environment data for New Zealand
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2131 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.379 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.474 % 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 -0.9337 % 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 New Zealand?
- Emissions of air pollutants in New Zealand was 192,144 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 227,820 tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 178.09 tonnes in 1750.
- How does New Zealand rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- New Zealand ranks 70th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.