Long run air pollution in Pakistan
Pakistan: Long run air pollution was 1.68 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.68 million
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
13th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.70 million
in 2021
All-time low
1,511
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Pakistan, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, long run air pollution in Pakistan stood at 1.68 million.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in Pakistan peaked at 1.70 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,511, in 1750.
That places Pakistan 13th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long run air pollution in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1,511 | — |
| 1751 | 1,514 | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 1,516 | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 1,519 | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 1,522 | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 1,524 | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 1,527 | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 1,530 | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 1,532 | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 1,535 | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 1,538 | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 1,540 | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 1,543 | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 1,546 | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 1,549 | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 1,551 | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 1,554 | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 1,557 | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 1,559 | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 1,562 | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 1,565 | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 1,567 | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 1,570 | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 1,573 | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 1,576 | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 1,578 | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 1,581 | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 1,584 | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 1,587 | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 1,589 | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 1,592 | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 1,595 | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 1,597 | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 1,600 | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 1,603 | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 1,606 | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 1,609 | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 1,611 | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 1,614 | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 1,617 | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 1,620 | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 1,622 | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 1,625 | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 1,628 | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 1,631 | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 1,634 | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 1,636 | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 1,639 | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 1,642 | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 1,645 | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 1,647 | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 1,654 | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 1,661 | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 1,668 | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 1,674 | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 1,681 | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 1,688 | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 1,695 | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 1,701 | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 1,708 | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 1,715 | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 1,734 | +1.1% |
| 1812 | 1,752 | +1.1% |
| 1813 | 1,771 | +1.1% |
| 1814 | 1,790 | +1.1% |
| 1815 | 1,809 | +1.1% |
| 1816 | 1,828 | +1.0% |
| 1817 | 1,847 | +1.0% |
| 1818 | 1,866 | +1.0% |
| 1819 | 1,885 | +1.0% |
| 1820 | 1,904 | +1.0% |
| 1821 | 1,925 | +1.1% |
| 1822 | 1,946 | +1.1% |
| 1823 | 1,966 | +1.1% |
| 1824 | 1,987 | +1.1% |
| 1825 | 2,008 | +1.1% |
| 1826 | 2,029 | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 2,050 | +1.0% |
| 1828 | 2,071 | +1.0% |
| 1829 | 2,092 | +1.0% |
| 1830 | 2,113 | +1.0% |
| 1831 | 2,136 | +1.1% |
| 1832 | 2,159 | +1.1% |
| 1833 | 2,182 | +1.1% |
| 1834 | 2,205 | +1.1% |
| 1835 | 2,228 | +1.0% |
| 1836 | 2,251 | +1.0% |
| 1837 | 2,274 | +1.0% |
| 1838 | 2,297 | +1.0% |
| 1839 | 2,321 | +1.0% |
| 1840 | 2,344 | +1.0% |
| 1841 | 2,369 | +1.1% |
| 1842 | 2,394 | +1.1% |
| 1843 | 2,419 | +1.1% |
| 1844 | 2,445 | +1.0% |
| 1845 | 2,470 | +1.0% |
| 1846 | 2,495 | +1.0% |
| 1847 | 2,521 | +1.0% |
| 1848 | 2,547 | +1.0% |
| 1849 | 2,572 | +1.0% |
| 1850 | 2,598 | +1.0% |
| 1851 | 2,628 | +1.1% |
| 1852 | 2,658 | +1.1% |
| 1853 | 2,688 | +1.1% |
| 1854 | 2,718 | +1.1% |
| 1855 | 2,748 | +1.1% |
| 1856 | 2,779 | +1.1% |
| 1857 | 2,809 | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 2,840 | +1.1% |
| 1859 | 2,871 | +1.1% |
| 1860 | 2,902 | +1.1% |
| 1861 | 2,931 | +1.0% |
| 1862 | 2,961 | +1.0% |
| 1863 | 2,990 | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 3,020 | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 3,050 | +1.0% |
| 1866 | 3,080 | +1.0% |
| 1867 | 3,110 | +1.0% |
| 1868 | 3,140 | +1.0% |
| 1869 | 3,171 | +1.0% |
| 1870 | 3,243 | +2.3% |
| 1871 | 3,272 | +0.9% |
| 1872 | 3,302 | +0.9% |
| 1873 | 3,332 | +0.9% |
| 1874 | 3,362 | +0.9% |
| 1875 | 3,392 | +0.9% |
| 1876 | 3,422 | +0.9% |
| 1877 | 3,452 | +0.9% |
| 1878 | 3,482 | +0.9% |
| 1879 | 3,513 | +0.9% |
| 1880 | 3,544 | +0.9% |
| 1881 | 3,575 | +0.9% |
| 1882 | 3,606 | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 3,638 | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 3,669 | +0.9% |
| 1885 | 3,701 | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 3,734 | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 3,766 | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 3,807 | +1.1% |
| 1889 | 3,848 | +1.1% |
| 1890 | 3,889 | +1.1% |
| 1891 | 3,930 | +1.1% |
| 1892 | 3,972 | +1.1% |
| 1893 | 4,015 | +1.1% |
| 1894 | 4,057 | +1.1% |
| 1895 | 4,100 | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 4,143 | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 4,186 | +1.0% |
| 1898 | 4,229 | +1.0% |
| 1899 | 4,273 | +1.0% |
| 1900 | 4,316 | +1.0% |
| 1901 | 4,633 | +7.3% |
| 1902 | 4,958 | +7.0% |
| 1903 | 5,290 | +6.7% |
| 1904 | 5,632 | +6.5% |
| 1905 | 5,982 | +6.2% |
| 1906 | 6,353 | +6.2% |
| 1907 | 6,732 | +6.0% |
| 1908 | 7,121 | +5.8% |
| 1909 | 7,520 | +5.6% |
| 1910 | 7,925 | +5.4% |
| 1911 | 8,326 | +5.1% |
| 1912 | 8,722 | +4.8% |
| 1913 | 9,122 | +4.6% |
| 1914 | 9,527 | +4.4% |
| 1915 | 9,933 | +4.3% |
| 1916 | 10,346 | +4.2% |
| 1917 | 10,762 | +4.0% |
| 1918 | 11,183 | +3.9% |
| 1919 | 11,606 | +3.8% |
| 1920 | 12,035 | +3.7% |
| 1921 | 12,544 | +4.2% |
| 1922 | 13,127 | +4.7% |
| 1923 | 13,770 | +4.9% |
| 1924 | 14,373 | +4.4% |
| 1925 | 15,185 | +5.7% |
| 1926 | 15,922 | +4.8% |
| 1927 | 16,612 | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 17,299 | +4.1% |
| 1929 | 18,027 | +4.2% |
| 1930 | 18,641 | +3.4% |
| 1931 | 19,367 | +3.9% |
| 1932 | 20,032 | +3.4% |
| 1933 | 20,754 | +3.6% |
| 1934 | 21,486 | +3.5% |
| 1935 | 22,238 | +3.5% |
| 1936 | 23,183 | +4.2% |
| 1937 | 24,348 | +5.0% |
| 1938 | 25,521 | +4.8% |
| 1939 | 26,707 | +4.6% |
| 1940 | 27,907 | +4.5% |
| 1941 | 29,686 | +6.4% |
| 1942 | 31,442 | +5.9% |
| 1943 | 33,322 | +6.0% |
| 1944 | 35,280 | +5.9% |
| 1945 | 37,249 | +5.6% |
| 1946 | 40,332 | +8.3% |
| 1947 | 33,127 | -17.9% |
| 1948 | 35,066 | +5.9% |
| 1949 | 38,628 | +10.2% |
| 1950 | 60,906 | +57.7% |
| 1951 | 66,909 | +9.9% |
| 1952 | 71,448 | +6.8% |
| 1953 | 77,192 | +8.0% |
| 1954 | 83,047 | +7.6% |
| 1955 | 88,414 | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 95,155 | +7.6% |
| 1957 | 101,045 | +6.2% |
| 1958 | 110,904 | +9.8% |
| 1959 | 116,184 | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 126,194 | +8.6% |
| 1961 | 134,392 | +6.5% |
| 1962 | 139,970 | +4.2% |
| 1963 | 161,525 | +15.4% |
| 1964 | 169,644 | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 176,655 | +4.1% |
| 1966 | 192,673 | +9.1% |
| 1967 | 215,591 | +11.9% |
| 1968 | 242,927 | +12.7% |
| 1969 | 245,950 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 256,707 | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 265,245 | +3.3% |
| 1972 | 270,878 | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 282,745 | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 293,116 | +3.7% |
| 1975 | 300,423 | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 307,031 | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 323,864 | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 347,744 | +7.4% |
| 1979 | 378,904 | +9.0% |
| 1980 | 395,597 | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 397,914 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 417,254 | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 428,442 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 443,787 | +3.6% |
| 1985 | 482,924 | +8.8% |
| 1986 | 526,684 | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 536,256 | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 565,991 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 587,746 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 597,727 | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 603,778 | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 652,149 | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 693,788 | +6.4% |
| 1994 | 719,319 | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 766,494 | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 791,738 | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 817,460 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 822,631 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 909,352 | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 885,636 | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 907,924 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 1.02 million | +12.2% |
| 2003 | 1.13 million | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 1.19 million | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 1.22 million | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 1.25 million | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 1.27 million | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 1.30 million | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 1.35 million | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 1.30 million | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 1.32 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 1.32 million | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 1.38 million | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 1.43 million | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 1.46 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.55 million | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 1.61 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 1.50 million | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 1.51 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.63 million | +8.1% |
| 2021 | 1.70 million | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 1.68 million | -1.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 1.68 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017, 22.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 1.68 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040, 6.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution in Pakistan 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 | +57.7% | 38,628 | 60,906 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,523 | 1,511 | 1,535 | 10 |
| 1760s | 1,550 | 1,538 | 1,562 | 10 |
| 1770s | 1,577 | 1,565 | 1,589 | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,604 | 1,592 | 1,617 | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,632 | 1,620 | 1,645 | 10 |
| 1800s | 1,678 | 1,647 | 1,708 | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,800 | 1,715 | 1,885 | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,998 | 1,904 | 2,092 | 10 |
| 1830s | 2,217 | 2,113 | 2,321 | 10 |
| 1840s | 2,458 | 2,344 | 2,572 | 10 |
| 1850s | 2,734 | 2,598 | 2,871 | 10 |
| 1860s | 3,035 | 2,902 | 3,171 | 10 |
| 1870s | 3,377 | 3,243 | 3,513 | 10 |
| 1880s | 3,689 | 3,544 | 3,848 | 10 |
| 1890s | 4,079 | 3,889 | 4,273 | 10 |
| 1900s | 5,854 | 4,316 | 7,520 | 10 |
| 1910s | 9,745 | 7,925 | 11,606 | 10 |
| 1920s | 14,889 | 12,035 | 18,027 | 10 |
| 1930s | 22,228 | 18,641 | 26,707 | 10 |
| 1940s | 34,204 | 27,907 | 40,332 | 10 |
| 1950s | 87,120 | 60,906 | 116,184 | 10 |
| 1960s | 180,552 | 126,194 | 245,950 | 10 |
| 1970s | 302,666 | 256,707 | 378,904 | 10 |
| 1980s | 478,260 | 395,597 | 587,746 | 10 |
| 1990s | 737,444 | 597,727 | 909,352 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.15 million | 885,636 | 1.35 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.44 million | 1.30 million | 1.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 million | 1.63 million | 1.70 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 10 United Arab Emirates 2.06 million compare
- 11 South Africa 1.86 million compare
- 12 Iran 1.74 million compare
- 14 South Korea 1.63 million compare
- 15 Canada 1.41 million compare
- 16 Thailand 1.24 million compare
More environment data for Pakistan
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 0.0196 hectares per person (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -10.53 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.373 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 6.49 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in Pakistan?
- Long run air pollution in Pakistan was 1.68 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.70 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,511 in 1750.
- How does Pakistan rank for long run air pollution?
- Pakistan ranks 13th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. 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).