Emissions of air pollutants in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Emissions of air pollutants was 61,833 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
61,833 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
118th
of 220 countries
All-time high
64,927 tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
33.46 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Papua New Guinea, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Papua New Guinea recorded 61,833 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Papua New Guinea peaked at 64,927 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 33.46 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Papua New Guinea 118th 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 33.46 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 33.52 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 33.59 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 33.65 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 33.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 33.77 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 33.83 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 33.9 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 33.96 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 34.02 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 34.08 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 34.14 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 34.21 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 34.27 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 34.33 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 34.4 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 34.46 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 34.52 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 34.59 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 34.65 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 34.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 34.78 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 34.84 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 34.9 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 34.97 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 35.03 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 35.1 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 35.16 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 35.22 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 35.29 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 35.35 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 35.42 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 35.48 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 35.55 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 35.61 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 35.68 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 35.74 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 35.81 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 35.87 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 35.94 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 36.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 36.07 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 36.14 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 36.2 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 36.27 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 36.34 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 36.4 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 36.47 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 36.54 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 36.6 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 36.67 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 36.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 36.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 37.01 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 37.12 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 37.23 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 37.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 37.45 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 37.57 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 37.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 37.79 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 38.17 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1812 | 38.54 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1813 | 38.92 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1814 | 39.29 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1815 | 39.67 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1816 | 40.05 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1817 | 40.42 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1818 | 40.8 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1819 | 41.18 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1820 | 41.56 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1821 | 41.97 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1822 | 42.38 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1823 | 42.8 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1824 | 43.21 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1825 | 43.62 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 44.04 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1827 | 44.45 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1828 | 44.87 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1829 | 45.28 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1830 | 45.7 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1831 | 46.15 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1832 | 46.6 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1833 | 47.06 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1834 | 47.51 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1835 | 47.96 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1836 | 48.42 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1837 | 48.87 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1838 | 49.33 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1839 | 49.79 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1840 | 50.25 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1841 | 50.74 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1842 | 51.24 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1843 | 51.73 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1844 | 52.23 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1845 | 52.73 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1846 | 53.23 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1847 | 53.73 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1848 | 54.23 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1849 | 54.73 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1850 | 55.23 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1851 | 56.79 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1852 | 58.39 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1853 | 60.05 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1854 | 61.76 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1855 | 63.52 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1856 | 65.34 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1857 | 67.22 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1858 | 69.17 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1859 | 71.18 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1860 | 73.25 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1861 | 74.92 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1862 | 76.64 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1863 | 78.4 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1864 | 80.21 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1865 | 82.08 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1866 | 83.99 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1867 | 85.96 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1868 | 87.99 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1869 | 90.07 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1870 | 92.22 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1871 | 94.37 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1872 | 96.56 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1873 | 98.81 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1874 | 101.12 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1875 | 103.51 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1876 | 105.96 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1877 | 108.48 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1878 | 111.08 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1879 | 113.75 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 116.5 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1881 | 115.57 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1882 | 119.34 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1883 | 123.25 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1884 | 127.32 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1885 | 131.55 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1886 | 135.95 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1887 | 140.53 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 145.52 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1889 | 150.71 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1890 | 156.1 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1891 | 156.93 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 157.79 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 158.67 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1894 | 159.56 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1895 | 160.47 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 161.87 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 163.28 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1898 | 164.72 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 166.18 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1900 | 167.65 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 178.06 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1902 | 191.41 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1903 | 205.06 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1904 | 219.02 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1905 | 233.29 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1906 | 248.22 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1907 | 263.44 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1908 | 278.98 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1909 | 294.81 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1910 | 310.95 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1911 | 322.49 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1912 | 334.02 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1913 | 345.57 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1914 | 357.13 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1915 | 368.72 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1916 | 380.34 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1917 | 391.97 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1918 | 403.64 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1919 | 415.33 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1920 | 427.06 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1921 | 437.17 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1922 | 443.9 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1923 | 453.92 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1924 | 462.43 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1925 | 473.73 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1926 | 477.98 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1927 | 486.66 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1928 | 495.06 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1929 | 499.31 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1930 | 505.67 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1931 | 516.41 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 517.09 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1933 | 520.56 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1934 | 523.96 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1935 | 527.36 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1936 | 533.97 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1937 | 540.39 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1938 | 546.62 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 552.64 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1940 | 558.47 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1941 | 561.51 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1942 | 562.38 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1943 | 564.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1944 | 566.93 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1945 | 562.99 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1946 | 565.74 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1947 | 548.79 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1948 | 530.72 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1949 | 514.37 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1950 | 1,089 tonnes | +111.7% |
| 1951 | 1,189 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1952 | 1,419 tonnes | +19.3% |
| 1953 | 1,524 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1954 | 1,514 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1955 | 1,816 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1956 | 1,795 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1957 | 1,938 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1958 | 1,913 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1959 | 2,009 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1960 | 2,126 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1961 | 2,304 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1962 | 2,255 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1963 | 2,657 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1964 | 2,701 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 2,912 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1966 | 3,105 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1967 | 3,635 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1968 | 3,946 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1969 | 4,160 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1970 | 4,751 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1971 | 6,713 tonnes | +41.3% |
| 1972 | 9,968 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 1973 | 10,078 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 12,469 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1975 | 12,194 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 12,492 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 16,252 tonnes | +30.1% |
| 1978 | 14,475 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1979 | 15,855 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1980 | 16,031 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 17,321 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 17,774 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 18,444 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 22,602 tonnes | +22.5% |
| 1985 | 21,918 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 22,787 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 24,526 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 23,459 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 21,103 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 23,727 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 24,194 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 26,951 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1993 | 27,530 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 28,455 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 30,318 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 31,700 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1997 | 33,567 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1998 | 36,004 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1999 | 34,244 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 38,761 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2001 | 46,243 tonnes | +19.3% |
| 2002 | 50,059 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 53,948 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 64,173 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 2005 | 59,169 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 56,549 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 59,295 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 55,173 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 54,515 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 50,988 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 40,485 tonnes | -20.6% |
| 2012 | 50,931 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 2013 | 52,677 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 57,367 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2015 | 61,546 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 63,266 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 61,578 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 64,927 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 64,360 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 58,817 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 60,407 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 61,833 tonnes | +2.4% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 61,833 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 84% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 61,833 tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 60% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Papua New Guinea 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 | +111.7% | 514.37 tonnes | 1,089 tonnes |
| 1972 | +48.5% | 6,713 tonnes | 9,968 tonnes |
| 1971 | +41.3% | 4,751 tonnes | 6,713 tonnes |
| 1977 | +30.1% | 12,492 tonnes | 16,252 tonnes |
| 2012 | +25.8% | 40,485 tonnes | 50,931 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 33.74 tonnes | 33.46 tonnes | 34.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 34.36 tonnes | 34.08 tonnes | 34.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 35 tonnes | 34.71 tonnes | 35.29 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 35.65 tonnes | 35.35 tonnes | 35.94 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 36.3 tonnes | 36.01 tonnes | 36.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 37.17 tonnes | 36.67 tonnes | 37.68 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 39.48 tonnes | 37.79 tonnes | 41.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 43.42 tonnes | 41.56 tonnes | 45.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 47.74 tonnes | 45.7 tonnes | 49.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 52.48 tonnes | 50.25 tonnes | 54.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 62.86 tonnes | 55.23 tonnes | 71.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 81.35 tonnes | 73.25 tonnes | 90.07 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 102.58 tonnes | 92.22 tonnes | 113.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 130.62 tonnes | 115.57 tonnes | 150.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 160.56 tonnes | 156.1 tonnes | 166.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 227.99 tonnes | 167.65 tonnes | 294.81 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 363.02 tonnes | 310.95 tonnes | 415.33 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 465.72 tonnes | 427.06 tonnes | 499.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 528.47 tonnes | 505.67 tonnes | 552.64 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 553.65 tonnes | 514.37 tonnes | 566.93 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1,621 tonnes | 1,089 tonnes | 2,009 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2,980 tonnes | 2,126 tonnes | 4,160 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 11,525 tonnes | 4,751 tonnes | 16,252 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,597 tonnes | 16,031 tonnes | 24,526 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,669 tonnes | 23,727 tonnes | 36,004 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 53,788 tonnes | 38,761 tonnes | 64,173 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 56,812 tonnes | 40,485 tonnes | 64,927 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 60,352 tonnes | 58,817 tonnes | 61,833 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More environment data for Papua New Guinea
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 1.56 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.183 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.834 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9266 % 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 0.6032 % 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 Papua New Guinea?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Papua New Guinea was 61,833 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 Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 64,927 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.46 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 118th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.