Emissions of air pollutants in Poland
Poland: Emissions of air pollutants was 554,688 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
554,688 tonnes
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
39th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.37 million tonnes
in 1987
All-time low
3,534 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Poland, 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 Poland stood at 554,688 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Poland peaked at 1.37 million tonnes in 1987 and was at its lowest, 3,534 tonnes, in 1750.
Poland ranks 39th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Poland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 3,534 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 3,551 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 3,568 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 3,585 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 3,602 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 3,618 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 3,635 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 3,652 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 3,669 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 3,686 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 3,703 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 3,720 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 3,738 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 3,755 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 3,773 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 3,791 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 3,808 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 3,826 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 3,844 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 3,861 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 3,879 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 3,897 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 3,916 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 3,934 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 3,953 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 3,971 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 3,990 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 4,008 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 4,027 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 4,045 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 4,064 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1781 | 4,083 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 4,102 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 4,120 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 4,139 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 4,158 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 4,177 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 4,196 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 4,215 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 4,234 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 4,253 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 4,272 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 4,292 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 4,311 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 4,331 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 4,350 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 4,370 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 4,389 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 4,409 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 4,428 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 5,291 tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1801 | 5,394 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1802 | 5,435 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1803 | 5,484 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1804 | 5,503 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 5,765 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1806 | 5,685 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1807 | 5,415 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1808 | 5,700 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1809 | 5,666 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1810 | 5,891 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1811 | 5,964 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1812 | 5,710 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1813 | 5,586 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1814 | 5,865 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1815 | 6,075 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1816 | 6,286 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1817 | 6,451 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1818 | 6,852 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1819 | 6,537 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1820 | 6,542 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 6,746 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1822 | 6,950 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1823 | 7,634 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1824 | 7,785 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1825 | 7,928 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1826 | 7,744 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1827 | 7,964 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1828 | 7,795 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1829 | 7,534 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1830 | 7,411 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1831 | 7,087 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1832 | 7,603 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1833 | 7,737 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1834 | 7,901 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1835 | 8,119 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1836 | 8,505 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1837 | 8,769 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1838 | 9,056 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1839 | 9,306 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1840 | 9,952 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1841 | 10,365 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1842 | 10,717 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1843 | 10,695 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1844 | 11,055 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1845 | 11,942 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1846 | 12,325 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1847 | 12,533 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1848 | 12,634 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1849 | 12,605 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1850 | 13,080 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1851 | 13,678 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1852 | 15,121 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1853 | 15,558 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1854 | 16,547 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1855 | 18,294 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1856 | 19,683 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1857 | 20,458 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1858 | 22,372 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1859 | 21,178 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1860 | 21,863 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1861 | 22,343 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1862 | 24,653 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1863 | 27,184 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1864 | 29,554 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1865 | 31,998 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1866 | 31,483 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1867 | 33,656 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1868 | 37,111 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1869 | 38,022 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1870 | 39,974 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1871 | 44,460 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1872 | 47,727 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1873 | 51,107 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1874 | 56,413 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1875 | 55,748 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1876 | 56,442 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1877 | 53,447 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1878 | 55,304 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1879 | 59,160 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1880 | 58,628 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1881 | 58,728 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1882 | 60,789 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1883 | 65,652 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1884 | 68,109 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1885 | 70,876 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1886 | 71,257 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1887 | 72,063 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 79,762 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1889 | 85,475 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1890 | 89,072 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1891 | 94,863 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1892 | 90,891 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1893 | 95,008 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1894 | 97,999 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1895 | 106,470 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1896 | 120,435 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1897 | 123,531 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1898 | 133,463 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1899 | 137,227 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1900 | 141,610 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1901 | 151,387 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1902 | 155,130 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1903 | 168,535 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1904 | 178,110 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1905 | 186,810 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1906 | 191,604 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1907 | 227,200 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1908 | 268,049 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1909 | 291,700 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1910 | 274,687 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1911 | 268,463 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1912 | 273,369 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1913 | 281,359 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1914 | 234,649 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 1915 | 224,594 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1916 | 253,899 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1917 | 267,993 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1918 | 229,745 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1919 | 61,968 tonnes | -73.0% |
| 1920 | 180,529 tonnes | +191.3% |
| 1921 | 168,291 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1922 | 158,753 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1923 | 127,715 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1924 | 119,139 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1925 | 122,234 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 123,167 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1927 | 147,633 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1928 | 156,327 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1929 | 174,443 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1930 | 151,128 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1931 | 144,464 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1932 | 116,846 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1933 | 117,879 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 119,084 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1935 | 119,487 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1936 | 128,254 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1937 | 141,871 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1938 | 152,417 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1939 | 142,000 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1940 | 355,400 tonnes | +150.3% |
| 1941 | 334,347 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1942 | 368,719 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1943 | 400,242 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1944 | 379,479 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1945 | 131,076 tonnes | -65.5% |
| 1946 | 212,859 tonnes | +62.4% |
| 1947 | 189,339 tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1948 | 186,696 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1949 | 212,602 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1950 | 221,376 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1951 | 241,142 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1952 | 255,206 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1953 | 276,678 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1954 | 300,383 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1955 | 317,661 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1956 | 341,616 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1957 | 365,820 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1958 | 366,798 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1959 | 398,399 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1960 | 447,324 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1961 | 477,807 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1962 | 507,233 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1963 | 529,319 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1964 | 573,326 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1965 | 605,008 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1966 | 643,873 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 686,504 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1968 | 735,634 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1969 | 785,633 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 819,326 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1971 | 859,156 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 907,870 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 956,605 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 1.01 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1975 | 1.08 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1976 | 1.14 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1977 | 1.19 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 1.24 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 1.24 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 1.26 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 1.17 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1982 | 1.17 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 1.20 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 1.25 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 1.29 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 1.33 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 1.37 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 1.35 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.31 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 1.10 million tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1991 | 1.09 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 1.10 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 1.10 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 1.08 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 1.06 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 1.10 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 1.05 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 957,167 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 935,770 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 871,938 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 843,640 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 809,968 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2003 | 823,908 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 831,969 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 862,857 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 870,715 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 857,844 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 828,689 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 810,913 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 835,314 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 806,954 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 769,770 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 723,515 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 707,889 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 706,033 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 715,440 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 755,390 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2018 | 674,409 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 634,931 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 591,747 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 580,906 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 554,688 tonnes | -4.5% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 554,688 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 6.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Poland's 554,688 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 5.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Poland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | +191.3% | 61,968 tonnes | 180,529 tonnes |
| 1940 | +150.3% | 142,000 tonnes | 355,400 tonnes |
| 1919 | -73.0% | 229,745 tonnes | 61,968 tonnes |
| 1945 | -65.5% | 379,479 tonnes | 131,076 tonnes |
| 1946 | +62.4% | 131,076 tonnes | 212,859 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 3,610 tonnes | 3,534 tonnes | 3,686 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 3,782 tonnes | 3,703 tonnes | 3,861 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3,962 tonnes | 3,879 tonnes | 4,045 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 4,149 tonnes | 4,064 tonnes | 4,234 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 4,341 tonnes | 4,253 tonnes | 4,428 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 5,534 tonnes | 5,291 tonnes | 5,765 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 6,121 tonnes | 5,586 tonnes | 6,852 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 7,462 tonnes | 6,542 tonnes | 7,964 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 8,149 tonnes | 7,087 tonnes | 9,306 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 11,482 tonnes | 9,952 tonnes | 12,634 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 17,597 tonnes | 13,080 tonnes | 22,372 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 29,787 tonnes | 21,863 tonnes | 38,022 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 51,978 tonnes | 39,974 tonnes | 59,160 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 69,134 tonnes | 58,628 tonnes | 85,475 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 108,896 tonnes | 89,072 tonnes | 137,227 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 196,014 tonnes | 141,610 tonnes | 291,700 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 237,073 tonnes | 61,968 tonnes | 281,359 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 147,823 tonnes | 119,139 tonnes | 180,529 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 133,343 tonnes | 116,846 tonnes | 152,417 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 277,076 tonnes | 131,076 tonnes | 400,242 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 308,508 tonnes | 221,376 tonnes | 398,399 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 599,166 tonnes | 447,324 tonnes | 785,633 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.04 million tonnes | 819,326 tonnes | 1.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.27 million tonnes | 1.17 million tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.06 million tonnes | 935,770 tonnes | 1.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 841,244 tonnes | 809,968 tonnes | 871,938 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 732,964 tonnes | 634,931 tonnes | 835,314 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 575,780 tonnes | 554,688 tonnes | 591,747 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More environment data for Poland
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.777 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.73 % 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 0.1029 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -4.67 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Poland?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Poland was 554,688 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.37 million tonnes in 1987.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,534 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Poland rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Poland ranks 39th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland 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.