Emissions of air pollutants in Portugal
Portugal: Emissions of air pollutants was 187,940 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
187,940 tonnes
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
71st
of 220 countries
All-time high
374,624 tonnes
in 2000
All-time low
565.22 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Portugal, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Portugal is 187,940 tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 17.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Portugal peaked at 374,624 tonnes in 2000 and was at its lowest, 565.22 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Portugal 71st 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 565.22 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 567.56 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 569.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 572.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 574.6 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 576.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 579.28 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 581.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 583.97 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 586.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 588.65 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 591.1 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 593.54 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 595.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 598.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 600.86 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 603.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 605.75 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 608.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 610.63 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 613.07 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 615.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 618.16 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 620.71 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 623.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 625.79 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 628.34 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 630.88 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 633.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 635.97 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 638.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 641.16 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 643.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 646.47 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 649.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 651.77 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 654.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 657.07 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 659.72 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 662.37 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 665.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 667.79 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 670.55 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 673.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 676.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 678.84 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 681.6 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 684.36 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 687.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 689.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 692.65 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 695.96 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 699.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 702.6 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 705.92 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 709.25 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 712.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 715.9 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 719.24 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 722.58 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 725.92 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 729.39 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1812 | 732.87 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1813 | 736.34 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 739.83 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 743.31 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 746.79 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1817 | 750.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1818 | 753.78 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1819 | 757.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1820 | 760.78 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1821 | 765.66 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1822 | 770.53 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1823 | 775.42 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1824 | 780.31 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 785.21 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 790.1 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 795 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 799.91 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 804.83 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 809.75 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 814.77 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1832 | 819.8 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1833 | 824.83 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1834 | 829.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1835 | 834.92 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1836 | 839.96 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1837 | 845.01 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1838 | 850.07 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1839 | 855.14 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1840 | 860.21 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1841 | 866.05 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 871.89 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1843 | 877.74 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1844 | 883.6 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1845 | 889.46 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1846 | 895.33 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1847 | 901.2 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1848 | 907.09 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 912.97 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1850 | 926.07 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1851 | 929.68 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 933.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 936.96 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 940.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 944.1 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 948 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 952.08 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 956.84 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1859 | 961.67 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1860 | 966.49 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 977.74 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1862 | 987.96 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1863 | 997.58 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 1,008 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 1,018 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1866 | 1,039 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1867 | 1,060 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1868 | 1,081 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1869 | 1,102 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1870 | 1,165 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1871 | 1,200 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1872 | 2,129 tonnes | +77.4% |
| 1873 | 2,526 tonnes | +18.7% |
| 1874 | 2,162 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1875 | 3,385 tonnes | +56.5% |
| 1876 | 3,350 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1877 | 2,450 tonnes | -26.9% |
| 1878 | 2,401 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1879 | 2,535 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1880 | 2,871 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1881 | 2,923 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1882 | 3,425 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1883 | 3,527 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1884 | 3,717 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1885 | 3,580 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1886 | 3,832 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1887 | 3,930 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1888 | 4,149 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1889 | 4,585 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1890 | 4,832 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1891 | 4,965 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1892 | 4,916 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1893 | 4,595 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1894 | 5,126 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1895 | 4,966 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1896 | 5,064 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 5,294 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1898 | 5,846 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1899 | 6,035 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1900 | 6,678 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1901 | 6,637 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1902 | 7,080 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1903 | 6,978 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1904 | 7,072 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1905 | 7,012 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1906 | 7,764 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1907 | 8,331 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1908 | 8,350 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1909 | 8,486 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 8,628 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1911 | 8,558 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1912 | 9,640 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1913 | 10,301 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1914 | 9,453 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1915 | 9,024 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1916 | 8,995 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1917 | 6,495 tonnes | -27.8% |
| 1918 | 5,222 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1919 | 7,769 tonnes | +48.8% |
| 1920 | 7,760 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1921 | 7,779 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 9,770 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1923 | 9,548 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1924 | 10,370 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1925 | 10,601 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1926 | 10,895 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1927 | 12,149 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1928 | 13,240 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1929 | 13,256 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1930 | 14,209 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1931 | 13,505 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1932 | 12,506 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1933 | 13,944 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1934 | 14,482 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1935 | 15,567 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1936 | 14,943 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1937 | 16,958 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1938 | 15,527 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1939 | 17,206 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1940 | 15,816 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1941 | 15,149 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1942 | 11,832 tonnes | -21.9% |
| 1943 | 12,365 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 13,409 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1945 | 14,598 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1946 | 17,624 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1947 | 23,154 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 1948 | 22,506 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1949 | 22,093 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1950 | 24,164 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1951 | 26,140 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1952 | 26,267 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 27,864 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1954 | 29,195 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1955 | 30,832 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1956 | 33,340 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1957 | 35,790 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1958 | 34,410 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1959 | 35,654 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1960 | 67,417 tonnes | +89.1% |
| 1961 | 71,588 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1962 | 75,392 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1963 | 82,608 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1964 | 96,578 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1965 | 102,255 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1966 | 105,860 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 114,727 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1968 | 121,368 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 123,189 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 143,296 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1971 | 161,334 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1972 | 162,481 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 182,017 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1974 | 194,084 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 177,231 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1976 | 173,407 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1977 | 175,985 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 179,682 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 188,362 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 191,026 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 202,601 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 202,650 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 217,636 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 208,865 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 207,052 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 233,880 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1987 | 237,362 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 240,901 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 299,854 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 1990 | 313,131 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1991 | 327,618 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 348,374 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 330,044 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1994 | 327,281 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 338,719 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 321,765 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 327,438 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 339,079 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 371,551 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 2000 | 374,624 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 345,625 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2002 | 352,768 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 336,572 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 346,373 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 337,391 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 315,926 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2007 | 304,457 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 288,456 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 273,427 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 248,909 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 239,783 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 228,434 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 226,489 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 216,468 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 223,042 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 227,368 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 231,855 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 229,957 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 235,330 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 184,598 tonnes | -21.6% |
| 2021 | 186,376 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 187,940 tonnes | +0.8% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 187,940 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 2.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 187,940 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +89.1% | 35,654 tonnes | 67,417 tonnes |
| 1872 | +77.4% | 1,200 tonnes | 2,129 tonnes |
| 1875 | +56.5% | 2,162 tonnes | 3,385 tonnes |
| 1919 | +48.8% | 5,222 tonnes | 7,769 tonnes |
| 1947 | +31.4% | 17,624 tonnes | 23,154 tonnes |
| 1917 | -27.8% | 8,995 tonnes | 6,495 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 575.77 tonnes | 565.22 tonnes | 586.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 599.64 tonnes | 588.65 tonnes | 610.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 624.52 tonnes | 613.07 tonnes | 635.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 650.44 tonnes | 638.51 tonnes | 662.37 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 677.46 tonnes | 665.02 tonnes | 689.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 707.59 tonnes | 692.65 tonnes | 722.58 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 741.58 tonnes | 725.92 tonnes | 757.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 782.77 tonnes | 760.78 tonnes | 804.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 832.41 tonnes | 809.75 tonnes | 855.14 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 886.55 tonnes | 860.21 tonnes | 912.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 942.93 tonnes | 926.07 tonnes | 961.67 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,024 tonnes | 966.49 tonnes | 1,102 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 2,330 tonnes | 1,165 tonnes | 3,385 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 3,654 tonnes | 2,871 tonnes | 4,585 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 5,164 tonnes | 4,595 tonnes | 6,035 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 7,439 tonnes | 6,637 tonnes | 8,486 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 8,409 tonnes | 5,222 tonnes | 10,301 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 10,537 tonnes | 7,760 tonnes | 13,256 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 14,885 tonnes | 12,506 tonnes | 17,206 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 16,854 tonnes | 11,832 tonnes | 23,154 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 30,366 tonnes | 24,164 tonnes | 35,790 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 96,098 tonnes | 67,417 tonnes | 123,189 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 173,788 tonnes | 143,296 tonnes | 194,084 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 224,183 tonnes | 191,026 tonnes | 299,854 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 334,500 tonnes | 313,131 tonnes | 371,551 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 327,562 tonnes | 273,427 tonnes | 374,624 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 230,764 tonnes | 216,468 tonnes | 248,909 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 186,305 tonnes | 184,598 tonnes | 187,940 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More environment data for Portugal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.6043 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5127 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.44 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.29 % 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 0.1607 % 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 Portugal?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Portugal was 187,940 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 374,624 tonnes in 2000.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 565.22 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Portugal rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Portugal ranks 71st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.