Emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Emissions of air pollutants was 27,455 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
27,455 tonnes
Change on year
up 7.0%
World rank
149th
of 220 countries
All-time high
32,268 tonnes
in 2012
All-time low
49.17 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 27,455 tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.0% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico peaked at 32,268 tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 49.17 tonnes, in 1750.
Puerto Rico ranks 149th 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 Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 49.17 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 49.57 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1752 | 49.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1753 | 50.36 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1754 | 50.76 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1755 | 51.15 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1756 | 51.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1757 | 51.94 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1758 | 52.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1759 | 52.73 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1760 | 53.13 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1761 | 53.56 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1762 | 53.98 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1763 | 54.41 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1764 | 54.84 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1765 | 55.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1766 | 55.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1767 | 56.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1768 | 56.54 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1769 | 56.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1770 | 57.4 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1771 | 57.86 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1772 | 58.32 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1773 | 58.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1774 | 59.24 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1775 | 59.7 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1776 | 60.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1777 | 60.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1778 | 61.08 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1779 | 61.54 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1780 | 62 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1781 | 62.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1782 | 62.99 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1783 | 63.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1784 | 63.98 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1785 | 64.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1786 | 64.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1787 | 65.47 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1788 | 65.96 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1789 | 66.46 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1790 | 66.95 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1791 | 67.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1792 | 68.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1793 | 68.56 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1794 | 69.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1795 | 69.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1796 | 70.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1797 | 70.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1798 | 71.23 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1799 | 71.76 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1800 | 72.42 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1801 | 73.05 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1802 | 73.68 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1803 | 74.3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1804 | 74.94 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1805 | 75.57 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1806 | 76.19 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1807 | 76.83 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1808 | 77.46 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1809 | 78.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1810 | 78.73 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1811 | 79.41 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1812 | 80.1 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1813 | 80.78 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1814 | 81.47 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1815 | 82.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 82.86 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 83.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 84.25 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 84.92 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 85.61 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 87.42 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1822 | 89.23 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1823 | 91.05 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1824 | 92.89 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1825 | 94.73 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1826 | 96.6 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1827 | 98.44 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1828 | 100.3 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1829 | 102.17 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1830 | 104.07 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1831 | 105.92 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1832 | 107.95 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1833 | 109.9 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1834 | 111.67 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1835 | 113.73 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1836 | 115.65 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1837 | 117.62 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1838 | 119.35 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1839 | 121.29 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1840 | 123.2 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1841 | 126.44 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1842 | 129.77 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1843 | 133.14 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1844 | 136.68 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1845 | 140.32 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1846 | 143.85 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1847 | 147.59 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1848 | 151.18 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1849 | 154.69 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1850 | 165.96 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1851 | 165.7 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1852 | 164.94 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1853 | 165.01 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 164.97 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1855 | 165.4 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 170.57 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1857 | 175.6 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1858 | 180.58 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1859 | 186.3 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1860 | 198 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1861 | 221.06 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1862 | 236.26 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1863 | 235.11 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1864 | 232.74 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1865 | 239.91 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1866 | 268.17 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1867 | 282.83 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1868 | 303.34 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1869 | 327.17 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1870 | 352.06 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1871 | 347.08 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1872 | 357.91 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1873 | 395.18 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1874 | 401.05 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1875 | 371.33 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1876 | 382.9 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1877 | 440.55 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1878 | 472.49 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1879 | 534.18 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1880 | 610.72 tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1881 | 618.56 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1882 | 642.43 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1883 | 568.55 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 1884 | 567.03 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1885 | 538.07 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1886 | 585.37 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1887 | 575.25 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1888 | 567.16 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1889 | 613.08 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1890 | 703.78 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1891 | 780.24 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1892 | 747.94 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1893 | 727.65 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1894 | 726.76 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1895 | 766.25 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1896 | 835.38 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1897 | 834.88 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1898 | 805.35 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1899 | 834.72 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1900 | 889.08 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1901 | 994.64 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1902 | 1,196 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1903 | 1,356 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1904 | 1,528 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1905 | 1,719 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1906 | 1,700 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1907 | 2,070 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1908 | 2,173 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1909 | 2,255 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1910 | 2,500 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1911 | 2,607 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1912 | 2,670 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1913 | 3,034 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1914 | 3,178 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1915 | 3,321 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1916 | 3,560 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1917 | 3,813 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1918 | 4,005 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1919 | 4,304 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1920 | 5,217 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1921 | 5,440 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1922 | 6,052 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1923 | 6,976 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1924 | 6,773 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1925 | 7,033 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1926 | 7,118 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1927 | 7,958 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1928 | 8,080 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1929 | 8,759 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1930 | 7,864 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1931 | 7,424 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1932 | 6,946 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1933 | 7,565 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1934 | 7,607 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1935 | 8,121 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1936 | 8,842 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1937 | 9,900 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1938 | 9,340 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1939 | 9,761 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1940 | 10,573 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1941 | 11,009 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1942 | 10,557 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1943 | 11,244 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1944 | 12,576 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1945 | 12,918 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1946 | 13,125 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1947 | 14,071 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1948 | 15,474 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1949 | 14,529 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1950 | 15,954 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1951 | 16,458 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1952 | 15,980 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1953 | 15,621 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1954 | 14,756 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1955 | 14,774 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1956 | 14,470 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1957 | 13,443 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1958 | 12,832 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1959 | 12,359 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1960 | 11,772 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1961 | 11,207 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1962 | 10,805 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1963 | 10,302 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1964 | 9,840 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1965 | 9,544 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 9,143 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1967 | 8,650 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1968 | 8,269 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1969 | 7,782 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 7,744 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1971 | 19,010 tonnes | +145.5% |
| 1972 | 18,478 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 21,101 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1974 | 20,418 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1975 | 18,544 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1976 | 23,365 tonnes | +26.0% |
| 1977 | 25,522 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1978 | 27,967 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1979 | 27,764 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 31,978 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1981 | 30,876 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 27,260 tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1983 | 26,479 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 23,386 tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1985 | 24,800 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 22,746 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1987 | 22,014 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1988 | 21,525 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 21,601 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 32,237 tonnes | +49.2% |
| 1991 | 32,081 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 31,332 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 30,458 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 30,506 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 30,202 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 29,580 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 29,796 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 31,175 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 31,405 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 30,805 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 31,314 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 31,692 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 31,265 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 30,548 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 30,351 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 30,007 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 29,217 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 28,937 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 28,130 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 27,329 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 20,672 tonnes | -24.4% |
| 2012 | 32,268 tonnes | +56.1% |
| 2013 | 31,966 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 30,964 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 30,134 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 29,928 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 25,352 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2018 | 25,177 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 25,699 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 23,084 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 25,656 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2022 | 27,455 tonnes | +7.0% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 27,455 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 30% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 27,455 tonnes is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 54,155 tonnes, 51% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | +145.5% | 7,744 tonnes | 19,010 tonnes |
| 2012 | +56.1% | 20,672 tonnes | 32,268 tonnes |
| 1990 | +49.2% | 21,601 tonnes | 32,237 tonnes |
| 1976 | +26.0% | 18,544 tonnes | 23,365 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 50.95 tonnes | 49.17 tonnes | 52.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 55.05 tonnes | 53.13 tonnes | 56.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 59.47 tonnes | 57.4 tonnes | 61.54 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 64.23 tonnes | 62 tonnes | 66.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 69.36 tonnes | 66.95 tonnes | 71.76 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 75.25 tonnes | 72.42 tonnes | 78.09 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 81.82 tonnes | 78.73 tonnes | 84.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 93.84 tonnes | 85.61 tonnes | 102.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 112.71 tonnes | 104.07 tonnes | 121.29 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 138.68 tonnes | 123.2 tonnes | 154.69 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 170.5 tonnes | 164.94 tonnes | 186.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 254.46 tonnes | 198 tonnes | 327.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 405.47 tonnes | 347.08 tonnes | 534.18 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 588.62 tonnes | 538.07 tonnes | 642.43 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 776.29 tonnes | 703.78 tonnes | 835.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,588 tonnes | 889.08 tonnes | 2,255 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 3,299 tonnes | 2,500 tonnes | 4,304 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 6,941 tonnes | 5,217 tonnes | 8,759 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 8,337 tonnes | 6,946 tonnes | 9,900 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 12,608 tonnes | 10,557 tonnes | 15,474 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 14,665 tonnes | 12,359 tonnes | 16,458 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 9,731 tonnes | 7,782 tonnes | 11,772 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 20,991 tonnes | 7,744 tonnes | 27,967 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,266 tonnes | 21,525 tonnes | 31,978 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,877 tonnes | 29,580 tonnes | 32,237 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,226 tonnes | 28,130 tonnes | 31,692 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 27,949 tonnes | 20,672 tonnes | 32,268 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,398 tonnes | 23,084 tonnes | 27,455 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More environment data for Puerto Rico
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.4091 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5906 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.16 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2025)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value US$ 864.98 million USD (2024)
- Land area equipped for irrigation — Area 22.04 1000 ha (2024)
- Land area equipped for irrigation — Share in Cropland 30.48 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value Standard 864.98 million SLC (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Share of GDP US$ 0.6901 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Puerto Rico was 27,455 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 32,268 tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.17 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Puerto Rico ranks 149th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.