Emissions of air pollutants in Romania
Romania: Emissions of air pollutants was 198,247 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
198,247 tonnes
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
68th
of 220 countries
All-time high
597,344 tonnes
in 1989
All-time low
1,846 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Romania, 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 Romania stood at 198,247 tonnes.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Romania peaked at 597,344 tonnes in 1989 and was at its lowest, 1,846 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Romania 68th 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 Romania, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1,846 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 1,859 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1752 | 1,872 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1753 | 1,885 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1754 | 1,898 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1755 | 1,911 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1756 | 1,925 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1757 | 1,938 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1758 | 1,951 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1759 | 1,964 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1760 | 1,977 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1761 | 1,991 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1762 | 2,006 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1763 | 2,020 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1764 | 2,034 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1765 | 2,048 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1766 | 2,062 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1767 | 2,076 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1768 | 2,090 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1769 | 2,104 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1770 | 2,119 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1771 | 2,134 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1772 | 2,149 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1773 | 2,164 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1774 | 2,179 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1775 | 2,194 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1776 | 2,209 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1777 | 2,224 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1778 | 2,240 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1779 | 2,255 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1780 | 2,270 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1781 | 2,286 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1782 | 2,302 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1783 | 2,319 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1784 | 2,335 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1785 | 2,351 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1786 | 2,367 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1787 | 2,383 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1788 | 2,400 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1789 | 2,416 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1790 | 2,432 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1791 | 2,449 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1792 | 2,467 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1793 | 2,484 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1794 | 2,502 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1795 | 2,519 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1796 | 2,536 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1797 | 2,554 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1798 | 2,571 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1799 | 2,588 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1800 | 2,606 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1801 | 2,627 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1802 | 2,648 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1803 | 2,670 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1804 | 2,691 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1805 | 2,713 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1806 | 2,734 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1807 | 2,756 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1808 | 2,777 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1809 | 2,799 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1810 | 2,820 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1811 | 2,843 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 2,866 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 2,889 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 2,912 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 2,935 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 2,958 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 2,982 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 3,005 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 3,028 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 3,051 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 3,088 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1822 | 3,124 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1823 | 3,160 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1824 | 3,197 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1825 | 3,233 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1826 | 3,270 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1827 | 3,306 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1828 | 3,343 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1829 | 3,380 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1830 | 3,417 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1831 | 3,441 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1832 | 3,466 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1833 | 3,490 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1834 | 3,515 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1835 | 3,540 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1836 | 3,564 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1837 | 3,589 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1838 | 3,614 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1839 | 3,639 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1840 | 3,664 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1841 | 3,690 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1842 | 3,716 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1843 | 3,743 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1844 | 3,769 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1845 | 3,795 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1846 | 3,822 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1847 | 3,848 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1848 | 3,875 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 3,901 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1850 | 3,937 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1851 | 3,966 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 3,994 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 4,022 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 4,050 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 4,077 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 4,105 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 4,134 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 4,173 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 4,200 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 4,227 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1861 | 4,274 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1862 | 4,319 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1863 | 4,354 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1864 | 4,399 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1865 | 4,433 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1866 | 4,483 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1867 | 4,533 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1868 | 4,582 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 4,620 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1870 | 4,693 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1871 | 4,757 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1872 | 4,808 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1873 | 4,871 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1874 | 4,921 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1875 | 4,983 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1876 | 5,036 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 5,089 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1878 | 5,141 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1879 | 5,192 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 5,242 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 5,309 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1882 | 5,748 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1883 | 6,201 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1884 | 6,427 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1885 | 6,442 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 6,546 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1887 | 6,702 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1888 | 7,002 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1889 | 7,127 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1890 | 7,610 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1891 | 8,447 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1892 | 8,381 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1893 | 8,588 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1894 | 8,406 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1895 | 8,587 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1896 | 8,750 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1897 | 9,295 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1898 | 10,608 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1899 | 10,656 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 10,014 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1901 | 11,243 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1902 | 11,556 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1903 | 12,760 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1904 | 14,320 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1905 | 16,322 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1906 | 20,081 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1907 | 23,318 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1908 | 23,182 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1909 | 25,604 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1910 | 25,643 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1911 | 29,568 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1912 | 31,845 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1913 | 33,883 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1914 | 31,338 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1915 | 28,949 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1916 | 20,447 tonnes | -29.4% |
| 1917 | 18,388 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1918 | 21,260 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1919 | 23,078 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1920 | 26,195 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1921 | 27,246 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1922 | 30,701 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1923 | 33,875 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1924 | 38,875 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1925 | 45,188 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1926 | 57,034 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1927 | 63,049 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1928 | 71,123 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1929 | 79,165 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1930 | 91,118 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1931 | 103,316 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1932 | 110,730 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1933 | 111,141 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1934 | 127,161 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1935 | 126,475 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1936 | 132,369 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1937 | 112,424 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1938 | 105,442 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1939 | 100,375 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1940 | 95,148 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1941 | 89,978 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1942 | 94,015 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1943 | 88,385 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1944 | 62,162 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 1945 | 78,251 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1946 | 72,185 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1947 | 67,147 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1948 | 80,489 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1949 | 86,354 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1950 | 54,258 tonnes | -37.2% |
| 1951 | 63,955 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1952 | 75,113 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1953 | 83,467 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1954 | 92,252 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1955 | 99,997 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1956 | 110,984 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1957 | 122,816 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1958 | 131,226 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1959 | 126,953 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1960 | 129,562 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1961 | 131,556 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1962 | 147,080 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1963 | 159,257 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1964 | 162,595 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1965 | 179,351 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1966 | 192,011 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1967 | 213,094 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1968 | 230,553 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1969 | 254,774 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1970 | 292,424 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1971 | 289,902 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 296,385 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 322,357 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1974 | 310,982 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1975 | 369,767 tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1976 | 405,426 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1977 | 421,385 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 451,763 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 467,507 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 472,624 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 448,000 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 463,450 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 463,155 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 462,307 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 446,505 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1986 | 449,360 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 488,066 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 505,634 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 597,344 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1990 | 511,848 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1991 | 438,992 tonnes | -14.2% |
| 1992 | 419,533 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 368,606 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1994 | 372,995 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 373,601 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 423,945 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1997 | 412,334 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 362,301 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1999 | 308,131 tonnes | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 315,186 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 333,306 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 336,735 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 339,254 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 342,703 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 329,003 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 328,633 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 315,758 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 313,743 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 257,389 tonnes | -18.0% |
| 2010 | 245,042 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 258,087 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 249,758 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 228,125 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 223,891 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 221,027 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 212,537 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 222,005 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 217,734 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 215,055 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 200,750 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 207,423 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 198,247 tonnes | -4.4% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 198,247 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 2.2× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Romania's 198,247 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 1.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Romania 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 | -37.2% | 86,354 tonnes | 54,258 tonnes |
| 1944 | -29.7% | 88,385 tonnes | 62,162 tonnes |
| 1916 | -29.4% | 28,949 tonnes | 20,447 tonnes |
| 1926 | +26.2% | 45,188 tonnes | 57,034 tonnes |
| 1945 | +25.9% | 62,162 tonnes | 78,251 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,905 tonnes | 1,846 tonnes | 1,964 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 2,041 tonnes | 1,977 tonnes | 2,104 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 2,187 tonnes | 2,119 tonnes | 2,255 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 2,343 tonnes | 2,270 tonnes | 2,416 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 2,510 tonnes | 2,432 tonnes | 2,588 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 2,702 tonnes | 2,606 tonnes | 2,799 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 2,924 tonnes | 2,820 tonnes | 3,028 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 3,215 tonnes | 3,051 tonnes | 3,380 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 3,528 tonnes | 3,417 tonnes | 3,639 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 3,782 tonnes | 3,664 tonnes | 3,901 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 4,066 tonnes | 3,937 tonnes | 4,200 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 4,422 tonnes | 4,227 tonnes | 4,620 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 4,949 tonnes | 4,693 tonnes | 5,192 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 6,275 tonnes | 5,242 tonnes | 7,127 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 8,933 tonnes | 7,610 tonnes | 10,656 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 16,840 tonnes | 10,014 tonnes | 25,604 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 26,440 tonnes | 18,388 tonnes | 33,883 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 47,245 tonnes | 26,195 tonnes | 79,165 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 112,055 tonnes | 91,118 tonnes | 132,369 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 81,411 tonnes | 62,162 tonnes | 95,148 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 96,102 tonnes | 54,258 tonnes | 131,226 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 179,983 tonnes | 129,562 tonnes | 254,774 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 362,790 tonnes | 289,902 tonnes | 467,507 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 479,644 tonnes | 446,505 tonnes | 597,344 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 399,229 tonnes | 308,131 tonnes | 511,848 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 321,171 tonnes | 257,389 tonnes | 342,703 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 229,326 tonnes | 212,537 tonnes | 258,087 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 202,140 tonnes | 198,247 tonnes | 207,423 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More environment data for Romania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.2 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.634 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.03 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5647 % 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 -0.1112 % 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 Romania?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Romania was 198,247 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 597,344 tonnes in 1989.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,846 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Romania rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Romania ranks 68th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania 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.