Emissions of air pollutants in Russia
Russia: Emissions of air pollutants was 4.85 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
4.85 million tonnes
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
5th
of 220 countries
All-time high
8.50 million tonnes
in 1990
All-time low
7,610 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Russia, 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 Russia stood at 4.85 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Russia peaked at 8.50 million tonnes in 1990 and was at its lowest, 7,610 tonnes, in 1750.
Russia ranks 5th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Russia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 7,610 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 7,649 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 7,689 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 7,728 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 7,768 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 7,807 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 7,847 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 7,886 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 7,926 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 7,965 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 8,005 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 8,046 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 8,088 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 8,129 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 8,171 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 8,212 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 8,254 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 8,295 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 8,337 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 8,378 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 8,420 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 8,464 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 8,507 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 8,551 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 8,595 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 8,638 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 8,682 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 8,726 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 8,769 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 8,813 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 8,930 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1781 | 8,973 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 9,021 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 9,069 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 9,113 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 9,164 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1786 | 9,214 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 9,261 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 9,308 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 9,352 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 9,401 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 9,456 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1792 | 9,494 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 9,551 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1794 | 9,596 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 9,648 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 9,688 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 9,741 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 9,795 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1799 | 9,854 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1800 | 9,906 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 9,980 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 10,044 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1803 | 10,109 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1804 | 10,183 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1805 | 10,245 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1806 | 10,312 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1807 | 10,381 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 10,451 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 10,522 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 10,591 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1811 | 10,679 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 10,758 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1813 | 10,842 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 10,925 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 11,014 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 11,104 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 11,194 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 11,278 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 11,370 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 11,461 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 11,572 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1822 | 11,664 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 11,757 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 11,847 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 11,955 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1826 | 12,050 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 12,165 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1828 | 12,258 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 12,362 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 12,492 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1831 | 12,748 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 12,967 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1833 | 13,210 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1834 | 13,429 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1835 | 13,682 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1836 | 13,933 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1837 | 14,189 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1838 | 14,431 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1839 | 14,681 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1840 | 14,937 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1841 | 15,073 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1842 | 15,222 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1843 | 15,368 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1844 | 15,508 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1845 | 15,654 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1846 | 15,818 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1847 | 15,949 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 16,096 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1849 | 16,236 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1850 | 16,624 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1851 | 16,640 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 16,894 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1853 | 17,160 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 17,408 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1855 | 18,334 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1856 | 17,936 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1857 | 18,161 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1858 | 19,393 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1859 | 19,708 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1860 | 20,324 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1861 | 20,958 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1862 | 21,002 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 21,364 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1864 | 21,842 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1865 | 22,034 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1866 | 25,913 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1867 | 26,958 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1868 | 26,298 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1869 | 28,353 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1870 | 29,218 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1871 | 32,138 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1872 | 32,799 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1873 | 32,663 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1874 | 35,235 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1875 | 37,632 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1876 | 41,670 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1877 | 42,814 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1878 | 48,724 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1879 | 50,161 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1880 | 54,794 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1881 | 57,688 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1882 | 59,921 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1883 | 64,862 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1884 | 67,935 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1885 | 73,249 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1886 | 74,991 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1887 | 80,111 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1888 | 83,355 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1889 | 87,288 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1890 | 96,647 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1891 | 105,663 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1892 | 110,084 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1893 | 124,229 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1894 | 123,904 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1895 | 142,745 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1896 | 144,411 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 161,719 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1898 | 178,153 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1899 | 198,381 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1900 | 221,907 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1901 | 233,093 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1902 | 226,678 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1903 | 220,231 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1904 | 239,051 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1905 | 211,171 tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1906 | 236,137 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1907 | 257,998 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1908 | 260,679 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 274,777 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1910 | 274,911 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1911 | 277,937 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1912 | 301,450 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1913 | 315,796 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1914 | 295,492 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1915 | 282,948 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1916 | 296,751 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1917 | 273,841 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1918 | 142,094 tonnes | -48.1% |
| 1919 | 136,460 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1920 | 128,189 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1921 | 132,991 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1922 | 151,431 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1923 | 163,644 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1924 | 180,881 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1925 | 185,305 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1926 | 234,036 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1927 | 275,885 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1928 | 293,035 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1929 | 319,942 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1930 | 441,000 tonnes | +37.8% |
| 1931 | 519,559 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1932 | 554,043 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1933 | 599,913 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1934 | 703,299 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1935 | 776,510 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1936 | 872,426 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1937 | 898,063 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1938 | 946,893 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1939 | 959,066 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1940 | 1.10 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1941 | 999,004 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1942 | 773,338 tonnes | -22.6% |
| 1943 | 872,018 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1944 | 894,869 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1945 | 800,662 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1946 | 884,138 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1947 | 1.04 million tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1948 | 1.10 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1949 | 1.24 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1950 | 1.36 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1951 | 1.46 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1952 | 1.57 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1953 | 1.65 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1954 | 1.79 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1955 | 2.01 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1956 | 2.21 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1957 | 2.42 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1958 | 2.60 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1959 | 2.74 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1960 | 2.87 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1961 | 2.99 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1962 | 3.18 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1963 | 3.42 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1964 | 3.63 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 3.83 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1966 | 4.03 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1967 | 4.25 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1968 | 4.40 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 4.60 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 4.87 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1971 | 5.15 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1972 | 5.47 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 5.88 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 6.28 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1975 | 6.59 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 6.85 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 7.00 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 7.23 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 7.38 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 7.68 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 7.75 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 7.83 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 7.74 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 7.61 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 7.53 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 7.89 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 8.16 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 8.14 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 8.19 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 8.50 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 8.18 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 7.75 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1993 | 7.62 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 6.41 million tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1995 | 5.77 million tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1996 | 5.54 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 5.02 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1998 | 5.10 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 5.01 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 4.98 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 5.01 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 4.93 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 4.90 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 4.83 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 4.73 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 4.84 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 4.71 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 4.73 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 4.48 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 4.67 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 4.96 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 4.92 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 5.00 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.44 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 5.19 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 4.83 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 4.96 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 5.12 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 5.27 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 4.77 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2021 | 4.98 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 4.85 million tonnes | -2.6% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 4.85 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 53.6× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Russia's 4.85 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 47.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Russia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | -48.1% | 273,841 tonnes | 142,094 tonnes |
| 1930 | +37.8% | 319,942 tonnes | 441,000 tonnes |
| 1926 | +26.3% | 185,305 tonnes | 234,036 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 7,788 tonnes | 7,610 tonnes | 7,965 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 8,192 tonnes | 8,005 tonnes | 8,378 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 8,616 tonnes | 8,420 tonnes | 8,813 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 9,140 tonnes | 8,930 tonnes | 9,352 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 9,622 tonnes | 9,401 tonnes | 9,854 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 10,213 tonnes | 9,906 tonnes | 10,522 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 10,976 tonnes | 10,591 tonnes | 11,370 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 11,909 tonnes | 11,461 tonnes | 12,362 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 13,576 tonnes | 12,492 tonnes | 14,681 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 15,586 tonnes | 14,937 tonnes | 16,236 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 17,826 tonnes | 16,624 tonnes | 19,708 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 23,505 tonnes | 20,324 tonnes | 28,353 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 38,305 tonnes | 29,218 tonnes | 50,161 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 70,419 tonnes | 54,794 tonnes | 87,288 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 138,594 tonnes | 96,647 tonnes | 198,381 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 238,172 tonnes | 211,171 tonnes | 274,777 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 259,768 tonnes | 136,460 tonnes | 315,796 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 206,534 tonnes | 128,189 tonnes | 319,942 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 727,077 tonnes | 441,000 tonnes | 959,066 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 969,962 tonnes | 773,338 tonnes | 1.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.98 million tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 2.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.72 million tonnes | 2.87 million tonnes | 4.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.27 million tonnes | 4.87 million tonnes | 7.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.85 million tonnes | 7.53 million tonnes | 8.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.49 million tonnes | 5.01 million tonnes | 8.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.81 million tonnes | 4.48 million tonnes | 5.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.03 million tonnes | 4.67 million tonnes | 5.44 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.87 million tonnes | 4.77 million tonnes | 4.98 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More environment data for Russia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.5 % 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 -1.96 % 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 0.5219 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Russia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Russia was 4.85 million 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.50 million tonnes in 1990.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,610 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Russia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Russia ranks 5th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.