Emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Emissions of air pollutants was 2.69 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.69 million tonnes
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
8th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.72 million tonnes
in 2015
All-time low
153.99 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia stood at 2.69 million tonnes.
That represents a change of up 7.6% on the previous year and up 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.72 million tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 153.99 tonnes, in 1750.
Saudi Arabia ranks 8th 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 153.99 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 154.29 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 154.59 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 154.9 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 155.2 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 155.5 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 155.8 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 156.1 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 156.4 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 156.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 157.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 157.31 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 157.62 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 157.93 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 158.23 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 158.54 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 158.85 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 159.15 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 159.46 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 159.76 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 160.07 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 160.38 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 160.69 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 161 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 161.32 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 161.63 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 161.94 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 162.25 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 162.56 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 162.87 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 163.18 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 163.5 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 163.81 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 164.13 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 164.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 164.76 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 165.08 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 165.39 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 165.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 166.02 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 166.34 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 166.66 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 166.98 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 167.3 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 167.62 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 167.94 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 168.26 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 168.58 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 168.9 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 169.22 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 169.54 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 170.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 171.05 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 171.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 172.56 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 173.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 174.09 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 174.85 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 175.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 176.38 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 177.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 177.93 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 178.7 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 179.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 180.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 181.05 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 181.82 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 182.61 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 183.4 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 184.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 184.98 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 185.98 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 186.98 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1823 | 187.99 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1824 | 189 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1825 | 190.01 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1826 | 191.02 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1827 | 192.03 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1828 | 193.05 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1829 | 194.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1830 | 195.1 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1831 | 195.93 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1832 | 196.76 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1833 | 197.59 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1834 | 198.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1835 | 199.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 200.09 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1837 | 200.93 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 201.78 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1839 | 202.62 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 203.46 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 204.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1842 | 205.17 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1843 | 206.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 206.88 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1845 | 207.74 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1846 | 208.6 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1847 | 209.46 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1848 | 210.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1849 | 211.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1850 | 212.06 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1851 | 212.94 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 213.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 214.69 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 215.57 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 216.45 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 217.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 218.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 219.11 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 220 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 220.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 222.5 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 224.11 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 225.73 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 227.35 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 228.97 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 230.6 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 232.24 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 233.88 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 235.53 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 237.18 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 239.11 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1872 | 241.04 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1873 | 242.98 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1874 | 244.93 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1875 | 246.88 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1876 | 248.85 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1877 | 250.82 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1878 | 252.79 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1879 | 254.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1880 | 256.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1881 | 258.87 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1882 | 260.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 263.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 265.2 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1885 | 267.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1886 | 269.48 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 271.62 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1888 | 273.97 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 276.34 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 278.71 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 281.12 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 283.54 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 285.97 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 288.4 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 290.85 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 293.31 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 295.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 298.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 300.75 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 303.24 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 308.6 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1902 | 313.75 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1903 | 318.69 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 323.4 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1905 | 327.91 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1906 | 332.51 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1907 | 336.88 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 341.05 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 345.01 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 348.75 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1911 | 352.08 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1912 | 355.19 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1913 | 358.08 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1914 | 360.76 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1915 | 363.23 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1916 | 365.48 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1917 | 367.5 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1918 | 369.31 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1919 | 370.9 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1920 | 372.27 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1921 | 373.2 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 374.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1923 | 375.85 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 376.15 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1925 | 386.84 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1926 | 393.46 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 395.87 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1928 | 396.54 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 395.78 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1930 | 391.79 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1931 | 389.45 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1932 | 384.2 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1933 | 378.55 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1934 | 372.19 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1935 | 365.63 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1936 | 404.72 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1937 | 502.53 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 1938 | 1,478 tonnes | +194.0% |
| 1939 | 9,333 tonnes | +531.6% |
| 1940 | 11,977 tonnes | +28.3% |
| 1941 | 10,134 tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1942 | 10,608 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1943 | 11,082 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 17,871 tonnes | +61.3% |
| 1945 | 47,591 tonnes | +166.3% |
| 1946 | 135,193 tonnes | +184.1% |
| 1947 | 116,535 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1948 | 98,209 tonnes | -15.7% |
| 1949 | 101,101 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1950 | 31,435 tonnes | -68.9% |
| 1951 | 24,380 tonnes | -22.4% |
| 1952 | 16,410 tonnes | -32.7% |
| 1953 | 8,493 tonnes | -48.2% |
| 1954 | 12,976 tonnes | +52.8% |
| 1955 | 17,283 tonnes | +33.2% |
| 1956 | 15,272 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1957 | 17,889 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1958 | 17,858 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 17,548 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 22,732 tonnes | +29.5% |
| 1961 | 27,532 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1962 | 40,028 tonnes | +45.4% |
| 1963 | 43,151 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1964 | 40,592 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1965 | 28,505 tonnes | -29.8% |
| 1966 | 38,770 tonnes | +36.0% |
| 1967 | 42,607 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1968 | 48,387 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1969 | 58,444 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1970 | 90,321 tonnes | +54.5% |
| 1971 | 1.41 million tonnes | +1458.3% |
| 1972 | 1.50 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 1.53 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 1.57 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 995,737 tonnes | -36.5% |
| 1976 | 1.18 million tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1977 | 1.24 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 1.06 million tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1979 | 1.08 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 1.01 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1981 | 877,089 tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1982 | 896,926 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 1.01 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1984 | 1.26 million tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1985 | 1.64 million tonnes | +29.6% |
| 1986 | 1.46 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1987 | 1.40 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 1.36 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 1.02 million tonnes | -25.4% |
| 1990 | 1.11 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 1.23 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1992 | 1.31 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 1.39 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.36 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 1.30 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 1.34 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.35 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.43 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 1.46 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 1.46 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.43 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 1.44 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.44 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 1.49 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 1.55 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 1.62 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 1.71 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 1.84 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 1.97 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 2.12 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 2.33 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 2.42 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 2.43 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 2.63 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 2.72 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 2.71 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 2.63 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.53 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.54 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 2.46 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 2.50 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 2.69 million tonnes | +7.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.69 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 29.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.69 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040 tonnes, 10.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia 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 | +1458.3% | 90,321 tonnes | 1.41 million tonnes |
| 1939 | +531.6% | 1,478 tonnes | 9,333 tonnes |
| 1938 | +194.0% | 502.53 tonnes | 1,478 tonnes |
| 1946 | +184.1% | 47,591 tonnes | 135,193 tonnes |
| 1945 | +166.3% | 17,871 tonnes | 47,591 tonnes |
| 1950 | -68.9% | 101,101 tonnes | 31,435 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 155.35 tonnes | 153.99 tonnes | 156.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 158.39 tonnes | 157.01 tonnes | 159.76 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 161.47 tonnes | 160.07 tonnes | 162.87 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 164.6 tonnes | 163.18 tonnes | 166.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 167.78 tonnes | 166.34 tonnes | 169.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 172.95 tonnes | 169.54 tonnes | 176.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 180.66 tonnes | 177.15 tonnes | 184.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 189.51 tonnes | 184.98 tonnes | 194.07 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 198.85 tonnes | 195.1 tonnes | 202.62 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 207.32 tonnes | 203.46 tonnes | 211.19 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 216.02 tonnes | 212.06 tonnes | 220 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 228.18 tonnes | 220.89 tonnes | 235.53 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 245.94 tonnes | 237.18 tonnes | 254.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 266.37 tonnes | 256.78 tonnes | 276.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 289.67 tonnes | 278.71 tonnes | 300.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 325.1 tonnes | 303.24 tonnes | 345.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 361.13 tonnes | 348.75 tonnes | 370.9 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 384.05 tonnes | 372.27 tonnes | 396.54 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1,400 tonnes | 365.63 tonnes | 9,333 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 56,030 tonnes | 10,134 tonnes | 135,193 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 17,954 tonnes | 8,493 tonnes | 31,435 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 39,075 tonnes | 22,732 tonnes | 58,444 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.17 million tonnes | 90,321 tonnes | 1.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.19 million tonnes | 877,089 tonnes | 1.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.33 million tonnes | 1.11 million tonnes | 1.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.60 million tonnes | 1.43 million tonnes | 1.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.51 million tonnes | 2.12 million tonnes | 2.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.55 million tonnes | 2.46 million tonnes | 2.69 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % 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 9.62 % 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 Saudi Arabia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Saudi Arabia was 2.69 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.72 million tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 153.99 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 8th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.