Long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Long run air pollution was 2.69 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.69 million
Change on year
up 7.6%
World rank
8th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.72 million
in 2015
All-time low
153.99
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia stood at 2.69 million.
That represents a change of up 7.6% on the previous year and up 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia peaked at 2.72 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 153.99, 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.
Long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 153.99 | — |
| 1751 | 154.29 | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 154.59 | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 154.9 | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 155.2 | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 155.5 | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 155.8 | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 156.1 | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 156.4 | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 156.71 | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 157.01 | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 157.31 | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 157.62 | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 157.93 | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 158.23 | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 158.54 | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 158.85 | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 159.15 | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 159.46 | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 159.76 | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 160.07 | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 160.38 | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 160.69 | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 161 | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 161.32 | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 161.63 | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 161.94 | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 162.25 | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 162.56 | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 162.87 | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 163.18 | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 163.5 | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 163.81 | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 164.13 | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 164.44 | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 164.76 | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 165.08 | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 165.39 | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 165.71 | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 166.02 | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 166.34 | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 166.66 | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 166.98 | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 167.3 | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 167.62 | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 167.94 | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 168.26 | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 168.58 | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 168.9 | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 169.22 | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 169.54 | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 170.29 | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 171.05 | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 171.81 | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 172.56 | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 173.33 | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 174.09 | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 174.85 | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 175.61 | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 176.38 | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 177.15 | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 177.93 | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 178.7 | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 179.48 | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 180.26 | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 181.05 | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 181.82 | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 182.61 | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 183.4 | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 184.19 | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 184.98 | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 185.98 | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 186.98 | +0.5% |
| 1823 | 187.99 | +0.5% |
| 1824 | 189 | +0.5% |
| 1825 | 190.01 | +0.5% |
| 1826 | 191.02 | +0.5% |
| 1827 | 192.03 | +0.5% |
| 1828 | 193.05 | +0.5% |
| 1829 | 194.07 | +0.5% |
| 1830 | 195.1 | +0.5% |
| 1831 | 195.93 | +0.4% |
| 1832 | 196.76 | +0.4% |
| 1833 | 197.59 | +0.4% |
| 1834 | 198.43 | +0.4% |
| 1835 | 199.26 | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 200.09 | +0.4% |
| 1837 | 200.93 | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 201.78 | +0.4% |
| 1839 | 202.62 | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 203.46 | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 204.32 | +0.4% |
| 1842 | 205.17 | +0.4% |
| 1843 | 206.03 | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 206.88 | +0.4% |
| 1845 | 207.74 | +0.4% |
| 1846 | 208.6 | +0.4% |
| 1847 | 209.46 | +0.4% |
| 1848 | 210.32 | +0.4% |
| 1849 | 211.19 | +0.4% |
| 1850 | 212.06 | +0.4% |
| 1851 | 212.94 | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 213.81 | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 214.69 | +0.4% |
| 1854 | 215.57 | +0.4% |
| 1855 | 216.45 | +0.4% |
| 1856 | 217.33 | +0.4% |
| 1857 | 218.22 | +0.4% |
| 1858 | 219.11 | +0.4% |
| 1859 | 220 | +0.4% |
| 1860 | 220.89 | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 222.5 | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 224.11 | +0.7% |
| 1863 | 225.73 | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 227.35 | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 228.97 | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 230.6 | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 232.24 | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 233.88 | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 235.53 | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 237.18 | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 239.11 | +0.8% |
| 1872 | 241.04 | +0.8% |
| 1873 | 242.98 | +0.8% |
| 1874 | 244.93 | +0.8% |
| 1875 | 246.88 | +0.8% |
| 1876 | 248.85 | +0.8% |
| 1877 | 250.82 | +0.8% |
| 1878 | 252.79 | +0.8% |
| 1879 | 254.78 | +0.8% |
| 1880 | 256.78 | +0.8% |
| 1881 | 258.87 | +0.8% |
| 1882 | 260.97 | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 263.09 | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 265.2 | +0.8% |
| 1885 | 267.34 | +0.8% |
| 1886 | 269.48 | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 271.62 | +0.8% |
| 1888 | 273.97 | +0.9% |
| 1889 | 276.34 | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 278.71 | +0.9% |
| 1891 | 281.12 | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 283.54 | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 285.97 | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 288.4 | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 290.85 | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 293.31 | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 295.78 | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 298.26 | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 300.75 | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 303.24 | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 308.6 | +1.8% |
| 1902 | 313.75 | +1.7% |
| 1903 | 318.69 | +1.6% |
| 1904 | 323.4 | +1.5% |
| 1905 | 327.91 | +1.4% |
| 1906 | 332.51 | +1.4% |
| 1907 | 336.88 | +1.3% |
| 1908 | 341.05 | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 345.01 | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 348.75 | +1.1% |
| 1911 | 352.08 | +1.0% |
| 1912 | 355.19 | +0.9% |
| 1913 | 358.08 | +0.8% |
| 1914 | 360.76 | +0.7% |
| 1915 | 363.23 | +0.7% |
| 1916 | 365.48 | +0.6% |
| 1917 | 367.5 | +0.6% |
| 1918 | 369.31 | +0.5% |
| 1919 | 370.9 | +0.4% |
| 1920 | 372.27 | +0.4% |
| 1921 | 373.2 | +0.2% |
| 1922 | 374.5 | +0.3% |
| 1923 | 375.85 | +0.4% |
| 1924 | 376.15 | +0.1% |
| 1925 | 386.84 | +2.8% |
| 1926 | 393.46 | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 395.87 | +0.6% |
| 1928 | 396.54 | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 395.78 | -0.2% |
| 1930 | 391.79 | -1.0% |
| 1931 | 389.45 | -0.6% |
| 1932 | 384.2 | -1.3% |
| 1933 | 378.55 | -1.5% |
| 1934 | 372.19 | -1.7% |
| 1935 | 365.63 | -1.8% |
| 1936 | 404.72 | +10.7% |
| 1937 | 502.53 | +24.2% |
| 1938 | 1,478 | +194.0% |
| 1939 | 9,333 | +531.6% |
| 1940 | 11,977 | +28.3% |
| 1941 | 10,134 | -15.4% |
| 1942 | 10,608 | +4.7% |
| 1943 | 11,082 | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 17,871 | +61.3% |
| 1945 | 47,591 | +166.3% |
| 1946 | 135,193 | +184.1% |
| 1947 | 116,535 | -13.8% |
| 1948 | 98,209 | -15.7% |
| 1949 | 101,101 | +2.9% |
| 1950 | 31,435 | -68.9% |
| 1951 | 24,380 | -22.4% |
| 1952 | 16,410 | -32.7% |
| 1953 | 8,493 | -48.2% |
| 1954 | 12,976 | +52.8% |
| 1955 | 17,283 | +33.2% |
| 1956 | 15,272 | -11.6% |
| 1957 | 17,889 | +17.1% |
| 1958 | 17,858 | -0.2% |
| 1959 | 17,548 | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 22,732 | +29.5% |
| 1961 | 27,532 | +21.1% |
| 1962 | 40,028 | +45.4% |
| 1963 | 43,151 | +7.8% |
| 1964 | 40,592 | -5.9% |
| 1965 | 28,505 | -29.8% |
| 1966 | 38,770 | +36.0% |
| 1967 | 42,607 | +9.9% |
| 1968 | 48,387 | +13.6% |
| 1969 | 58,444 | +20.8% |
| 1970 | 90,321 | +54.5% |
| 1971 | 1.41 million | +1458.3% |
| 1972 | 1.50 million | +6.3% |
| 1973 | 1.53 million | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 1.57 million | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 995,737 | -36.5% |
| 1976 | 1.18 million | +18.1% |
| 1977 | 1.24 million | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 1.06 million | -14.7% |
| 1979 | 1.08 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 1.01 million | -6.3% |
| 1981 | 877,089 | -13.5% |
| 1982 | 896,926 | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 1.01 million | +12.3% |
| 1984 | 1.26 million | +25.6% |
| 1985 | 1.64 million | +29.6% |
| 1986 | 1.46 million | -11.0% |
| 1987 | 1.40 million | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 1.36 million | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 1.02 million | -25.4% |
| 1990 | 1.11 million | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 1.23 million | +10.9% |
| 1992 | 1.31 million | +6.6% |
| 1993 | 1.39 million | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 1.36 million | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 1.30 million | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 1.34 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.35 million | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.43 million | +5.8% |
| 1999 | 1.46 million | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 1.46 million | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.43 million | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 1.44 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 1.44 million | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 1.49 million | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 1.55 million | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 1.62 million | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 1.71 million | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 1.84 million | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 1.97 million | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 2.12 million | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 2.33 million | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 2.42 million | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 2.43 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 2.63 million | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 2.72 million | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 2.71 million | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 2.63 million | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.53 million | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.54 million | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 2.46 million | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 2.50 million | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 2.69 million | +7.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 2.69 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409, 29.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 2.69 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040, 10.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution 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 | 1.41 million |
| 1939 | +531.6% | 1,478 | 9,333 |
| 1938 | +194.0% | 502.53 | 1,478 |
| 1946 | +184.1% | 47,591 | 135,193 |
| 1945 | +166.3% | 17,871 | 47,591 |
| 1950 | -68.9% | 101,101 | 31,435 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 155.35 | 153.99 | 156.71 | 10 |
| 1760s | 158.39 | 157.01 | 159.76 | 10 |
| 1770s | 161.47 | 160.07 | 162.87 | 10 |
| 1780s | 164.6 | 163.18 | 166.02 | 10 |
| 1790s | 167.78 | 166.34 | 169.22 | 10 |
| 1800s | 172.95 | 169.54 | 176.38 | 10 |
| 1810s | 180.66 | 177.15 | 184.19 | 10 |
| 1820s | 189.51 | 184.98 | 194.07 | 10 |
| 1830s | 198.85 | 195.1 | 202.62 | 10 |
| 1840s | 207.32 | 203.46 | 211.19 | 10 |
| 1850s | 216.02 | 212.06 | 220 | 10 |
| 1860s | 228.18 | 220.89 | 235.53 | 10 |
| 1870s | 245.94 | 237.18 | 254.78 | 10 |
| 1880s | 266.37 | 256.78 | 276.34 | 10 |
| 1890s | 289.67 | 278.71 | 300.75 | 10 |
| 1900s | 325.1 | 303.24 | 345.01 | 10 |
| 1910s | 361.13 | 348.75 | 370.9 | 10 |
| 1920s | 384.05 | 372.27 | 396.54 | 10 |
| 1930s | 1,400 | 365.63 | 9,333 | 10 |
| 1940s | 56,030 | 10,134 | 135,193 | 10 |
| 1950s | 17,954 | 8,493 | 31,435 | 10 |
| 1960s | 39,075 | 22,732 | 58,444 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.17 million | 90,321 | 1.57 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.19 million | 877,089 | 1.64 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.33 million | 1.11 million | 1.46 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.60 million | 1.43 million | 1.97 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.51 million | 2.12 million | 2.72 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.55 million | 2.46 million | 2.69 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0134 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 3.63 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 62.36 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia?
- Long run air pollution in Saudi Arabia was 2.69 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.72 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 153.99 in 1750.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for long run air pollution?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 8th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. 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).