Emissions of air pollutants in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Emissions of air pollutants was 24,282 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
24,282 tonnes
Change on year
up 8.3%
World rank
155th
of 220 countries
All-time high
24,282 tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
50.03 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone is 24,282 tonnes, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 60.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Sierra Leone peaked at 24,282 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 50.03 tonnes, in 1750.
Sierra Leone ranks 155th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 50.03 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 50.05 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 50.06 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 50.08 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 50.09 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 50.11 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 50.12 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 50.14 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 50.15 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 50.17 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 50.18 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 50.19 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 50.21 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 50.22 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 50.24 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 50.25 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 50.27 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 50.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 50.3 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 50.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 50.32 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 50.34 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 50.35 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 50.37 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 50.38 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 50.4 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 50.41 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 50.42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 50.44 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 50.45 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 50.47 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 50.48 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 50.5 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 50.51 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 50.52 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 50.54 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 50.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 50.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 50.58 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 50.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 50.61 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 50.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 50.64 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 50.65 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 50.66 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 50.68 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 50.69 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 50.7 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 50.72 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 50.73 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 50.75 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 50.87 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 50.99 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 51.11 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 51.23 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 51.35 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 51.47 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 51.59 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 51.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 51.83 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 51.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 52.1 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1812 | 52.25 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 52.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1814 | 52.54 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1815 | 52.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1816 | 52.84 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 52.99 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1818 | 53.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1819 | 53.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1820 | 53.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1821 | 53.58 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 53.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 53.88 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 54.03 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 54.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 54.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 54.48 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 54.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 54.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 54.93 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 55.08 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 55.23 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 55.38 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 55.53 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 55.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 55.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 55.98 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 56.14 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 56.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 56.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 56.59 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 56.75 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 56.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 57.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 57.2 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 57.36 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 57.51 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 57.66 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 57.82 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 57.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1851 | 58.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 58.28 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 58.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 58.59 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 58.75 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 58.9 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1857 | 59.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 59.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 59.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1860 | 59.53 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 59.92 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1862 | 60.31 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1863 | 60.7 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1864 | 61.1 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1865 | 61.49 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1866 | 61.88 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1867 | 62.28 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1868 | 62.68 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1869 | 63.08 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 63.48 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1871 | 63.88 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1872 | 64.29 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1873 | 64.71 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1874 | 65.12 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1875 | 65.54 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1876 | 65.96 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1877 | 66.38 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 66.8 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1879 | 67.22 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1880 | 67.65 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1881 | 68.08 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1882 | 68.5 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1883 | 68.93 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1884 | 69.35 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1885 | 69.78 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 70.21 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 70.64 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 71.12 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 71.6 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 72.09 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 72.57 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1892 | 73.15 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1893 | 73.75 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1894 | 74.38 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 75.07 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 75.81 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 76.63 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 83.56 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1899 | 92.96 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1900 | 105.04 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1901 | 126.23 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1902 | 144.06 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1903 | 153.31 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1904 | 162.92 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1905 | 172.91 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1906 | 183.37 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1907 | 194.24 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1908 | 205.53 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1909 | 217.26 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1910 | 229.44 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1911 | 234.1 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1912 | 243.4 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1913 | 254.63 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1914 | 266.08 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1915 | 277.73 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1916 | 289.58 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1917 | 301.64 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1918 | 313.92 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1919 | 326.42 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1920 | 339.13 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1921 | 354.49 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1922 | 371.4 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1923 | 388.96 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1924 | 406.83 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1925 | 428.23 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1926 | 449.17 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1927 | 469.68 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1928 | 490.39 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1929 | 511.41 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1930 | 532.13 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1931 | 554.4 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1932 | 576.74 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1933 | 599.63 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1934 | 623.08 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1935 | 647.23 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1936 | 673.99 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1937 | 707.57 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1938 | 741.9 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1939 | 776.8 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1940 | 801.02 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1941 | 826.92 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1942 | 852.68 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1943 | 879.65 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1944 | 907.57 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1945 | 936.02 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1946 | 966.71 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1947 | 998.93 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1948 | 1,068 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1949 | 1,115 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1950 | 2,147 tonnes | +92.6% |
| 1951 | 2,510 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1952 | 2,961 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1953 | 3,431 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1954 | 3,713 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1955 | 4,409 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1956 | 4,466 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1957 | 8,569 tonnes | +91.9% |
| 1958 | 4,003 tonnes | -53.3% |
| 1959 | 4,834 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1960 | 11,066 tonnes | +128.9% |
| 1961 | 5,321 tonnes | -51.9% |
| 1962 | 5,559 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1963 | 6,401 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1964 | 5,671 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 1965 | 5,250 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1966 | 5,582 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1967 | 5,044 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1968 | 6,128 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1969 | 12,970 tonnes | +111.6% |
| 1970 | 10,195 tonnes | -21.4% |
| 1971 | 16,668 tonnes | +63.5% |
| 1972 | 15,621 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1973 | 11,054 tonnes | -29.2% |
| 1974 | 10,631 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 11,697 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 13,468 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1977 | 12,976 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1978 | 17,784 tonnes | +37.1% |
| 1979 | 17,683 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 18,074 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 20,093 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1982 | 18,010 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1983 | 19,563 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1984 | 19,641 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 19,757 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 20,809 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 16,164 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 1988 | 16,379 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 15,626 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1990 | 14,541 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1991 | 16,151 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1992 | 10,658 tonnes | -34.0% |
| 1993 | 10,428 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 10,401 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 11,498 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1996 | 11,452 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 11,806 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 12,116 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 12,384 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 9,011 tonnes | -27.2% |
| 2001 | 9,996 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 10,233 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 10,427 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 11,351 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 10,328 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 2006 | 12,472 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 2007 | 11,539 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 11,496 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 12,128 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 12,478 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 14,156 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2012 | 15,166 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 16,537 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 17,382 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 18,922 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 2016 | 19,918 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 20,947 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 21,307 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 22,182 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 22,388 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 22,428 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 24,282 tonnes | +8.3% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 24,282 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 44,196 tonnes, 55% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 24,282 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | +128.9% | 4,834 tonnes | 11,066 tonnes |
| 1969 | +111.6% | 6,128 tonnes | 12,970 tonnes |
| 1950 | +92.6% | 1,115 tonnes | 2,147 tonnes |
| 1957 | +91.9% | 4,466 tonnes | 8,569 tonnes |
| 1971 | +63.5% | 10,195 tonnes | 16,668 tonnes |
| 1958 | -53.3% | 8,569 tonnes | 4,003 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 50.1 tonnes | 50.03 tonnes | 50.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 50.25 tonnes | 50.18 tonnes | 50.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 50.39 tonnes | 50.32 tonnes | 50.45 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 50.53 tonnes | 50.47 tonnes | 50.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 50.67 tonnes | 50.61 tonnes | 50.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 51.29 tonnes | 50.75 tonnes | 51.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 52.62 tonnes | 51.95 tonnes | 53.28 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 54.1 tonnes | 53.43 tonnes | 54.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 55.61 tonnes | 54.93 tonnes | 56.29 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 57.13 tonnes | 56.44 tonnes | 57.82 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 58.67 tonnes | 57.97 tonnes | 59.37 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 61.3 tonnes | 59.53 tonnes | 63.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 65.34 tonnes | 63.48 tonnes | 67.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 69.59 tonnes | 67.65 tonnes | 71.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 77 tonnes | 72.09 tonnes | 92.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 166.49 tonnes | 105.04 tonnes | 217.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 273.69 tonnes | 229.44 tonnes | 326.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 420.97 tonnes | 339.13 tonnes | 511.41 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 643.35 tonnes | 532.13 tonnes | 776.8 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 935.25 tonnes | 801.02 tonnes | 1,115 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 4,104 tonnes | 2,147 tonnes | 8,569 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 6,899 tonnes | 5,044 tonnes | 12,970 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 13,778 tonnes | 10,195 tonnes | 17,784 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 18,411 tonnes | 15,626 tonnes | 20,809 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,143 tonnes | 10,401 tonnes | 16,151 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,898 tonnes | 9,011 tonnes | 12,472 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,899 tonnes | 12,478 tonnes | 22,182 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,033 tonnes | 22,388 tonnes | 24,282 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 152 Guadeloupe 25,272 tonnes compare
- 153 Armenia 25,032 tonnes compare
- 154 Luxembourg 24,887 tonnes compare
- 156 Liberia 23,684 tonnes compare
- 157 Equatorial Guinea 23,410 tonnes compare
- 158 New Caledonia 23,358 tonnes compare
More environment data for Sierra Leone
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.232 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.72 % 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 1.11 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Sierra Leone was 24,282 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 24,282 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.03 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Sierra Leone ranks 155th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 60.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.