Emissions of air pollutants in Singapore
Singapore: Emissions of air pollutants was 4.03 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
4.03 million tonnes
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
6th
of 220 countries
All-time high
4.06 million tonnes
in 2017
All-time low
0.2204 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Singapore, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Singapore recorded 4.03 million tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Singapore peaked at 4.06 million tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.2204 tonnes, in 1750.
Singapore ranks 6th 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 Singapore, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 0.2204 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 0.2269 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1752 | 0.2334 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1753 | 0.2399 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1754 | 0.2464 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1755 | 0.2528 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1756 | 0.2593 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1757 | 0.2658 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1758 | 0.2723 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1759 | 0.2788 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1760 | 0.2853 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1761 | 0.2936 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1762 | 0.302 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1763 | 0.3104 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1764 | 0.3188 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1765 | 0.3272 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1766 | 0.3356 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1767 | 0.344 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1768 | 0.3524 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1769 | 0.3608 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1770 | 0.3691 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1771 | 0.38 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1772 | 0.3909 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1773 | 0.4017 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1774 | 0.4126 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1775 | 0.4234 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1776 | 0.4343 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1777 | 0.4451 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1778 | 0.456 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1779 | 0.4669 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1780 | 0.4777 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1781 | 0.4918 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1782 | 0.5058 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1783 | 0.5199 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1784 | 0.5339 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1785 | 0.548 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1786 | 0.562 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1787 | 0.5761 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1788 | 0.5901 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1789 | 0.6042 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1790 | 0.6182 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1791 | 0.6364 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1792 | 0.6546 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1793 | 0.6728 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1794 | 0.691 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1795 | 0.7091 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1796 | 0.7273 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1797 | 0.7455 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1798 | 0.7637 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1799 | 0.7819 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1800 | 0.8001 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1801 | 0.8246 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1802 | 0.8492 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1803 | 0.8738 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1804 | 0.8985 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1805 | 0.9232 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1806 | 0.948 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1807 | 0.9729 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1808 | 0.9978 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1809 | 1.02 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1810 | 1.05 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1811 | 1.08 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1812 | 1.11 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1813 | 1.14 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1814 | 1.18 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1815 | 1.21 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1816 | 1.24 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1817 | 1.27 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1818 | 1.31 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1819 | 1.34 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1820 | 1.37 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1821 | 1.41 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1822 | 1.46 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1823 | 1.5 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1824 | 1.54 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1825 | 1.58 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1826 | 1.63 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1827 | 1.67 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1828 | 1.71 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1829 | 1.75 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1830 | 1.8 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1831 | 1.85 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1832 | 1.91 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1833 | 1.96 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1834 | 2.02 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1835 | 2.07 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1836 | 2.13 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1837 | 2.18 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1838 | 2.24 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1839 | 2.3 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1840 | 2.35 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1841 | 2.42 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1842 | 2.5 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1843 | 2.57 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1844 | 2.64 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1845 | 2.71 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1846 | 2.79 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1847 | 2.86 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1848 | 2.93 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1849 | 3 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1850 | 3.08 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1851 | 3.23 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1852 | 3.39 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1853 | 3.55 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1854 | 3.72 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1855 | 3.9 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1856 | 4.08 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1857 | 4.27 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1858 | 4.46 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1859 | 4.67 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1860 | 4.88 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1861 | 5.11 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1862 | 5.36 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1863 | 5.61 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1864 | 5.87 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1865 | 6.14 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1866 | 6.42 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1867 | 6.71 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1868 | 7.01 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1869 | 7.31 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1870 | 7.63 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1871 | 8.01 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1872 | 8.39 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1873 | 8.79 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1874 | 9.2 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1875 | 9.63 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1876 | 10.07 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1877 | 10.52 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1878 | 10.99 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1879 | 11.48 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1880 | 11.98 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1881 | 12.18 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1882 | 12.89 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1883 | 13.62 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1884 | 14.4 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1885 | 15.21 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1886 | 16.05 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1887 | 16.94 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1888 | 17.89 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1889 | 18.88 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1890 | 19.93 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1891 | 20.52 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1892 | 21.12 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1893 | 21.72 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1894 | 22.33 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1895 | 22.94 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1896 | 23.62 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1897 | 24.3 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1898 | 25 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1899 | 25.7 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1900 | 26.41 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1901 | 27 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1902 | 28.02 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1903 | 29.04 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1904 | 30.06 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1905 | 31.09 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1906 | 32.15 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1907 | 33.22 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1908 | 34.28 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1909 | 35.35 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1910 | 36.41 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1911 | 37.21 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1912 | 38 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1913 | 38.79 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1914 | 39.57 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1915 | 40.36 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1916 | 41.14 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1917 | 41.92 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1918 | 42.7 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1919 | 43.48 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1920 | 44.26 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 46.28 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1922 | 48.06 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1923 | 50.23 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1924 | 52.15 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1925 | 54.77 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1926 | 56.58 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1927 | 58.65 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1928 | 60.64 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1929 | 62.4 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1930 | 63.9 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1931 | 65.27 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1932 | 65.52 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1933 | 66.16 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1934 | 66.77 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1935 | 67.37 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1936 | 68.9 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1937 | 70.38 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1938 | 71.83 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1939 | 73.23 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 74.58 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1941 | 76.96 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1942 | 78.85 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1943 | 81.18 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1944 | 83.58 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 85.33 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1946 | 88.07 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1947 | 89.78 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 91.19 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1949 | 93.4 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1950 | 7,175 tonnes | +7581.9% |
| 1951 | 11,177 tonnes | +55.8% |
| 1952 | 14,273 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1953 | 14,938 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 16,691 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1955 | 18,183 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1956 | 18,766 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 5,264 tonnes | -72.0% |
| 1958 | 6,229 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1959 | 5,247 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1960 | 4,661 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1961 | 6,500 tonnes | +39.5% |
| 1962 | 7,597 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1963 | 9,210 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1964 | 9,728 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1965 | 7,902 tonnes | -18.8% |
| 1966 | 4,277 tonnes | -45.9% |
| 1967 | 9,355 tonnes | +118.7% |
| 1968 | 14,397 tonnes | +53.9% |
| 1969 | 17,806 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1970 | 37,502 tonnes | +110.6% |
| 1971 | 317,956 tonnes | +747.8% |
| 1972 | 508,706 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 1973 | 477,386 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1974 | 436,366 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1975 | 380,776 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1976 | 463,699 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1977 | 467,627 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 545,395 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1979 | 571,693 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 546,141 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 565,122 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 603,574 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1983 | 585,862 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 583,988 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 566,581 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 916,770 tonnes | +61.8% |
| 1987 | 900,805 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 1.06 million tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1989 | 1.08 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 1.25 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1991 | 1.19 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 1.44 million tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1993 | 1.32 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 1.33 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 1.33 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.55 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1997 | 1.77 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1998 | 1.85 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 2.07 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2000 | 2.07 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 2.19 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 2.12 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 2.13 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 2.37 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 2.50 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 2.71 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 2.94 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 3.18 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 3.23 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 3.55 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 3.67 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 3.55 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 3.47 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 3.41 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 3.66 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2016 | 3.91 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 4.06 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 3.96 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 3.75 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 3.83 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 3.85 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 4.03 million tonnes | +4.5% |
Singapore compared with similar countries
- Singapore's 4.03 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 44.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Singapore's 4.03 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 39.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Singapore 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 | +7581.9% | 93.4 tonnes | 7,175 tonnes |
| 1971 | +747.8% | 37,502 tonnes | 317,956 tonnes |
| 1967 | +118.7% | 4,277 tonnes | 9,355 tonnes |
| 1970 | +110.6% | 17,806 tonnes | 37,502 tonnes |
| 1957 | -72.0% | 18,766 tonnes | 5,264 tonnes |
| 1986 | +61.8% | 566,581 tonnes | 916,770 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 0.2496 tonnes | 0.2204 tonnes | 0.2788 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 0.323 tonnes | 0.2853 tonnes | 0.3608 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 0.418 tonnes | 0.3691 tonnes | 0.4669 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 0.5409 tonnes | 0.4777 tonnes | 0.6042 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 0.7 tonnes | 0.6182 tonnes | 0.7819 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.9111 tonnes | 0.8001 tonnes | 1.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.19 tonnes | 1.05 tonnes | 1.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.56 tonnes | 1.37 tonnes | 1.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 2.05 tonnes | 1.8 tonnes | 2.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.68 tonnes | 2.35 tonnes | 3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 3.83 tonnes | 3.08 tonnes | 4.67 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 6.04 tonnes | 4.88 tonnes | 7.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 9.47 tonnes | 7.63 tonnes | 11.48 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 15 tonnes | 11.98 tonnes | 18.88 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 22.72 tonnes | 19.93 tonnes | 25.7 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 30.66 tonnes | 26.41 tonnes | 35.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 39.96 tonnes | 36.41 tonnes | 43.48 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 53.4 tonnes | 44.26 tonnes | 62.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 67.93 tonnes | 63.9 tonnes | 73.23 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 84.29 tonnes | 74.58 tonnes | 93.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 11,794 tonnes | 5,247 tonnes | 18,766 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 9,143 tonnes | 4,277 tonnes | 17,806 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 420,711 tonnes | 37,502 tonnes | 571,693 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 740,971 tonnes | 546,141 tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.51 million tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 2.07 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.54 million tonnes | 2.07 million tonnes | 3.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.70 million tonnes | 3.41 million tonnes | 4.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.90 million tonnes | 3.83 million tonnes | 4.03 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
More environment data for Singapore
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.71 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.9965 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 42.94 % change on previous year (1990)
- Standard Deviation 0.253 °C (1990)
- Temperature change 0.647 °C (1990)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.11 % 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 -5.19 % 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 Singapore?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Singapore was 4.03 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 4.06 million tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2204 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Singapore rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Singapore ranks 6th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Singapore 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.