Emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Emissions of air pollutants was 314,146 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
314,146 tonnes
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
55th
of 220 countries
All-time high
336,497 tonnes
in 2016
All-time low
168.13 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 314,146 tonnes, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka peaked at 336,497 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 168.13 tonnes, in 1750.
Sri Lanka ranks 55th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 168.13 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 168.43 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 168.74 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 169.04 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 169.34 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 169.64 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 169.94 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 170.25 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 170.55 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 170.85 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 171.15 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 171.46 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 171.76 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 172.07 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 172.38 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 172.68 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 172.99 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 173.3 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 173.6 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 173.91 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 174.22 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 174.53 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 174.84 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 175.15 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 175.46 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 175.77 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 176.08 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 176.39 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 176.7 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 177.01 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 177.32 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 177.64 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 177.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 178.27 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 178.58 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 178.9 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 179.21 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 179.53 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 179.84 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 180.16 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 180.47 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 180.79 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 181.11 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 181.43 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 181.75 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 182.07 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 182.39 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 182.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 183.03 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 183.35 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 183.67 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 184.12 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 184.58 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 185.04 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 185.49 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 185.95 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 186.41 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 186.87 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 187.32 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 187.78 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 188.24 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 188.71 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1812 | 189.17 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1813 | 189.64 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1814 | 190.1 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1815 | 190.57 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1816 | 191.03 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1817 | 191.5 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1818 | 191.97 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1819 | 192.44 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1820 | 192.91 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 196.3 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1822 | 199.69 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1823 | 203.09 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1824 | 206.5 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1825 | 209.91 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1826 | 213.31 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1827 | 216.73 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1828 | 220.15 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1829 | 223.57 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1830 | 227 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 232.81 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1832 | 238.63 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1833 | 244.46 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1834 | 250.29 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1835 | 256.13 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1836 | 261.97 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1837 | 267.82 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1838 | 273.68 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 279.55 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1840 | 285.42 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1841 | 292.72 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1842 | 300.04 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1843 | 307.36 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1844 | 314.68 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1845 | 322.02 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1846 | 329.36 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1847 | 336.71 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1848 | 344.07 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1849 | 351.44 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1850 | 351.33 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1851 | 337.12 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1852 | 345.72 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1853 | 354.34 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1854 | 362.99 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1855 | 370.83 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1856 | 379.76 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1857 | 388.69 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 399.11 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1859 | 409.58 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1860 | 420.1 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1861 | 432.33 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1862 | 444.31 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1863 | 456.35 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1864 | 468.44 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1865 | 479.41 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1866 | 491.87 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1867 | 504.35 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1868 | 524.06 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1869 | 544.55 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1870 | 565.91 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1871 | 564.69 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1872 | 563.01 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1873 | 561.29 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1874 | 559.61 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1875 | 557.95 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1876 | 565.95 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1877 | 573.95 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1878 | 581.97 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1879 | 589.99 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1880 | 598.01 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1881 | 605.4 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 613.03 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1883 | 620.87 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1884 | 628.82 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1885 | 636.38 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1886 | 662.71 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1887 | 689.15 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1888 | 717.6 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1889 | 746.46 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1890 | 774.7 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1891 | 794.59 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1892 | 814.75 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1893 | 834.54 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1894 | 854.64 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1895 | 874.16 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1896 | 913.79 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1897 | 953.2 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1898 | 993.03 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1899 | 1,032 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1900 | 1,071 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1901 | 1,150 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1902 | 1,228 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1903 | 1,309 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1904 | 1,393 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1905 | 1,484 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1906 | 1,586 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1907 | 1,684 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1908 | 1,788 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1909 | 1,896 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1910 | 2,008 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1911 | 2,106 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1912 | 2,197 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1913 | 2,290 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1914 | 2,383 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1915 | 2,484 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1916 | 2,596 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1917 | 2,710 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1918 | 2,826 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 2,945 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 3,066 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1921 | 3,222 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1922 | 3,392 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1923 | 3,579 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1924 | 3,747 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1925 | 3,950 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1926 | 4,125 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 4,302 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 4,508 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1929 | 4,673 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 4,839 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1931 | 4,962 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1932 | 5,071 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 5,195 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 5,325 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1935 | 5,449 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 5,648 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1937 | 5,876 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1938 | 6,110 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1939 | 6,346 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1940 | 6,582 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 6,825 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1942 | 7,054 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1943 | 7,345 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1944 | 7,666 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1945 | 8,010 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1946 | 8,457 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1947 | 8,907 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1948 | 9,361 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1949 | 9,849 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1950 | 17,894 tonnes | +81.7% |
| 1951 | 20,347 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1952 | 21,542 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1953 | 22,829 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1954 | 22,653 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1955 | 24,053 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1956 | 23,091 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 28,796 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1958 | 27,901 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1959 | 29,080 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 29,720 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 33,369 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1962 | 35,384 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 35,872 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 34,539 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 38,212 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1966 | 40,681 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1967 | 41,325 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 46,093 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1969 | 52,903 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1970 | 49,467 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1971 | 83,956 tonnes | +69.7% |
| 1972 | 88,306 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 95,488 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1974 | 84,711 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1975 | 88,816 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 89,893 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 96,317 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 90,626 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 99,918 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 100,359 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 88,293 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1982 | 92,887 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 92,573 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 106,769 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1985 | 108,190 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 117,080 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 125,316 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 122,145 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 121,233 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 129,070 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 125,776 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 137,364 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 145,967 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 148,428 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 151,206 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 181,089 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1997 | 167,071 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 171,153 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 179,878 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 187,297 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 185,128 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 194,545 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 195,034 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 205,767 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 213,847 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 212,572 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 222,783 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 229,388 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 220,626 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 243,375 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 261,094 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 272,382 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 261,141 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 280,920 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 294,188 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 336,497 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2017 | 324,867 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 321,286 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 325,786 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 293,242 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 312,754 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 314,146 tonnes | +0.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 314,146 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 3.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 314,146 tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 270,525 tonnes, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka 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 | +81.7% | 9,849 tonnes | 17,894 tonnes |
| 1971 | +69.7% | 49,467 tonnes | 83,956 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 169.49 tonnes | 168.13 tonnes | 170.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 172.53 tonnes | 171.15 tonnes | 173.91 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 175.61 tonnes | 174.22 tonnes | 177.01 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 178.74 tonnes | 177.32 tonnes | 180.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 181.91 tonnes | 180.47 tonnes | 183.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 185.72 tonnes | 183.67 tonnes | 187.78 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 190.34 tonnes | 188.24 tonnes | 192.44 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 208.22 tonnes | 192.91 tonnes | 223.57 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 253.24 tonnes | 227 tonnes | 279.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 318.38 tonnes | 285.42 tonnes | 351.44 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 369.95 tonnes | 337.12 tonnes | 409.58 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 476.58 tonnes | 420.1 tonnes | 544.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 568.43 tonnes | 557.95 tonnes | 589.99 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 651.84 tonnes | 598.01 tonnes | 746.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 883.98 tonnes | 774.7 tonnes | 1,032 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,459 tonnes | 1,071 tonnes | 1,896 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,455 tonnes | 2,008 tonnes | 2,945 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 3,856 tonnes | 3,066 tonnes | 4,673 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 5,482 tonnes | 4,839 tonnes | 6,346 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 8,006 tonnes | 6,582 tonnes | 9,849 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 23,819 tonnes | 17,894 tonnes | 29,080 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 38,810 tonnes | 29,720 tonnes | 52,903 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 86,750 tonnes | 49,467 tonnes | 99,918 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 107,484 tonnes | 88,293 tonnes | 125,316 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 153,700 tonnes | 125,776 tonnes | 181,089 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 206,699 tonnes | 185,128 tonnes | 229,388 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 292,154 tonnes | 243,375 tonnes | 336,497 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 306,714 tonnes | 293,242 tonnes | 314,146 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More environment data for Sri Lanka
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 5.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.207 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.849 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.63 % 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 1.22 % 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 Sri Lanka?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Sri Lanka was 314,146 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 336,497 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 168.13 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Sri Lanka ranks 55th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.