Long run air pollution in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Long run air pollution was 314,146 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
314,146
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
55th
of 220 countries
All-time high
336,497
in 2016
All-time low
168.13
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Sri Lanka, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long run air pollution in Sri Lanka is 314,146, 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, long run air pollution in Sri Lanka peaked at 336,497 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 168.13, 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.
Long run air pollution in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 168.13 | — |
| 1751 | 168.43 | +0.2% |
| 1752 | 168.74 | +0.2% |
| 1753 | 169.04 | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 169.34 | +0.2% |
| 1755 | 169.64 | +0.2% |
| 1756 | 169.94 | +0.2% |
| 1757 | 170.25 | +0.2% |
| 1758 | 170.55 | +0.2% |
| 1759 | 170.85 | +0.2% |
| 1760 | 171.15 | +0.2% |
| 1761 | 171.46 | +0.2% |
| 1762 | 171.76 | +0.2% |
| 1763 | 172.07 | +0.2% |
| 1764 | 172.38 | +0.2% |
| 1765 | 172.68 | +0.2% |
| 1766 | 172.99 | +0.2% |
| 1767 | 173.3 | +0.2% |
| 1768 | 173.6 | +0.2% |
| 1769 | 173.91 | +0.2% |
| 1770 | 174.22 | +0.2% |
| 1771 | 174.53 | +0.2% |
| 1772 | 174.84 | +0.2% |
| 1773 | 175.15 | +0.2% |
| 1774 | 175.46 | +0.2% |
| 1775 | 175.77 | +0.2% |
| 1776 | 176.08 | +0.2% |
| 1777 | 176.39 | +0.2% |
| 1778 | 176.7 | +0.2% |
| 1779 | 177.01 | +0.2% |
| 1780 | 177.32 | +0.2% |
| 1781 | 177.64 | +0.2% |
| 1782 | 177.95 | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 178.27 | +0.2% |
| 1784 | 178.58 | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 178.9 | +0.2% |
| 1786 | 179.21 | +0.2% |
| 1787 | 179.53 | +0.2% |
| 1788 | 179.84 | +0.2% |
| 1789 | 180.16 | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 180.47 | +0.2% |
| 1791 | 180.79 | +0.2% |
| 1792 | 181.11 | +0.2% |
| 1793 | 181.43 | +0.2% |
| 1794 | 181.75 | +0.2% |
| 1795 | 182.07 | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 182.39 | +0.2% |
| 1797 | 182.71 | +0.2% |
| 1798 | 183.03 | +0.2% |
| 1799 | 183.35 | +0.2% |
| 1800 | 183.67 | +0.2% |
| 1801 | 184.12 | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 184.58 | +0.2% |
| 1803 | 185.04 | +0.2% |
| 1804 | 185.49 | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 185.95 | +0.2% |
| 1806 | 186.41 | +0.2% |
| 1807 | 186.87 | +0.2% |
| 1808 | 187.32 | +0.2% |
| 1809 | 187.78 | +0.2% |
| 1810 | 188.24 | +0.2% |
| 1811 | 188.71 | +0.2% |
| 1812 | 189.17 | +0.2% |
| 1813 | 189.64 | +0.2% |
| 1814 | 190.1 | +0.2% |
| 1815 | 190.57 | +0.2% |
| 1816 | 191.03 | +0.2% |
| 1817 | 191.5 | +0.2% |
| 1818 | 191.97 | +0.2% |
| 1819 | 192.44 | +0.2% |
| 1820 | 192.91 | +0.2% |
| 1821 | 196.3 | +1.8% |
| 1822 | 199.69 | +1.7% |
| 1823 | 203.09 | +1.7% |
| 1824 | 206.5 | +1.7% |
| 1825 | 209.91 | +1.7% |
| 1826 | 213.31 | +1.6% |
| 1827 | 216.73 | +1.6% |
| 1828 | 220.15 | +1.6% |
| 1829 | 223.57 | +1.6% |
| 1830 | 227 | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 232.81 | +2.6% |
| 1832 | 238.63 | +2.5% |
| 1833 | 244.46 | +2.4% |
| 1834 | 250.29 | +2.4% |
| 1835 | 256.13 | +2.3% |
| 1836 | 261.97 | +2.3% |
| 1837 | 267.82 | +2.2% |
| 1838 | 273.68 | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 279.55 | +2.1% |
| 1840 | 285.42 | +2.1% |
| 1841 | 292.72 | +2.6% |
| 1842 | 300.04 | +2.5% |
| 1843 | 307.36 | +2.4% |
| 1844 | 314.68 | +2.4% |
| 1845 | 322.02 | +2.3% |
| 1846 | 329.36 | +2.3% |
| 1847 | 336.71 | +2.2% |
| 1848 | 344.07 | +2.2% |
| 1849 | 351.44 | +2.1% |
| 1850 | 351.33 | -0.0% |
| 1851 | 337.12 | -4.0% |
| 1852 | 345.72 | +2.6% |
| 1853 | 354.34 | +2.5% |
| 1854 | 362.99 | +2.4% |
| 1855 | 370.83 | +2.2% |
| 1856 | 379.76 | +2.4% |
| 1857 | 388.69 | +2.4% |
| 1858 | 399.11 | +2.7% |
| 1859 | 409.58 | +2.6% |
| 1860 | 420.1 | +2.6% |
| 1861 | 432.33 | +2.9% |
| 1862 | 444.31 | +2.8% |
| 1863 | 456.35 | +2.7% |
| 1864 | 468.44 | +2.6% |
| 1865 | 479.41 | +2.3% |
| 1866 | 491.87 | +2.6% |
| 1867 | 504.35 | +2.5% |
| 1868 | 524.06 | +3.9% |
| 1869 | 544.55 | +3.9% |
| 1870 | 565.91 | +3.9% |
| 1871 | 564.69 | -0.2% |
| 1872 | 563.01 | -0.3% |
| 1873 | 561.29 | -0.3% |
| 1874 | 559.61 | -0.3% |
| 1875 | 557.95 | -0.3% |
| 1876 | 565.95 | +1.4% |
| 1877 | 573.95 | +1.4% |
| 1878 | 581.97 | +1.4% |
| 1879 | 589.99 | +1.4% |
| 1880 | 598.01 | +1.4% |
| 1881 | 605.4 | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 613.03 | +1.3% |
| 1883 | 620.87 | +1.3% |
| 1884 | 628.82 | +1.3% |
| 1885 | 636.38 | +1.2% |
| 1886 | 662.71 | +4.1% |
| 1887 | 689.15 | +4.0% |
| 1888 | 717.6 | +4.1% |
| 1889 | 746.46 | +4.0% |
| 1890 | 774.7 | +3.8% |
| 1891 | 794.59 | +2.6% |
| 1892 | 814.75 | +2.5% |
| 1893 | 834.54 | +2.4% |
| 1894 | 854.64 | +2.4% |
| 1895 | 874.16 | +2.3% |
| 1896 | 913.79 | +4.5% |
| 1897 | 953.2 | +4.3% |
| 1898 | 993.03 | +4.2% |
| 1899 | 1,032 | +4.0% |
| 1900 | 1,071 | +3.8% |
| 1901 | 1,150 | +7.4% |
| 1902 | 1,228 | +6.7% |
| 1903 | 1,309 | +6.7% |
| 1904 | 1,393 | +6.4% |
| 1905 | 1,484 | +6.6% |
| 1906 | 1,586 | +6.9% |
| 1907 | 1,684 | +6.2% |
| 1908 | 1,788 | +6.2% |
| 1909 | 1,896 | +6.0% |
| 1910 | 2,008 | +5.9% |
| 1911 | 2,106 | +4.9% |
| 1912 | 2,197 | +4.3% |
| 1913 | 2,290 | +4.2% |
| 1914 | 2,383 | +4.1% |
| 1915 | 2,484 | +4.3% |
| 1916 | 2,596 | +4.5% |
| 1917 | 2,710 | +4.4% |
| 1918 | 2,826 | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 2,945 | +4.2% |
| 1920 | 3,066 | +4.1% |
| 1921 | 3,222 | +5.1% |
| 1922 | 3,392 | +5.3% |
| 1923 | 3,579 | +5.5% |
| 1924 | 3,747 | +4.7% |
| 1925 | 3,950 | +5.4% |
| 1926 | 4,125 | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 4,302 | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 4,508 | +4.8% |
| 1929 | 4,673 | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 4,839 | +3.6% |
| 1931 | 4,962 | +2.5% |
| 1932 | 5,071 | +2.2% |
| 1933 | 5,195 | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 5,325 | +2.5% |
| 1935 | 5,449 | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 5,648 | +3.7% |
| 1937 | 5,876 | +4.0% |
| 1938 | 6,110 | +4.0% |
| 1939 | 6,346 | +3.9% |
| 1940 | 6,582 | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 6,825 | +3.7% |
| 1942 | 7,054 | +3.4% |
| 1943 | 7,345 | +4.1% |
| 1944 | 7,666 | +4.4% |
| 1945 | 8,010 | +4.5% |
| 1946 | 8,457 | +5.6% |
| 1947 | 8,907 | +5.3% |
| 1948 | 9,361 | +5.1% |
| 1949 | 9,849 | +5.2% |
| 1950 | 17,894 | +81.7% |
| 1951 | 20,347 | +13.7% |
| 1952 | 21,542 | +5.9% |
| 1953 | 22,829 | +6.0% |
| 1954 | 22,653 | -0.8% |
| 1955 | 24,053 | +6.2% |
| 1956 | 23,091 | -4.0% |
| 1957 | 28,796 | +24.7% |
| 1958 | 27,901 | -3.1% |
| 1959 | 29,080 | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 29,720 | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 33,369 | +12.3% |
| 1962 | 35,384 | +6.0% |
| 1963 | 35,872 | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 34,539 | -3.7% |
| 1965 | 38,212 | +10.6% |
| 1966 | 40,681 | +6.5% |
| 1967 | 41,325 | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 46,093 | +11.5% |
| 1969 | 52,903 | +14.8% |
| 1970 | 49,467 | -6.5% |
| 1971 | 83,956 | +69.7% |
| 1972 | 88,306 | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 95,488 | +8.1% |
| 1974 | 84,711 | -11.3% |
| 1975 | 88,816 | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 89,893 | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 96,317 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 90,626 | -5.9% |
| 1979 | 99,918 | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 100,359 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 88,293 | -12.0% |
| 1982 | 92,887 | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 92,573 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 106,769 | +15.3% |
| 1985 | 108,190 | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 117,080 | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 125,316 | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 122,145 | -2.5% |
| 1989 | 121,233 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 129,070 | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 125,776 | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 137,364 | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 145,967 | +6.3% |
| 1994 | 148,428 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 151,206 | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 181,089 | +19.8% |
| 1997 | 167,071 | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 171,153 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 179,878 | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 187,297 | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 185,128 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 194,545 | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 195,034 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 205,767 | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 213,847 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 212,572 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 222,783 | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 229,388 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 220,626 | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 243,375 | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 261,094 | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 272,382 | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 261,141 | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 280,920 | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 294,188 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 336,497 | +14.4% |
| 2017 | 324,867 | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 321,286 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 325,786 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 293,242 | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 312,754 | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 314,146 | +0.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 314,146 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784, 3.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 314,146 is above the median for South Asia, which is 270,525, 1.2× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution 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 | 17,894 |
| 1971 | +69.7% | 49,467 | 83,956 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 169.49 | 168.13 | 170.85 | 10 |
| 1760s | 172.53 | 171.15 | 173.91 | 10 |
| 1770s | 175.61 | 174.22 | 177.01 | 10 |
| 1780s | 178.74 | 177.32 | 180.16 | 10 |
| 1790s | 181.91 | 180.47 | 183.35 | 10 |
| 1800s | 185.72 | 183.67 | 187.78 | 10 |
| 1810s | 190.34 | 188.24 | 192.44 | 10 |
| 1820s | 208.22 | 192.91 | 223.57 | 10 |
| 1830s | 253.24 | 227 | 279.55 | 10 |
| 1840s | 318.38 | 285.42 | 351.44 | 10 |
| 1850s | 369.95 | 337.12 | 409.58 | 10 |
| 1860s | 476.58 | 420.1 | 544.55 | 10 |
| 1870s | 568.43 | 557.95 | 589.99 | 10 |
| 1880s | 651.84 | 598.01 | 746.46 | 10 |
| 1890s | 883.98 | 774.7 | 1,032 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,459 | 1,071 | 1,896 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,455 | 2,008 | 2,945 | 10 |
| 1920s | 3,856 | 3,066 | 4,673 | 10 |
| 1930s | 5,482 | 4,839 | 6,346 | 10 |
| 1940s | 8,006 | 6,582 | 9,849 | 10 |
| 1950s | 23,819 | 17,894 | 29,080 | 10 |
| 1960s | 38,810 | 29,720 | 52,903 | 10 |
| 1970s | 86,750 | 49,467 | 99,918 | 10 |
| 1980s | 107,484 | 88,293 | 125,316 | 10 |
| 1990s | 153,700 | 125,776 | 181,089 | 10 |
| 2000s | 206,699 | 185,128 | 229,388 | 10 |
| 2010s | 292,154 | 243,375 | 336,497 | 10 |
| 2020s | 306,714 | 293,242 | 314,146 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More environment data for Sri Lanka
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 0.0202 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 7.11 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in Sri Lanka?
- Long run air pollution in Sri Lanka was 314,146 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 336,497 in 2016.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 168.13 in 1750.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for long run air pollution?
- Sri Lanka ranks 55th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution 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 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).