Emissions of air pollutants in Sweden
Sweden: Emissions of air pollutants was 298,546 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
298,546 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
56th
of 220 countries
All-time high
405,560 tonnes
in 1976
All-time low
1,621 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Sweden, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in Sweden stood at 298,546 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Sweden peaked at 405,560 tonnes in 1976 and was at its lowest, 1,621 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Sweden 56th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1,621 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 1,632 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1752 | 1,643 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1753 | 1,654 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1754 | 1,666 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1755 | 1,677 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1756 | 1,688 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1757 | 1,699 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1758 | 1,710 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1759 | 1,721 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1760 | 1,732 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1761 | 1,736 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 1,741 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 1,745 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 1,750 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 1,754 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 1,759 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 1,763 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 1,768 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 1,772 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 1,777 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 1,782 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 1,788 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 1,793 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 1,799 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 1,804 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 1,809 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 1,815 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 1,820 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 1,826 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 1,831 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 1,839 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 1,847 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 1,855 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 1,864 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 1,872 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 1,880 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 1,888 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 1,896 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 1,904 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 1,912 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 1,921 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 1,931 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 1,941 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 1,950 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 1,960 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 1,969 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1797 | 1,979 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 1,988 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1799 | 1,998 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 2,007 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 2,004 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1802 | 2,000 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1803 | 1,997 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1804 | 1,994 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1805 | 1,990 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1806 | 1,987 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1807 | 1,984 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1808 | 1,980 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1809 | 1,977 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1810 | 1,973 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1811 | 1,989 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 2,005 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 2,021 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 2,037 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 2,052 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 2,068 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 2,084 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 2,100 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 2,115 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 2,131 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 2,154 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1822 | 2,178 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1823 | 2,201 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1824 | 2,224 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1825 | 2,248 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 2,271 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 2,294 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1828 | 2,317 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1829 | 2,340 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1830 | 2,364 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1831 | 2,383 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 2,403 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 2,422 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1834 | 2,442 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1835 | 2,461 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 2,625 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1837 | 2,647 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 2,668 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1839 | 2,696 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1840 | 2,727 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1841 | 2,749 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1842 | 2,778 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1843 | 2,819 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1844 | 2,825 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1845 | 2,826 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 2,892 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1847 | 2,934 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1848 | 2,968 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1849 | 2,964 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1850 | 2,853 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1851 | 2,960 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1852 | 3,069 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1853 | 3,166 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1854 | 3,272 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1855 | 3,432 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1856 | 3,531 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1857 | 3,657 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1858 | 3,828 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1859 | 3,978 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1860 | 4,122 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1861 | 4,167 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1862 | 4,268 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1863 | 4,312 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1864 | 4,479 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1865 | 4,521 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1866 | 4,688 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1867 | 4,881 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1868 | 5,117 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1869 | 5,309 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1870 | 5,515 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1871 | 5,752 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1872 | 6,051 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1873 | 6,301 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1874 | 6,519 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1875 | 6,763 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1876 | 6,837 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 6,942 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1878 | 6,971 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1879 | 7,138 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1880 | 7,320 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1881 | 7,682 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1882 | 7,975 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1883 | 8,281 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1884 | 8,733 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1885 | 9,133 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1886 | 9,148 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1887 | 9,201 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 9,384 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1889 | 10,164 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1890 | 9,826 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1891 | 10,424 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1892 | 10,464 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1893 | 10,654 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1894 | 11,017 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1895 | 11,387 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1896 | 11,484 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 12,328 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1898 | 12,662 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1899 | 14,123 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1900 | 14,440 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1901 | 13,996 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1902 | 14,468 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1903 | 15,361 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1904 | 15,842 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1905 | 16,029 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 17,097 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1907 | 18,409 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1908 | 19,957 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1909 | 19,125 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1910 | 19,777 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1911 | 20,148 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1912 | 20,678 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1913 | 22,501 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1914 | 20,752 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1915 | 21,007 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 21,901 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1917 | 13,647 tonnes | -37.7% |
| 1918 | 14,130 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1919 | 16,674 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1920 | 19,158 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1921 | 15,498 tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1922 | 19,383 tonnes | +25.1% |
| 1923 | 22,587 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1924 | 26,137 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1925 | 27,382 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1926 | 28,473 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1927 | 32,947 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1928 | 34,965 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1929 | 38,631 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1930 | 41,791 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1931 | 43,629 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1932 | 45,604 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1933 | 47,914 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1934 | 50,647 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1935 | 54,812 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1936 | 58,157 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1937 | 65,448 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1938 | 67,801 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1939 | 73,386 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1940 | 39,476 tonnes | -46.2% |
| 1941 | 28,743 tonnes | -27.2% |
| 1942 | 26,970 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1943 | 30,617 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1944 | 28,235 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1945 | 23,780 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1946 | 69,789 tonnes | +193.5% |
| 1947 | 97,765 tonnes | +40.1% |
| 1948 | 100,653 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1949 | 87,603 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1950 | 87,097 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1951 | 105,008 tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1952 | 107,867 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 106,443 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1954 | 113,420 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1955 | 128,348 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1956 | 144,768 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1957 | 130,778 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1958 | 139,459 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1959 | 135,628 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 193,236 tonnes | +42.5% |
| 1961 | 204,421 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1962 | 221,498 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1963 | 238,901 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 260,888 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1965 | 272,867 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1966 | 291,949 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 301,032 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1968 | 326,925 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1969 | 344,275 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1970 | 375,384 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1971 | 358,930 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 371,008 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 369,736 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1974 | 365,533 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 371,915 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 405,560 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1977 | 386,413 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1978 | 390,607 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 396,859 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 369,342 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1981 | 327,943 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 311,419 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 311,367 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 325,292 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 344,718 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 387,061 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1987 | 403,202 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1988 | 385,673 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1989 | 378,429 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 366,821 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1991 | 380,183 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 377,062 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 362,063 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 380,462 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 371,034 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 370,207 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 381,082 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 399,705 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 391,749 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 376,012 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 363,754 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 331,838 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2003 | 369,659 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 390,021 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 386,957 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 394,638 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 384,778 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 370,368 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 360,687 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 342,257 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2011 | 310,700 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 296,293 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 283,616 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 284,792 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 280,202 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 294,946 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 314,732 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 268,495 tonnes | -14.7% |
| 2019 | 279,416 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 295,670 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 291,362 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 298,546 tonnes | +2.5% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 298,546 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 3.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 298,546 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 102,006 tonnes, 2.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Sweden 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +193.5% | 23,780 tonnes | 69,789 tonnes |
| 1940 | -46.2% | 73,386 tonnes | 39,476 tonnes |
| 1960 | +42.5% | 135,628 tonnes | 193,236 tonnes |
| 1947 | +40.1% | 69,789 tonnes | 97,765 tonnes |
| 1917 | -37.7% | 21,901 tonnes | 13,647 tonnes |
| 1941 | -27.2% | 39,476 tonnes | 28,743 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,671 tonnes | 1,621 tonnes | 1,721 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 1,752 tonnes | 1,732 tonnes | 1,772 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 1,801 tonnes | 1,777 tonnes | 1,826 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,868 tonnes | 1,831 tonnes | 1,904 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,955 tonnes | 1,912 tonnes | 1,998 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 1,992 tonnes | 1,977 tonnes | 2,007 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 2,045 tonnes | 1,973 tonnes | 2,115 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 2,236 tonnes | 2,131 tonnes | 2,340 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 2,511 tonnes | 2,364 tonnes | 2,696 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 2,848 tonnes | 2,727 tonnes | 2,968 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 3,375 tonnes | 2,853 tonnes | 3,978 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 4,586 tonnes | 4,122 tonnes | 5,309 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 6,479 tonnes | 5,515 tonnes | 7,138 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 8,702 tonnes | 7,320 tonnes | 10,164 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 11,437 tonnes | 9,826 tonnes | 14,123 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 16,472 tonnes | 13,996 tonnes | 19,957 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 19,122 tonnes | 13,647 tonnes | 22,501 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 26,516 tonnes | 15,498 tonnes | 38,631 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 54,919 tonnes | 41,791 tonnes | 73,386 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 53,363 tonnes | 23,780 tonnes | 100,653 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 119,882 tonnes | 87,097 tonnes | 144,768 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 265,599 tonnes | 193,236 tonnes | 344,275 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 379,194 tonnes | 358,930 tonnes | 405,560 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 354,445 tonnes | 311,367 tonnes | 403,202 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 378,037 tonnes | 362,063 tonnes | 399,705 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 372,871 tonnes | 331,838 tonnes | 394,638 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 295,545 tonnes | 268,495 tonnes | 342,257 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 295,193 tonnes | 291,362 tonnes | 298,546 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More environment data for Sweden
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 1.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.852 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.72 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.27 % 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 -0.0922 % 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 Sweden?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Sweden was 298,546 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 405,560 tonnes in 1976.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,621 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Sweden rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Sweden ranks 56th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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.