Emissions of air pollutants in Tonga
Tonga: Emissions of air pollutants was 1,092 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1,092 tonnes
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
202nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
1,669 tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
2.03 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Tonga, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Tonga recorded 1,092 tonnes for emissions of air pollutants in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Tonga peaked at 1,669 tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.03 tonnes, in 1750.
Tonga ranks 202nd of 220 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Tonga, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 2.03 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 2.04 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 2.05 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 2.06 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 2.07 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 2.08 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 2.09 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 2.1 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 2.11 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 2.12 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 2.13 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 2.14 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 2.15 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 2.16 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 2.18 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 2.19 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 2.2 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 2.21 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 2.22 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 2.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 2.24 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 2.25 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 2.27 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 2.28 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 2.29 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 2.3 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 2.31 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 2.32 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 2.34 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 2.35 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 2.36 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1781 | 2.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 2.38 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 2.4 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 2.41 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 2.42 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 2.43 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 2.45 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 2.46 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 2.47 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 2.48 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 2.5 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 2.51 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 2.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 2.53 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 2.55 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 2.56 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1797 | 2.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 2.59 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1799 | 2.6 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 2.61 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 2.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1802 | 2.65 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1803 | 2.67 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1804 | 2.69 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1805 | 2.71 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1806 | 2.73 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1807 | 2.75 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 2.77 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 2.79 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 2.82 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1811 | 2.84 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1812 | 2.86 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 2.88 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 2.91 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 2.93 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 2.95 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 2.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 3 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 3.02 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 3.04 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 3.07 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1822 | 3.09 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 3.11 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 3.14 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 3.16 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 3.19 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 3.21 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 3.24 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 3.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 3.28 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 3.31 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 3.34 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 3.36 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1834 | 3.39 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1835 | 3.41 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 3.44 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1837 | 3.46 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 3.49 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1839 | 3.52 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 3.54 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1841 | 3.57 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1842 | 3.6 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1843 | 3.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1844 | 3.65 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1845 | 3.68 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1846 | 3.71 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1847 | 3.74 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 3.76 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1849 | 3.79 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1850 | 3.82 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1851 | 3.88 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1852 | 3.94 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1853 | 4 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1854 | 4.06 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1855 | 4.13 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1856 | 4.19 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1857 | 4.26 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1858 | 4.33 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1859 | 4.4 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1860 | 4.47 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1861 | 4.54 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1862 | 4.61 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1863 | 4.69 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1864 | 4.76 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1865 | 4.84 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1866 | 4.91 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1867 | 4.99 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1868 | 5.07 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1869 | 5.15 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1870 | 5.24 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1871 | 5.32 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 5.4 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1873 | 5.49 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1874 | 5.58 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1875 | 5.67 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1876 | 5.76 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1877 | 5.85 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1878 | 5.95 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1879 | 6.05 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1880 | 6.15 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1881 | 6.15 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1882 | 6.27 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1883 | 6.4 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1884 | 6.54 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1885 | 6.68 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1886 | 6.82 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1887 | 6.97 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1888 | 7.13 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1889 | 7.3 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1890 | 7.47 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1891 | 7.52 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1892 | 7.56 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1893 | 7.61 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1894 | 7.66 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1895 | 7.71 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1896 | 7.78 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 7.84 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1898 | 7.9 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 7.97 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1900 | 8.03 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1901 | 8.24 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1902 | 8.52 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1903 | 8.8 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1904 | 9.09 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1905 | 9.38 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1906 | 9.68 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1907 | 9.99 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1908 | 10.3 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1909 | 10.61 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1910 | 10.93 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1911 | 11.15 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1912 | 11.36 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1913 | 11.58 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1914 | 11.8 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1915 | 12.02 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1916 | 12.24 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1917 | 12.47 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1918 | 12.69 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1919 | 12.92 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1920 | 13.15 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1921 | 13.33 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1922 | 13.48 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1923 | 13.68 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 13.85 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1925 | 14.24 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1926 | 14.46 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 14.68 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1928 | 14.87 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1929 | 14.99 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1930 | 15.09 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 15.28 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1932 | 15.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 15.32 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1934 | 15.36 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1935 | 15.4 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1936 | 15.59 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1937 | 15.76 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1938 | 15.92 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1939 | 16.05 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1940 | 16.18 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1941 | 16.28 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1942 | 16.32 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1943 | 16.41 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1944 | 16.51 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1945 | 16.53 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1946 | 16.71 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1947 | 16.68 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1948 | 16.63 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1949 | 16.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1950 | 69.1 tonnes | +314.3% |
| 1951 | 69.84 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 70.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 70.21 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1954 | 70.28 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1955 | 70.25 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1956 | 70.35 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 70.52 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 70.81 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1959 | 71.22 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 94.71 tonnes | +33.0% |
| 1961 | 96.79 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 98.74 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 100.96 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 103.4 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 106.09 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 108.91 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 133.64 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1968 | 136.6 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 118.01 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 1970 | 205.43 tonnes | +74.1% |
| 1971 | 165.63 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1972 | 211.08 tonnes | +27.4% |
| 1973 | 243.13 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1974 | 238.71 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1975 | 328.31 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 1976 | 314.55 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1977 | 383.3 tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1978 | 413.64 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1979 | 456.58 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1980 | 456 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 530.3 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1982 | 517.59 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 548.68 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 641.11 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 604.83 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1986 | 713.33 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1987 | 807.55 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1988 | 907.88 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1989 | 887.61 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 1,083 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1991 | 1,265 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1992 | 1,055 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 1993 | 1,074 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 1,336 tonnes | +24.3% |
| 1995 | 1,342 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 1,435 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1997 | 1,511 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 1,578 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 1,622 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 1,305 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 2001 | 1,204 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 1,396 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2003 | 1,609 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 1,477 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2005 | 1,669 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 2006 | 1,668 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 1,318 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2008 | 1,369 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 1,365 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 1,305 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 1,223 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2012 | 1,182 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 1,146 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 1,257 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2015 | 1,273 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 1,270 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 1,209 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 1,258 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 1,208 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 1,043 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2021 | 1,080 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 1,092 tonnes | +1.1% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 1,092 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784 tonnes, 1% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 1,092 tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 1% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Tonga 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 | +314.3% | 16.68 tonnes | 69.1 tonnes |
| 1970 | +74.1% | 118.01 tonnes | 205.43 tonnes |
| 1975 | +37.5% | 238.71 tonnes | 328.31 tonnes |
| 1960 | +33.0% | 71.22 tonnes | 94.71 tonnes |
| 1972 | +27.4% | 165.63 tonnes | 211.08 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 2.07 tonnes | 2.03 tonnes | 2.12 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 2.18 tonnes | 2.13 tonnes | 2.23 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 2.3 tonnes | 2.24 tonnes | 2.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 2.41 tonnes | 2.36 tonnes | 2.47 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 2.54 tonnes | 2.48 tonnes | 2.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 2.7 tonnes | 2.61 tonnes | 2.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 2.92 tonnes | 2.82 tonnes | 3.02 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 3.15 tonnes | 3.04 tonnes | 3.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 3.4 tonnes | 3.28 tonnes | 3.52 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 3.67 tonnes | 3.54 tonnes | 3.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 4.1 tonnes | 3.82 tonnes | 4.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.8 tonnes | 4.47 tonnes | 5.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 5.63 tonnes | 5.24 tonnes | 6.05 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 6.64 tonnes | 6.15 tonnes | 7.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.7 tonnes | 7.47 tonnes | 7.97 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 9.27 tonnes | 8.03 tonnes | 10.61 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 11.92 tonnes | 10.93 tonnes | 12.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 14.07 tonnes | 13.15 tonnes | 14.99 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 15.51 tonnes | 15.09 tonnes | 16.05 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 16.49 tonnes | 16.18 tonnes | 16.71 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 70.26 tonnes | 69.1 tonnes | 71.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 109.79 tonnes | 94.71 tonnes | 136.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 296.04 tonnes | 165.63 tonnes | 456.58 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 661.49 tonnes | 456 tonnes | 907.88 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,330 tonnes | 1,055 tonnes | 1,622 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,438 tonnes | 1,204 tonnes | 1,669 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,233 tonnes | 1,146 tonnes | 1,305 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,072 tonnes | 1,043 tonnes | 1,092 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 199 Samoa 1,763 tonnes compare
- 200 Vanuatu 1,502 tonnes compare
- 201 United States Virgin Islands 1,383 tonnes compare
- 203 Micronesia (country) 795.19 tonnes compare
- 204 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 774.39 tonnes compare
- 205 Turks and Caicos Islands 768.23 tonnes compare
More environment data for Tonga
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.234 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.858 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.06 % 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 0.1689 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Tonga?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Tonga was 1,092 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 Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 1,669 tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.03 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Tonga rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Tonga ranks 202nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tonga 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.