Emissions of air pollutants in Uganda
Uganda: Emissions of air pollutants was 136,387 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
136,387 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
83rd
of 220 countries
All-time high
162,120 tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
381.58 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Uganda, 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 Uganda stood at 136,387 tonnes.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Uganda peaked at 162,120 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 381.58 tonnes, in 1750.
Uganda ranks 83rd of 220 countries on this measure, 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 381.58 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 381.7 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 381.82 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 381.95 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 382.07 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 382.2 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 382.32 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 382.44 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 382.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 382.69 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 382.82 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 382.94 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 383.06 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 383.19 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 383.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 383.44 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 383.56 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 383.68 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 383.81 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 383.93 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 384.06 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 384.18 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 384.3 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 384.43 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 384.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 384.68 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 384.8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 384.92 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 385.05 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 385.17 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 385.3 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 385.42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 385.54 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 385.67 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 385.79 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 385.92 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 386.04 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 386.16 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 386.29 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 386.41 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 386.54 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 386.66 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 386.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 386.91 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 387.03 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 387.15 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 387.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 387.4 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 387.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 387.65 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 387.77 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 389 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 390.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 391.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 392.67 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 393.89 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 395.12 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 396.33 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 397.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 398.79 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 400.01 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 401.45 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 402.88 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 404.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 405.76 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 407.2 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 408.62 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1817 | 410.06 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 411.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 412.96 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 414.41 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 415.86 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1822 | 417.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 418.77 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 420.23 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 421.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 423.13 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 424.6 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 426.07 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 427.53 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 429 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 430.48 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 431.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 433.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 434.91 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 436.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 437.86 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 439.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 440.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 442.32 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 443.81 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 445.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 446.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 448.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 449.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 451.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 452.79 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 454.3 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 455.81 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 457.32 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 458.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1851 | 461.93 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1852 | 465.06 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1853 | 468.24 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1854 | 471.44 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1855 | 474.67 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1856 | 477.96 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1857 | 481.28 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1858 | 484.64 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 488.04 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 491.49 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 497.12 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1862 | 502.78 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1863 | 508.52 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1864 | 514.31 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1865 | 520.14 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1866 | 526.04 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1867 | 532 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1868 | 538 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 544.07 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 550.2 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1871 | 556.42 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1872 | 562.67 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1873 | 569.01 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1874 | 575.41 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1875 | 581.86 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 588.39 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 594.99 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 601.63 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1879 | 608.37 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1880 | 615.17 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1881 | 622.05 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1882 | 629.02 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1883 | 636.07 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1884 | 643.17 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1885 | 650.37 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1886 | 657.64 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1887 | 665 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1888 | 672.66 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1889 | 680.43 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 688.28 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1891 | 696.22 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1892 | 704.26 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1893 | 712.4 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1894 | 720.61 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1895 | 728.93 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 737.34 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 745.83 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1898 | 754.44 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 763.15 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 771.94 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 820.84 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1902 | 871.17 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1903 | 862 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1904 | 920 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1905 | 982.5 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1906 | 1,050 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1907 | 1,123 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1908 | 1,202 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1909 | 1,286 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1910 | 1,378 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1911 | 1,536 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1912 | 1,608 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1913 | 1,736 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1914 | 1,775 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1915 | 1,857 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1916 | 1,918 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1917 | 2,020 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1918 | 2,258 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1919 | 2,324 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1920 | 2,298 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1921 | 2,376 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1922 | 2,483 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1923 | 2,556 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1924 | 2,640 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1925 | 2,746 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1926 | 2,835 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1927 | 2,925 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1928 | 3,064 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1929 | 3,228 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1930 | 3,361 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1931 | 3,468 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1932 | 3,566 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1933 | 3,663 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1934 | 3,750 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1935 | 3,836 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 3,942 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1937 | 4,076 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1938 | 4,237 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1939 | 4,408 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1940 | 4,578 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1941 | 4,769 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1942 | 4,957 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1943 | 5,151 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1944 | 5,352 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1945 | 5,539 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1946 | 5,952 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1947 | 6,207 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1948 | 6,470 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1949 | 6,752 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1950 | 7,833 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1951 | 8,320 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1952 | 8,664 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1953 | 9,250 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1954 | 9,577 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1955 | 10,082 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1956 | 10,402 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 10,762 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 11,181 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1959 | 12,148 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1960 | 12,578 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 12,996 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1962 | 13,506 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 13,940 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 14,543 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1965 | 15,571 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1966 | 16,706 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1967 | 17,655 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 18,908 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 20,182 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 21,783 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1971 | 23,256 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 23,189 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 21,835 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1974 | 20,914 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1975 | 20,658 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 22,653 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1977 | 23,226 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 22,756 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 23,426 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 25,091 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 24,985 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 25,092 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 25,294 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 26,093 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 26,683 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 27,712 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 28,026 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 28,893 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 29,709 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 32,009 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 33,294 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 34,341 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 33,790 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 36,761 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 38,412 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 39,113 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 39,629 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 40,458 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 41,554 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 45,478 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 47,179 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 49,554 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 51,344 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 53,106 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 57,431 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 62,482 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 67,544 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 73,008 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 77,686 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 82,477 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 90,118 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 88,972 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 91,946 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 98,585 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 118,163 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 2016 | 119,816 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 118,126 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 162,120 tonnes | +37.2% |
| 2019 | 128,253 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 2020 | 122,583 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 132,542 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 136,387 tonnes | +2.9% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 136,387 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 44,196 tonnes, 3.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 136,387 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 3.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +37.2% | 118,126 tonnes | 162,120 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 382.14 tonnes | 381.58 tonnes | 382.69 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 383.37 tonnes | 382.82 tonnes | 383.93 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 384.61 tonnes | 384.06 tonnes | 385.17 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 385.85 tonnes | 385.3 tonnes | 386.41 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 387.09 tonnes | 386.54 tonnes | 387.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 393.28 tonnes | 387.77 tonnes | 398.79 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 406.48 tonnes | 400.01 tonnes | 412.96 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 420.96 tonnes | 414.41 tonnes | 427.53 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 435.65 tonnes | 429 tonnes | 442.32 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 450.55 tonnes | 443.81 tonnes | 457.32 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 473.21 tonnes | 458.83 tonnes | 488.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 517.45 tonnes | 491.49 tonnes | 544.07 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 578.89 tonnes | 550.2 tonnes | 608.37 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 647.16 tonnes | 615.17 tonnes | 680.43 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 725.15 tonnes | 688.28 tonnes | 763.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 988.98 tonnes | 771.94 tonnes | 1,286 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1,841 tonnes | 1,378 tonnes | 2,324 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 2,715 tonnes | 2,298 tonnes | 3,228 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 3,831 tonnes | 3,361 tonnes | 4,408 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 5,573 tonnes | 4,578 tonnes | 6,752 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 9,822 tonnes | 7,833 tonnes | 12,148 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 15,659 tonnes | 12,578 tonnes | 20,182 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 22,370 tonnes | 20,658 tonnes | 23,426 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 26,758 tonnes | 24,985 tonnes | 29,709 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 36,936 tonnes | 32,009 tonnes | 41,554 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 58,481 tonnes | 45,478 tonnes | 77,686 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 109,858 tonnes | 82,477 tonnes | 162,120 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 130,504 tonnes | 122,583 tonnes | 136,387 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More environment data for Uganda
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -11.7 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -12.54 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.255 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.23 % 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 1.38 % 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 Uganda?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Uganda was 136,387 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 162,120 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 381.58 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Uganda rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Uganda ranks 83rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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.