What is emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom?

Emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom was 833,456 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 United Kingdom?

The highest recorded value was 3.47 million tonnes in 1973.

What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in United Kingdom?

The lowest recorded value was 13,606 tonnes in 1750.

How does United Kingdom rank for emissions of air pollutants?

United Kingdom ranks 31st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in United Kingdom?

Over the last ten years it is down 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this United Kingdom 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.

Emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom

Name: Emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom
Creator: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

United Kingdom: Emissions of air pollutants was 833,456 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

833,456 tonnes

Change on year

up 1.5%

World rank

31st

of 220 countries

All-time high

3.47 million tonnes

in 1973

All-time low

13,606 tonnes

in 1750

Years of data

273

1750–2022

Emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 833,456 tonnes.

The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 41.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom peaked at 3.47 million tonnes in 1973 and was at its lowest, 13,606 tonnes, in 1750.

United Kingdom ranks 31st 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1750s	13,973 tonnes	13,606 tonnes	14,490 tonnes	10
1760s	16,134 tonnes	14,504 tonnes	17,188 tonnes	10
1770s	19,288 tonnes	17,206 tonnes	20,480 tonnes	10
1780s	23,475 tonnes	20,503 tonnes	25,440 tonnes	10
1790s	29,109 tonnes	25,477 tonnes	33,273 tonnes	10
1800s	38,759 tonnes	34,258 tonnes	41,958 tonnes	10
1810s	48,707 tonnes	41,982 tonnes	53,242 tonnes	10
1820s	60,869 tonnes	53,595 tonnes	67,064 tonnes	10
1830s	86,872 tonnes	81,237 tonnes	96,877 tonnes	10
1840s	117,932 tonnes	100,875 tonnes	142,365 tonnes	10
1850s	159,049 tonnes	138,175 tonnes	196,097 tonnes	10
1860s	280,207 tonnes	224,784 tonnes	338,291 tonnes	10
1870s	430,153 tonnes	350,761 tonnes	468,750 tonnes	10
1880s	564,677 tonnes	511,592 tonnes	622,909 tonnes	10
1890s	673,612 tonnes	578,684 tonnes	771,819 tonnes	10
1900s	823,740 tonnes	765,042 tonnes	885,531 tonnes	10
1910s	907,414 tonnes	863,130 tonnes	968,299 tonnes	10
1920s	692,720 tonnes	508,192 tonnes	871,252 tonnes	10
1930s	716,698 tonnes	637,015 tonnes	804,040 tonnes	10
1940s	863,735 tonnes	793,798 tonnes	993,449 tonnes	10
1950s	1.44 million tonnes	1.21 million tonnes	1.67 million tonnes	10
1960s	2.70 million tonnes	2.38 million tonnes	3.06 million tonnes	10
1970s	3.18 million tonnes	3.00 million tonnes	3.47 million tonnes	10
1980s	2.95 million tonnes	2.80 million tonnes	3.21 million tonnes	10
1990s	2.81 million tonnes	2.30 million tonnes	3.23 million tonnes	10
2000s	1.97 million tonnes	1.58 million tonnes	2.19 million tonnes	10
2010s	1.28 million tonnes	1.04 million tonnes	1.50 million tonnes	10
2020s	822,824 tonnes	813,778 tonnes	833,456 tonnes	3

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

28 Malaysia 900,940 tonnes compare
29 Egypt 880,079 tonnes compare
30 Iraq 858,061 tonnes compare
32 France 820,688 tonnes compare
33 Belgium 750,371 tonnes compare
34 Italy 748,652 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom

Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 386.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 5.58 t CO2e/capita (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 31.55 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.7351 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 3.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.078 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 58.88 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3113 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1931 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 22.62 Mt CO2e (2024)

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom?: Emissions of air pollutants in United Kingdom was 833,456 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 United Kingdom?: The highest recorded value was 3.47 million tonnes in 1973.
What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in United Kingdom?: The lowest recorded value was 13,606 tonnes in 1750.
How does United Kingdom rank for emissions of air pollutants?: United Kingdom ranks 31st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in United Kingdom?: Over the last ten years it is down 41.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom 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

Indicator: Emissions of air pollutants
Unit: tonnes
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.