Nitrogen gas makes up most of Earth’s atmosphere, at about 78% of the air by volume. Oxygen is the next most abundant, at roughly 21%, with argon and other gases making up the small remaining fraction.

Quick Scoop

  • The main gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen (N2N_2N2​), around 78% of dry air.
  • Oxygen (O2O_2O2​) is second, at about 21%, and is vital for breathing and combustion.
  • Argon is a minor but significant component at just under 1%, while gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone appear only in tiny trace amounts but strongly affect climate.

In simple terms: almost 4 out of every 5 “parts” of the air you breathe are nitrogen, not oxygen.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.