In order to accurately grasp the emission characteristics of anthropogenic air pollutants in Kunming, this study utilizes statistical data from the statistical yearbook and various municipal departments, integrating enterprise surveys, field sampling, and on-site interviews and investigations to establish an anthropogenic emission inventory for Kunming in 2018. The source spectrum data for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Kunming were obtained through emission outlet testing at key enterprises and literature research. A detailed list of VOCs sub-species in Kunming was compiled, and their ozone formation potential was calculated. The results showed that the emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), VOCs, ammonia (NH3), particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) in Kunming during 2018 were 13476.92 tons, 53327.85 tons, 397383.83 tons, 55514.73 tons, 20465.41 tons, 75473.99 tons, 29405.57 tons, 1947.53 tons, 4405.39 tons, respectively. Among these, the primary emission sources for NOx were mobile sources (50.7%), NH3 were agricultural sources (88.5%), PM10 were dust sources (44.1%) and process sources (43.1%). The main emission sources of CO, VOCs and PM2.5 were process sources, which accounted for 68.2%, 41.7%, and 51.2% of the emissions of different pollutants, respectively. The primary emission sources for SO2, BC and OC were stationary combustion sources of fossil fuel, with emission shares of 53.0%, 45.0% and 35.9%, respectively. Pollutants were mainly concentrated in the 5 districts of the main city as well as in Anning City. Within the 5 districts of the main city, pollutants were distributed outward from the center along Youth Road and Renmin Middle Road, with relatively few pollutants found in Chenggong District. SO2, BC, and OC were mainly distributed by high-value point sources, NOx, CO, VOCs, and PM2.5 were distributed by a combination of line and point sources. PM10 presented a spatial distribution characterized by a combination of point and surface sources. NH3 showed a significant spatial distribution characteristics of surface sources. VOCs sub-species inventory emissions were dominated by aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes, with the main sources being vehicle emissions and architectural coatings, as well as the industrial solvent. Ozone formation potentials (OFP) for aromatic hydrocarbons accounted for up to 49.9%, with species such as (m- and p-) xylene, toluene, and ethylene comprising a relatively high proportion of the VOCs species.