PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia
Australia: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
In 2023, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia stood at 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is up 21.0% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia peaked at 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2010.
Australia ranks 181st of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.48 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 6.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 6.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 6.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 6.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 6.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 6.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 6.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 6.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 6.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 6.21 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 6.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 6.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 6.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.6% |
| 2005 | 5.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 5.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 6.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 6.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -23.7% |
| 2011 | 5.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 5.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 5.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2014 | 6.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 5.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 6.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +54.1% |
| 2020 | 6.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -27.0% |
| 2021 | 5.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.5% |
| 2022 | 5.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 64% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Australia's 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 66% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +54.1% | 6.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter |
| 2020 | -27.0% | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.81 micrograms per cubic meter |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 6 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 179 Canada 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 180 Fiji 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 182 Estonia 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 183 Norway 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 184 Bahamas 5.28 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Australia
- Population in the largest city 22.3% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.6073 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 16.77 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 2.13 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 5.39 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 5.43 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 931 Hectares (2020)
- Population density 3.47 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Australia was 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network.
- What is the highest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Australia ranks 181st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network, published as part of PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution is defined as the average level of exposure of a nation's population to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing severe health damage. Exposure is calculated by weighting mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 by population in both urban and rural areas.