PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria, 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
The most recent figure for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria is 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 13.7% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria peaked at 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
Bulgaria ranks 87th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31.84 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 31.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 30.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 30.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 30.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 29.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 1996 | 29.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 29.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 28.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 28.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 28.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 28.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 31.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 28.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.9% |
| 2005 | 29.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 29.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 29.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 27.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 25.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 25.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 30.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.9% |
| 2012 | 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.0% |
| 2013 | 23.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 24.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 21.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 22 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 22.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 20.5 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 20.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 22.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.3% |
| 2023 | 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 29.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.83 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 84 Kyrgyzstan 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 85 Libya 20.01 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 86 Angola 19.91 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 88 Kazakhstan 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 89 Cambodia 19.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 90 Serbia 19.34 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Bulgaria
- Population in the largest city 27.0% (2025)
- Population density 59.38 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.29 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual -0.0839 % 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 11.87 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.29 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 1.15 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 173.14 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Bulgaria was 19.68 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Bulgaria rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Bulgaria ranks 87th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.