PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ethiopia, 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
Ethiopia recorded 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ethiopia peaked at 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1995.
That places Ethiopia 63rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.31 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 20.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 20.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 20.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 20.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 1996 | 20.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 20.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 20.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 20.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 22.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 25.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 23.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 22.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 22.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 22.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 23.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 23.35 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 22.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 24.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 24.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 24.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 21.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.4% |
| 2015 | 24.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.0% |
| 2016 | 23.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 25.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 23.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 22.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 23.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 23.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 60 Bosnia and Herzegovina 26.09 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 61 Lao People's Democratic Republic 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 62 Viet Nam 24.78 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 64 Azerbaijan 23.71 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 65 South Sudan 23.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 66 Thailand 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Ethiopia
- Population in the largest city 18.2% (2025)
- Population density 114.04 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.044 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 5.96 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.44 % 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 4.84 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 5.96 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 17.07 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ethiopia?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ethiopia was 23.8 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 1995.
- How does Ethiopia rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Ethiopia ranks 63rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.