PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Euro area
Euro area: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 10.28 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Euro area, 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
Euro area recorded 10.28 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.9% on the previous year and down 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Euro area peaked at 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 10.28 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Euro area, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 22.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 21.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 22.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 21.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 21.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 21.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 20.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 20.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 18.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 19.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 20.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 18.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 18.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 17.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 16.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 15.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 16.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 15.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 16.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 14.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.1% |
| 2013 | 14.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 13.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 13.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 12.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 12.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 12.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 11.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 2020 | 10.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 11.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 10.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Euro area
- 1 Qatar 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 2 Saudi Arabia 73.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 3 Bangladesh 69.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 4 Nigeria 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 5 Niger 65.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Euro area
- Population in the largest city 16.1% (2025)
- Population density 125.59 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 78.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Euro area?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Euro area was 10.28 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 Euro area?
- The highest recorded value was 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Euro area?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.28 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Euro area rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Euro area ranks 2nd out of 2 regions with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Euro area?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Euro area 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.