PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 14.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Europe & Central Asia, 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
Europe & Central Asia recorded 14.41 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.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 25.63 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 14.41 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places Europe & Central Asia 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.63 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 25.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 25.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 24.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 24.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 24.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 23.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 23.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 23.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 23.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 21.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 22.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 22.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 20.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2005 | 20.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 19.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 18.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 18.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 18.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 19.18 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 18.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.2% |
| 2013 | 17.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 17 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 16.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 15.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 16.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 16.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 15.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.2% |
| 2020 | 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 15.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 15.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 14.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 35 Togo 34.33 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 36 Eritrea 33.66 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 37 Tajikistan 33.35 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 38 Central African Republic 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 39 Uzbekistan 32.77 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 40 Jordan 32.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 41 Guinea-Bissau 32.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Europe & Central Asia
- Population in the largest city 17.0% (2025)
- Population density 33.71 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 85.1% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Europe & Central Asia?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Europe & Central Asia was 14.41 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 Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.63 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 38th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.