PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ghana
Ghana: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ghana, 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 Ghana stood at 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is down 6.5% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ghana peaked at 40.85 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004 and was at its lowest, 23.63 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2014.
Ghana ranks 53rd 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 38.35 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 36.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.6% |
| 1992 | 36.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 36.27 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 36.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 31.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.9% |
| 1996 | 36.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.7% |
| 1997 | 36.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 36.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 36.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 38.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 29.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -22.9% |
| 2002 | 35.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.9% |
| 2003 | 28.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.7% |
| 2004 | 40.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +41.2% |
| 2005 | 31.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -22.9% |
| 2006 | 31.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 33.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 34.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 29.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.0% |
| 2010 | 26.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.3% |
| 2011 | 30.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.2% |
| 2012 | 29.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 24.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 23.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 33.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +43.3% |
| 2016 | 31.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 29.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 25.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.0% |
| 2019 | 25.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 30.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.4% |
| 2021 | 29.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 30.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 38.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 40.85 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 50 Guatemala 29.68 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 51 El Salvador 29.59 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 52 Armenia 28.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 54 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 55 South Africa 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 56 Guinea 27.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Ghana
- Population in the largest city 19.5% (2025)
- Population density 148.5 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1946 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 6.82 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 28.25 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 4.04 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.49 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 232.51 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ghana?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Ghana was 28.14 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 40.85 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.63 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- How does Ghana rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Ghana ranks 53rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.