PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Iraq
Iraq: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Iraq, 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 Iraq stood at 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is down 16.9% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Iraq peaked at 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 and was at its lowest, 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2001.
That places Iraq 13th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Iraq, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.25 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 47.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 47.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 47.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 47.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 44.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 47.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 47.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 46.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 48.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 44.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 47.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 44.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 48.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 50.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 53.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 54.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 57.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 51.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 53.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 51.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 47.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 52.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 49.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 47.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 51.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 47.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 48.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.0% |
| 2023 | 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 49.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 57.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 47.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 11 India 54.05 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 12 Nepal 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 14 Oman 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 15 Yemen 46.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 16 Mauritania 46.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Iraq
- Population in the largest city 24.8% (2025)
- Population density 103.83 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2461 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 11.57 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.81 % 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 25.23 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 8.14 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 5.3 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 208.53 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Iraq?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Iraq was 49.47 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- How does Iraq rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Iraq ranks 13th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.