PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Latin America & Caribbean, 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
The most recent figure for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Latin America & Caribbean is 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 28.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 16.64 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2014.
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 34th of 47 groups 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 Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28.46 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 28.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 28.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 28.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 27.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 27.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 27.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 27.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 27.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 27.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 27.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 26.01 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 25.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 26.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 24.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 24.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.8% |
| 2007 | 18.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.2% |
| 2008 | 18.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 17.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 18.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 18.46 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 17.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 16.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 17.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 17.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 17.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 17.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 17.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 17.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 17.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 18.21 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 27.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 27.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.21 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
- 31 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 32 Burundi 35.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 33 Mali 35.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 34 Myanmar 35.07 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 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
More urban development data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Population in the largest city 23.8% (2025)
- Population density 32.79 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 87.3% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Latin America & Caribbean was 17.35 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 Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 28.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.64 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 34th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.