PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 45.36 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 45.36 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 47.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 and was at its lowest, 41.86 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1991.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 6th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 42.06 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 41.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 42.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 42.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 42.46 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 41.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1996 | 42.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 43.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 43.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 43.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 44.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 43.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 43.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 46.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 45.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2005 | 44.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 42.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 42.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 42.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 42.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 45.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.3% |
| 2011 | 44.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 44.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 44.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 42.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 46.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 44.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 44.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 46.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 43.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 42.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 44.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 47.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 45.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 41.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 43.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 46.78 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.79 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 46.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 47.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- 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
- 6 Kuwait 62.35 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 7 Pakistan 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 9 Bahrain 56.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Population in the largest city 23.6% (2025)
- Population density 63.12 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 45.36 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 47.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.86 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 6th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.