PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Moldova
Moldova: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Moldova, 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
Moldova recorded 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Moldova peaked at 33.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 14.34 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2019.
Moldova ranks 120th 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 Moldova, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.53 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 33.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 32.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 32.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 31.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 32.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 30.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 30.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 29.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 29.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 28.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 28.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 30.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 25.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.9% |
| 2004 | 23.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 22.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 21.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 19.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 18.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 18.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 17.25 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2011 | 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 20.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2013 | 17.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.7% |
| 2014 | 18.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 16.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 16.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 18.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 17.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 14.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.5% |
| 2020 | 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.7% |
| 2021 | 15.61 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 14.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 81% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 29.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
- 117 Panama 15.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 118 Sao Tome and Principe 15.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 119 Zimbabwe 15.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 121 Ukraine 14.85 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 122 Argentina 14.35 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 123 Italy 14.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Moldova
- Population in the largest city 46.9% (2025)
- Population in largest city 484,352 (2025)
- Population density 85.44 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 7.30 million (2023)
- Wagons and their load capacity by type of wagons 4,478 Number (2024)
- Seat capacity of passenger railway vehicles by type of vehicles 9.53 Thousand (2024)
- Seat/berth capacity of passenger railway vehicles 9.53 Thousand (2024)
- Self-propelled vessels, dumb and pushed vessels by load capacity 1 Number (2024)
- Lorries and their load capacity by permissible maximum gross weight 234,589 Number (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Moldova?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Moldova was 14.95 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 Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 33.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.34 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019.
- How does Moldova rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Moldova ranks 120th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Moldova 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.