PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in New Zealand
New Zealand: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in New Zealand, 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
New Zealand recorded 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in New Zealand peaked at 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6.47 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2014.
New Zealand ranks 177th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 8.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 8.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 8.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 8.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 8.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 8.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 8.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 8.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 8.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 7.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2004 | 7.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 7.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 7.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2007 | 7.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 7 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 6.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 7.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 6.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2013 | 6.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 6.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 6.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 6.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 7.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 7.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
| 2021 | 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 174 Luxembourg 7.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 175 Vanuatu 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 176 United States 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 179 Canada 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 180 Fiji 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for New Zealand
- Population in the largest city 38.3% (2025)
- Population density 19.75 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3214 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.71 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.08 % 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 6.35 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.71 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.95 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 202.99 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in New Zealand?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in New Zealand was 6.88 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- How does New Zealand rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- New Zealand ranks 177th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.