PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Pakistan
Pakistan: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 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
In 2023, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Pakistan stood at 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Pakistan peaked at 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018 and was at its lowest, 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2009.
Pakistan ranks 7th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.49 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 57.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 56.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 56.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 56.73 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 54.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 56.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 56.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 56.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 56.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 57.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 56.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 57.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 58.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 56.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 56.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 54 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 52.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 52.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 57.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 55.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 55.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 54.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 54.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 57.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 56.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 56.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 53.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.1% |
| 2020 | 54.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 58.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 57.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 53.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 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
- 8 United Arab Emirates 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 9 Bahrain 56.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Pakistan
- Population in the largest city 17.9% (2025)
- Population density 321.07 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2008 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 51.25 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 63.14 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 18.08 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 9.2 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 354.81 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Pakistan?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Pakistan was 58.37 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter in 2009.
- How does Pakistan rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Pakistan ranks 7th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this 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.