PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in Russia
Russia: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) was 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Russia, 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
Russia recorded 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Russia peaked at 28 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
Russia ranks 142nd 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 (micrograms per cubic meter) in Russia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 27.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 26.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 26.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 25.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 24.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 24.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 23.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 23.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 22.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 22.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 20.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 22.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 19.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 18.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 16.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 15.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 15.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 15.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 18.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.5% |
| 2011 | 13.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -27.2% |
| 2012 | 14.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 14.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 14.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 13.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 13.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 13.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 12.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.8% |
| 2019 | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 12.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Russia's 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 90% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 28 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Russia
- 139 Madagascar 12.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 140 East Timor 11.99 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 141 Belarus 11.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 143 Dominica 11.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 144 Japan 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 145 Monaco 11.38 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Russia
- Population in the largest city 11.8% (2025)
- Population density 8.77 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 34.34 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.1882 % 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 2.09 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 12.74 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 90.8 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 2,656 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Russia?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Russia was 11.57 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 28 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Russia rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Russia ranks 142nd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Russia 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.