PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sierra Leone, 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
Sierra Leone recorded 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sierra Leone peaked at 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004 and was at its lowest, 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2003.
Sierra Leone ranks 69th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.89 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 23.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 22.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 22.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 21.25 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 22.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 22.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 22.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 23.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 20.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.3% |
| 2002 | 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.7% |
| 2004 | 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +35.1% |
| 2005 | 24.02 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 22.98 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 24.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 24.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 24.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 21.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.0% |
| 2013 | 20.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 26.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +31.0% |
| 2016 | 24.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 23.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 24.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 22.5 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 22.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 21.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 22.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.06 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 66 Thailand 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 67 Chile 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 68 Sri Lanka 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 70 Palestine, State of 22.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 71 Philippines 22.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 72 Israel 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Sierra Leone
- Population in the largest city 34.3% (2025)
- Population density 117.21 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1573 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.39 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 18.14 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.39 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 25.86 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sierra Leone?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sierra Leone was 22.46 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Sierra Leone ranks 69th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.