PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Africa
South Africa: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Africa, 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
South Africa recorded 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Africa peaked at 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010 and was at its lowest, 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2003.
That places South Africa 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.68 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 23.88 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 23.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 23.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 23.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 24.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 23.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 23.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 23.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 23.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 23.61 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 22.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 22.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2004 | 21.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 21.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 25.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.8% |
| 2007 | 27.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 27.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.5% |
| 2011 | 28.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.0% |
| 2012 | 28.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 28.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 26.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 28.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 26.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 28.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 27.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2019 | 28.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 28.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 28.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 52 Armenia 28.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 53 Ghana 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 54 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 56 Guinea 27.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 57 Lebanon 26.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 58 Lesotho 26.44 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for South Africa
- Population in the largest city 15.6% (2025)
- Population density 52.11 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3607 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 23.36 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.74 % 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 18.59 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 6.44 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 8.05 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 750.74 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Africa?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Africa was 27.72 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.