PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Asia
South Asia: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 55.16 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Asia, 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 South Asia stood at 55.16 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.0% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Asia peaked at 58.65 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018 and was at its lowest, 49.12 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1995.
That places South Asia 1st out of 45 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Asia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 52.23 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 51.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 51.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 51.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 51.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 49.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 51.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 50.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 50.93 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 50.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 51.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 51.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 52.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 53.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 51.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 52.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 50.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 50.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 52.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 53.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 52.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 56.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 54.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 53.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 53.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 52.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 54.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 55.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 58.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 54.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 53.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 56.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 51.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.5% |
| 2023 | 55.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 49.12 micrograms per cubic meter | 52.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 53.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 52.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 51.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 56.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 1 Qatar 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 2 Saudi Arabia 73.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 3 Bangladesh 69.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 4 Nigeria 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for South Asia
- Population in the largest city 10.2% (2025)
- Population density 496.76 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 99.2% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Asia?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Asia was 55.16 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 Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.65 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.12 micrograms per cubic meter in 1995.
- How does South Asia rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- South Asia ranks 1st out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Asia 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.