PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka stood at 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of down 5.6% on the previous year and down 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sri Lanka peaked at 34.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 21.46 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2021.
That places Sri Lanka 68th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34.1 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 33.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 33.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 32.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 32.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 31.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 1996 | 32.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 32.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 32.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 32.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 33.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 32.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 31.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 31.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 32.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 28.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.3% |
| 2007 | 26.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 26.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 26.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 27.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 28.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 26.25 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 26.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 25.01 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.3% |
| 2016 | 24.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 24.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 28.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.0% |
| 2019 | 24 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 22.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 21.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 24.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.0% |
| 2023 | 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 65 South Sudan 23.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 66 Thailand 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 67 Chile 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 69 Sierra Leone 22.46 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
More urban development data for Sri Lanka
- Population in the largest city 14.6% (2025)
- Population density 356.24 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in largest city 647,557 (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.2 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 87.19 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 45.5% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 1.29 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sri Lanka?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sri Lanka was 22.68 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Sri Lanka ranks 68th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.