PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sweden
Sweden: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sweden, 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
Sweden recorded 5.26 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 7.5% on the previous year and down 16.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sweden peaked at 12.01 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places Sweden 185th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sweden, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.01 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 11.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 11.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 11.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 11.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 11.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 11.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 11.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 11.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 10.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 10.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 9.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.0% |
| 2002 | 9.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 10.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.8% |
| 2004 | 9.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.8% |
| 2005 | 9.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 8.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2009 | 7.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 7.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 6.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.5% |
| 2013 | 6.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.1% |
| 2014 | 7.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +23.7% |
| 2015 | 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -21.5% |
| 2016 | 5.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 5.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 6.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.5% |
| 2019 | 5.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 5.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 182 Estonia 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 183 Norway 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 184 Bahamas 5.28 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 186 Tuvalu 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 187 Palau 4.94 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 188 Iceland 4.93 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Sweden
- Population in the largest city 18.4% (2025)
- Population density 25.87 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.164 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.74 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.06 % 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 4.17 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.74 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 5.95 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 146.58 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sweden?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Sweden was 5.26 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 12.01 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Sweden rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Sweden ranks 185th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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.