PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Switzerland
Switzerland: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland stood at 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 18.2% on the previous year and down 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Switzerland peaked at 23.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
Switzerland ranks 168th of 200 countries on this measure, 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.73 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 23.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 23.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 23.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 23.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 22.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 21.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 21.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 21.25 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 20.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 19.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 19.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 20.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.2% |
| 2004 | 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 18.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 15.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.5% |
| 2007 | 13.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.4% |
| 2008 | 14.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 15.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 14.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 14.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 12.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.7% |
| 2013 | 13.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 10.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.6% |
| 2015 | 11.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.7% |
| 2016 | 10.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 10.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 10.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 9.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.0% |
| 2020 | 9.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 9.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 10.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 165 Netherlands 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 166 Belgium 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 167 Antigua and Barbuda 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 169 France 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 170 Puerto Rico 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 171 Brunei Darussalam 7.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Switzerland
- Population in the largest city 18.7% (2025)
- Population density 224.98 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.16 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.46 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.8141 % 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 36.23 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.46 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 1.37 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 135.43 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Switzerland?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Switzerland was 8.32 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 23.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Switzerland rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Switzerland ranks 168th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.