PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in Syria
Syria: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) was 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Syria, 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 Syria stood at 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.4% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Syria peaked at 36.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010 and was at its lowest, 27.89 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2000.
That places Syria 42nd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in Syria, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31.32 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 31.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 31.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 31.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 30.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 30.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.0% |
| 1997 | 29.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 29.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 29.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 27.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 28.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 30.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 31.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 31.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 29.85 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 30.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 31.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 32.18 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 36.47 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 31.93 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.5% |
| 2012 | 33.19 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 34.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 30.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 33.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 30.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.3% |
| 2017 | 31.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 31.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 33.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 31.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 30.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 35.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.7% |
| 2023 | 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter, 96% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 80% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 29.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 27.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 36.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 39 Uzbekistan 32.77 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 40 Jordan 32.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 41 Guinea-Bissau 32.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 43 China 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 44 Gabon 31.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 45 Turkmenistan 31.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Syria
- Population in the largest city 15.2% (2025)
- Population density 134.36 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2655 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 6.80 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 4.6 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 33.93 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 2.80 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 13,770 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Syria?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Syria was 32.06 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 36.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.89 micrograms per cubic meter in 2000.
- How does Syria rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Syria ranks 42nd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Syria 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.