PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in United States
United States: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in United States, 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
United States recorded 6.97 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.
That represents a change of down 6.2% on the previous year and down 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in United States peaked at 15.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places United States 176th 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 United States, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15.91 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 15.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 15.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 15.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 15.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 15.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 15.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 14.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 14.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 13.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 13.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 13.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 12.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 13.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 11.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.9% |
| 2007 | 10.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 10.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 9.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2010 | 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 9.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 8.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 8.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 8.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 8.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 7.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 7.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 7.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 7.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 7.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 173 Denmark 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 174 Luxembourg 7.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 175 Vanuatu 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 177 New Zealand 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 179 Canada 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for United States
- Population in the largest city 7.0% (2025)
- Population density 36.81 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.4704 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 160.79 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.9145 % 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 17.26 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 19.15 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 10,913 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 3.3% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in United States?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in United States was 6.97 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 15.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does United States rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- United States ranks 176th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.