PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in World
World: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in World, 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
World recorded 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in World peaked at 37.36 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 32.5 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
World ranks 22nd of 47 groups on this measure, 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 World, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 36.67 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 36.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 36.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 36.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 36.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 35.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 36.35 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 36.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 36.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 36.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 36.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 36.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 36.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 36.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 36.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 36.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 35.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 35.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 36.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 36.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 36.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 37.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 36 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 36 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 35.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 35.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 35.01 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 34.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 33.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 32.5 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 33.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 32.73 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 32.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 36.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 36.85 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.83 micrograms per cubic meter | 32.5 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
- 19 Mongolia 42.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 20 Equatorial Guinea 42.22 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 21 Senegal 41.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 22 Djibouti 40.3 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 23 Iran 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 24 Benin 39.66 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 25 Gambia 38.27 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for World
- Population in the largest city 16.2% (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 60,317 Hectares (2020)
- Population density 62.14 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 91.4% (2017)
- Dollar value of all resources made available to strengthen 1.15 billion (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in World?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in World was 32.87 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 World?
- The highest recorded value was 37.36 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does World rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- World ranks 22nd out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this World 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.