PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 15.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
15.03 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 13.6%
World rank
119th
of 200 countries
All-time high
20.54 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
All-time low
13.7 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Zimbabwe, 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
Zimbabwe recorded 15.03 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
The figure is down 13.6% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Zimbabwe peaked at 20.54 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001 and was at its lowest, 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
Zimbabwe ranks 119th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.22 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 16 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 16.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 16.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 16.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 15.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 16.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 16.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 16.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 16.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 16.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 20.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +25.0% |
| 2002 | 17.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.9% |
| 2003 | 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.6% |
| 2004 | 14.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 16.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.6% |
| 2006 | 18.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 19.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 17.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 20.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.1% |
| 2011 | 16.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.4% |
| 2012 | 18.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.6% |
| 2013 | 17.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 15.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 17.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.7% |
| 2016 | 15.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.0% |
| 2017 | 15.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 18.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 16.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.1% |
| 2021 | 15.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 17.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.8% |
| 2023 | 15.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 15.03 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 15.03 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 55% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.06 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 116 Singapore 15.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 117 Panama 15.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 118 Sao Tome and Principe 15.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 120 Moldova 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 121 Ukraine 14.85 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 122 Argentina 14.35 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Zimbabwe
- Population in the largest city 23.8% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0963 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.63 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.86 % 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 4.08 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.63 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 2.6 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 65.65 Hectares (2020)
- Population density 42.24 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Zimbabwe?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Zimbabwe was 15.03 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 20.54 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Zimbabwe ranks 119th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.