PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO in North America
North America: PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO was 3.0% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO in North America, 1990–2017
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Measured in % of total.
Analysis
North America recorded 3.0% for pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in 2017.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 92.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in North America peaked at 44.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2016.
That places North America 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO in North America, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44.8% | — |
| 1995 | 41.6% | -7.3% |
| 2000 | 39.9% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 41.8% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 35.8% | -14.4% |
| 2011 | 43.9% | +22.7% |
| 2012 | 26.7% | -39.3% |
| 2013 | 19.4% | -27.1% |
| 2014 | 10.8% | -44.6% |
| 2015 | 7.7% | -28.5% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | -60.9% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.2% | 41.6% | 44.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 40.9% | 39.9% | 41.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 3.0% | 43.9% | 8 |
More urban development data for North America
- Population in the largest city 8.3% (2025)
- Population density 21.01 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 6.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in North America?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in North America was 3.0% in 2017, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
- What is the highest pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 44.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2016.
- How does North America rank for pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who?
- North America ranks 47th out of 47 groups with data for 2017.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), published as part of PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guideline value (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the WHO guideline value is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 10 micrograms per cubic meter, the guideline value recommended by the World Health Organization as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.