PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding … total in United States
United States: PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding … total was 3.3% in 2017. ◆ Volatile
PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO in United States, 1990–2017
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Measured in % of total.
Analysis
United States recorded 3.3% for pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in 2017.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 92.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in United States peaked at 48.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3.3%, in 2016.
United States ranks 186th of 194 countries on this measure, 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 … total in United States, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.0% | — |
| 1995 | 44.7% | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 43.1% | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 44.2% | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 38.2% | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 46.7% | +22.2% |
| 2012 | 28.7% | -38.6% |
| 2013 | 20.8% | -27.3% |
| 2014 | 11.7% | -43.7% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | -27.8% |
| 2016 | 3.3% | -60.6% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | +0.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 94.8%, 4% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.3% | 44.7% | 48.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 43.7% | 43.1% | 44.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 3.3% | 46.7% | 8 |
Countries ranked near United States
More urban development data for United States
- Population in the largest city 7.0% (2025)
- Population density 37.17 people per sq. km of land area (2024)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter (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, annual 0.9145 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 160.79 million (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in United States?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who in United States was 3.3% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 48.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.3% in 2016.
- How does United States rank for pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who?
- United States ranks 186th out of 194 countries with data for 2017.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 92.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.