Contact Contacts
PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — Afghanistan

PM2.5 air pollution in Afghanistan in 2023 — 37.9 µg/m³. Ranked 175 in the world out of 200. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 21.6%.

2023 37.9 µg/m³ −5.62% vs 2022
World rank 175of 200
Period maximum 49.6 µg/m³2002
Period minimum 34.2 µg/m³2020

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — Afghanistan, 1990–202330354045501990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 48.4 µg/m³1991: 47.9 µg/m³1992: 48 µg/m³1993: 48 µg/m³1994: 48 µg/m³1995: 47 µg/m³1996: 48.1 µg/m³1997: 48.1 µg/m³1998: 48.2 µg/m³1999: 48.2 µg/m³2000: 48.8 µg/m³2001: 47.3 µg/m³2002: 49.6 µg/m³2003: 48.6 µg/m³2004: 47.4 µg/m³2005: 48.1 µg/m³2006: 40.5 µg/m³2007: 37.7 µg/m³2008: 36.9 µg/m³2009: 34.6 µg/m³2010: 39.1 µg/m³2011: 41.9 µg/m³2012: 34.3 µg/m³2013: 36.6 µg/m³2014: 36 µg/m³2015: 36.5 µg/m³2016: 36.9 µg/m³2017: 37.1 µg/m³2018: 40.8 µg/m³2019: 34.8 µg/m³2020: 34.2 µg/m³2021: 39.7 µg/m³2022: 40.2 µg/m³2023: 37.9 µg/m³
Change over the period: −10.5 (−21.64%) Average annual rate: -0.74 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Afghanistan

Afghanistan 37.9 µg/m³
World 32.9 µg/m³
South Asia 55.2 µg/m³
Southern Asia computed 54.5 µg/m³
Low-income countries computed 31.1 µg/m³
PM2.5 air pollution — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 37.9 −2.3 −5.62%
2022 40.2 +0.5 +1.18%
2021 39.7 +5.6 +16.32%
2020 34.2 −0.6 −1.81%
2019 34.8 −6 −14.8%
2018 40.8 +3.8 +10.18%
2017 37.1 +0.2 +0.53%
2016 36.9 +0.4 +1.06%
2015 36.5 +0.5 +1.4%
2014 36 −0.6 −1.73%
2013 36.6 +2.3 +6.59%
2012 34.3 −7.6 −18.03%
2011 41.9 +2.8 +7.2%
2010 39.1 +4.5 +13%
2009 34.6 −2.3 −6.13%
2008 36.9 −0.9 −2.32%
2007 37.7 −2.8 −6.93%
2006 40.5 −7.6 −15.72%
2005 48.1 +0.7 +1.49%
2004 47.4 −1.3 −2.58%
2003 48.6 −1 −1.96%
2002 49.6 +2.3 +4.8%
2001 47.3 −1.4 −2.89%
2000 48.8 +0.6 +1.14%
1999 48.2 +0 +0.07%
1998 48.2 +0 +0.07%
1997 48.1 +0 +0.07%
1996 48.1 +1.1 +2.27%
1995 47 −1 −2.09%
1994 48 +0 +0.07%
1993 48 +0 +0.07%
1992 48 +0 +0.07%
1991 47.9 −0.5 −1%
1990 48.4 — —

Southern Asia, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

MV Maldives 11.2 LK Sri Lanka 22.7 BT Bhutan 30.1 AF Afghanistan 37.9 IR Iran 40.2 NP Nepal 53.2 IN India 54.1 PK Pakistan 58.4 BD Bangladesh 69.3
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The mean annual concentration of suspended particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, weighted by population — that is, the concentration residents are actually exposed to rather than the average across the territory. The WHO guideline of 2021 is no more than 5 µg/m³; in the most polluted countries values exceed it more than tenfold.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for Afghanistan

Mortality Air pollution death rate

How many deaths per 100,000 people are attributed to dirty air — outdoors and in the home.

Afghanistan by year Emissions CO2 emissions

Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuel and producing cement.

Afghanistan by year Demography Urban population share

What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.

Afghanistan by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

Afghanistan by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Afghanistan by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

Afghanistan by year
All indicators for Afghanistan