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PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — Belgium

PM2.5 air pollution in Belgium in 2023 — 8.4 µg/m³. Ranked 35 in the world out of 200. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 62.6%.

2023 8.4 µg/m³ −16.13% vs 2022
World rank 35of 200
Period maximum 22.6 µg/m³1991
Period minimum 8.4 µg/m³2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — Belgium, 1990–20235101520251990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 22.6 µg/m³1991: 22.6 µg/m³1992: 22.3 µg/m³1993: 22.1 µg/m³1994: 21.8 µg/m³1995: 22.1 µg/m³1996: 21.2 µg/m³1997: 20.9 µg/m³1998: 20.6 µg/m³1999: 20.4 µg/m³2000: 19.8 µg/m³2001: 18.3 µg/m³2002: 18.3 µg/m³2003: 20.5 µg/m³2004: 18.2 µg/m³2005: 17.7 µg/m³2006: 17 µg/m³2007: 16.8 µg/m³2008: 17.5 µg/m³2009: 17.6 µg/m³2010: 17.2 µg/m³2011: 16.6 µg/m³2012: 14.8 µg/m³2013: 15.7 µg/m³2014: 12.9 µg/m³2015: 12.5 µg/m³2016: 12.1 µg/m³2017: 11.8 µg/m³2018: 12.2 µg/m³2019: 10.4 µg/m³2020: 9.1 µg/m³2021: 10.7 µg/m³2022: 10.1 µg/m³2023: 8.4 µg/m³
Change over the period: −14.2 (−62.62%) Average annual rate: -2.94 %

Comparison, 2023

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

Belgium 8.4 µg/m³
World 32.9 µg/m³
Europe & Central Asia 14.4 µg/m³
Western Europe computed 8.6 µg/m³
High-income countries computed 12.9 µg/m³
PM2.5 air pollution — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 8.4 −1.6 −16.13%
2022 10.1 −0.7 −6.1%
2021 10.7 +1.6 +17.31%
2020 9.1 −1.3 −12.43%
2019 10.4 −1.8 −14.44%
2018 12.2 +0.4 +3.32%
2017 11.8 −0.3 −2.62%
2016 12.1 −0.4 −2.86%
2015 12.5 −0.5 −3.51%
2014 12.9 −2.7 −17.48%
2013 15.7 +0.9 +6.14%
2012 14.8 −1.8 −10.92%
2011 16.6 −0.6 −3.36%
2010 17.2 −0.4 −2.49%
2009 17.6 +0.1 +0.83%
2008 17.5 +0.6 +3.83%
2007 16.8 −0.2 −1.25%
2006 17 −0.7 −3.84%
2005 17.7 −0.5 −2.86%
2004 18.2 −2.3 −11.3%
2003 20.5 +2.3 +12.41%
2002 18.3 +0 +0.14%
2001 18.3 −1.5 −7.58%
2000 19.8 −0.6 −2.96%
1999 20.4 −0.3 −1.38%
1998 20.6 −0.3 −1.36%
1997 20.9 −0.3 −1.34%
1996 21.2 −0.9 −4.16%
1995 22.1 +0.3 +1.61%
1994 21.8 −0.3 −1.29%
1993 22.1 −0.3 −1.27%
1992 22.3 −0.3 −1.26%
1991 22.6 +0 +0.14%
1990 22.6 — —

Western Europe, 2023

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

LU Luxembourg 7.4 FR France 8.2 CH Switzerland 8.3 BE Belgium 8.4 NL Netherlands 8.6 DE Germany 8.8 AT Austria 10
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 Belgium

Mortality Air pollution death rate

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

Belgium by year Emissions CO2 emissions

Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuel and producing cement.

Belgium by year Demography Urban population share

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

Belgium by year Environment Forest cover

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

Belgium by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Belgium by year Environment Protected areas

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

Belgium by year
All indicators for Belgium