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PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — Germany

PM2.5 air pollution in Germany in 2023 — 8.8 µg/m³. Ranked 38 in the world out of 200. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 60.6%.

2023 8.8 µg/m³ −8.67% vs 2022
World rank 38of 200
Period maximum 22.4 µg/m³1990
Period minimum 8.8 µg/m³2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — Germany, 1990–20235101520251990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 22.4 µg/m³1991: 22.2 µg/m³1992: 21.9 µg/m³1993: 21.5 µg/m³1994: 21.1 µg/m³1995: 21.2 µg/m³1996: 20.4 µg/m³1997: 20 µg/m³1998: 19.7 µg/m³1999: 19.3 µg/m³2000: 18.7 µg/m³2001: 17.6 µg/m³2002: 18.2 µg/m³2003: 18.9 µg/m³2004: 16.7 µg/m³2005: 17 µg/m³2006: 15.8 µg/m³2007: 14.9 µg/m³2008: 14.5 µg/m³2009: 15.4 µg/m³2010: 15.8 µg/m³2011: 15.5 µg/m³2012: 13 µg/m³2013: 13.6 µg/m³2014: 13.4 µg/m³2015: 12.1 µg/m³2016: 11.8 µg/m³2017: 11.9 µg/m³2018: 12.3 µg/m³2019: 10 µg/m³2020: 9.1 µg/m³2021: 9.9 µg/m³2022: 9.6 µg/m³2023: 8.8 µg/m³
Change over the period: −13.6 (−60.6%) Average annual rate: -2.78 %

Comparison, 2023

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

Germany 8.8 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 — Germany, by year Germany All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 8.8 −0.8 −8.67%
2022 9.6 −0.3 −2.58%
2021 9.9 +0.8 +9.31%
2020 9.1 −0.9 −9.01%
2019 10 −2.3 −18.86%
2018 12.3 +0.4 +3.13%
2017 11.9 +0.1 +0.89%
2016 11.8 −0.3 −2.79%
2015 12.1 −1.3 −9.63%
2014 13.4 −0.1 −0.95%
2013 13.6 +0.6 +4.64%
2012 13 −2.5 −16.2%
2011 15.5 −0.4 −2.41%
2010 15.8 +0.5 +3.05%
2009 15.4 +0.9 +5.88%
2008 14.5 −0.4 −2.53%
2007 14.9 −0.9 −5.5%
2006 15.8 −1.3 −7.47%
2005 17 +0.3 +1.89%
2004 16.7 −2.2 −11.59%
2003 18.9 +0.7 +3.72%
2002 18.2 +0.7 +3.83%
2001 17.6 −1.1 −6.03%
2000 18.7 −0.6 −3.11%
1999 19.3 −0.4 −1.87%
1998 19.7 −0.4 −1.84%
1997 20 −0.4 −1.81%
1996 20.4 −0.8 −3.92%
1995 21.2 +0.1 +0.46%
1994 21.1 −0.4 −1.71%
1993 21.5 −0.4 −1.68%
1992 21.9 −0.4 −1.66%
1991 22.2 −0.1 −0.61%
1990 22.4 — —

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 Germany

Mortality Air pollution death rate

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

Germany by year Emissions CO2 emissions

Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuel and producing cement.

Germany by year Demography Urban population share

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

Germany by year Environment Forest cover

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

Germany by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Germany by year Environment Protected areas

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

Germany by year
All indicators for Germany