PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — South Asia

PM2.5 air pollution in South Asia in 2023 — 55.2 µg/m³. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 5.6%.

2023 55.2 µg/m³ +6.98% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 58.7 µg/m³2018
Period minimum 49.1 µg/m³1995

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — South Asia, 1990–202347.55052.55557.5601990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 52.2 µg/m³1991: 51.2 µg/m³1992: 51.2 µg/m³1993: 51.1 µg/m³1994: 51.1 µg/m³1995: 49.1 µg/m³1996: 51 µg/m³1997: 51 µg/m³1998: 50.9 µg/m³1999: 50.9 µg/m³2000: 51.8 µg/m³2001: 51.5 µg/m³2002: 52.3 µg/m³2003: 53.3 µg/m³2004: 51.8 µg/m³2005: 52.4 µg/m³2006: 50.4 µg/m³2007: 50.6 µg/m³2008: 52.4 µg/m³2009: 53.9 µg/m³2010: 53 µg/m³2011: 56.1 µg/m³2012: 54.7 µg/m³2013: 53.2 µg/m³2014: 53.1 µg/m³2015: 52.5 µg/m³2016: 55 µg/m³2017: 55.6 µg/m³2018: 58.7 µg/m³2019: 54.5 µg/m³2020: 53.8 µg/m³2021: 57 µg/m³2022: 51.6 µg/m³2023: 55.2 µg/m³
Change over the period: +2.9 (+5.63%) Average annual rate: 0.17 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South Asia 55.2 µg/m³
World 32.9 µg/m³
PM2.5 air pollution — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 55.2 +3.6 +6.98%
2022 51.6 −5.4 −9.46%
2021 57 +3.2 +5.87%
2020 53.8 −0.7 −1.37%
2019 54.5 −4.1 −7.01%
2018 58.7 +3.1 +5.52%
2017 55.6 +0.6 +1.13%
2016 55 +2.5 +4.7%
2015 52.5 −0.6 −1.06%
2014 53.1 −0.2 −0.31%
2013 53.2 −1.5 −2.77%
2012 54.7 −1.3 −2.37%
2011 56.1 +3.1 +5.82%
2010 53 −1 −1.79%
2009 53.9 +1.5 +2.9%
2008 52.4 +1.9 +3.72%
2007 50.6 +0.1 +0.29%
2006 50.4 −2 −3.79%
2005 52.4 +0.6 +1.12%
2004 51.8 −1.5 −2.79%
2003 53.3 +1 +1.9%
2002 52.3 +0.8 +1.54%
2001 51.5 −0.3 −0.57%
2000 51.8 +0.9 +1.81%
1999 50.9 −0 −0.08%
1998 50.9 −0 −0.08%
1997 51 −0 −0.08%
1996 51 +1.9 +3.84%
1995 49.1 −2 −3.85%
1994 51.1 −0 −0.08%
1993 51.1 −0 −0.08%
1992 51.2 −0 −0.08%
1991 51.2 −1 −1.92%
1990 52.2

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.