PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — South America

PM2.5 air pollution in South America in 2023 — 16.9 µg/m³. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 46.4%.

2023 16.9 µg/m³ −7.82% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 31.6 µg/m³1990
Period minimum 16.3 µg/m³2014

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — South America, 1990–202315202530351990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 31.6 µg/m³1991: 31.5 µg/m³1992: 31.3 µg/m³1993: 31.1 µg/m³1994: 30.9 µg/m³1995: 30.9 µg/m³1996: 30.5 µg/m³1997: 30.3 µg/m³1998: 30.1 µg/m³1999: 29.9 µg/m³2000: 29.6 µg/m³2001: 29.6 µg/m³2002: 29.2 µg/m³2003: 30 µg/m³2004: 28.5 µg/m³2005: 28.3 µg/m³2006: 21.6 µg/m³2007: 18.1 µg/m³2008: 18.1 µg/m³2009: 17.8 µg/m³2010: 18.8 µg/m³2011: 18.2 µg/m³2012: 16.8 µg/m³2013: 16.6 µg/m³2014: 16.3 µg/m³2015: 17.3 µg/m³2016: 17.3 µg/m³2017: 17 µg/m³2018: 16.6 µg/m³2019: 17.3 µg/m³2020: 17.3 µg/m³2021: 16.6 µg/m³2022: 18.4 µg/m³2023: 16.9 µg/m³
Change over the period: −14.6 (−46.36%) Average annual rate: -1.87 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South America 16.9 µg/m³
World 32.9 µg/m³
PM2.5 air pollution — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 16.9 −1.4 −7.82%
2022 18.4 +1.8 +11.04%
2021 16.6 −0.7 −4.14%
2020 17.3 −0.1 −0.35%
2019 17.3 +0.7 +4.1%
2018 16.6 −0.4 −2.15%
2017 17 −0.3 −1.59%
2016 17.3 +0 +0.1%
2015 17.3 +0.9 +5.69%
2014 16.3 −0.2 −1.48%
2013 16.6 −0.2 −1.45%
2012 16.8 −1.4 −7.45%
2011 18.2 −0.6 −3.01%
2010 18.8 +1 +5.35%
2009 17.8 −0.3 −1.49%
2008 18.1 −0 −0.06%
2007 18.1 −3.5 −16.1%
2006 21.6 −6.7 −23.79%
2005 28.3 −0.2 −0.77%
2004 28.5 −1.5 −4.88%
2003 30 +0.7 +2.55%
2002 29.2 −0.4 −1.24%
2001 29.6 −0 −0.15%
2000 29.6 −0.3 −0.96%
1999 29.9 −0.2 −0.67%
1998 30.1 −0.2 −0.66%
1997 30.3 −0.2 −0.65%
1996 30.5 −0.4 −1.18%
1995 30.9 −0 −0.09%
1994 30.9 −0.2 −0.63%
1993 31.1 −0.2 −0.62%
1992 31.3 −0.2 −0.61%
1991 31.5 −0.1 −0.35%
1990 31.6

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.