PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — Southern Africa

PM2.5 air pollution in Southern Africa in 2023 — 26.4 µg/m³. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 12.7%.

2023 26.4 µg/m³ −3.52% vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 31.8 µg/m³2010
Period minimum 21.1 µg/m³2003

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — Southern Africa, 1990–2023202530351990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 23.5 µg/m³1991: 23.6 µg/m³1992: 23.6 µg/m³1993: 23.6 µg/m³1994: 23.6 µg/m³1995: 24 µg/m³1996: 23.6 µg/m³1997: 23.5 µg/m³1998: 23.5 µg/m³1999: 23.5 µg/m³2000: 23.3 µg/m³2001: 22.8 µg/m³2002: 22.2 µg/m³2003: 21.1 µg/m³2004: 21.1 µg/m³2005: 21.4 µg/m³2006: 25.1 µg/m³2007: 27.1 µg/m³2008: 27.1 µg/m³2009: 27.5 µg/m³2010: 31.8 µg/m³2011: 27.6 µg/m³2012: 27.6 µg/m³2013: 27.3 µg/m³2014: 25.6 µg/m³2015: 27.4 µg/m³2016: 25.1 µg/m³2017: 27.5 µg/m³2018: 26.7 µg/m³2019: 27.6 µg/m³2020: 27 µg/m³2021: 26.5 µg/m³2022: 27.4 µg/m³2023: 26.4 µg/m³
Change over the period: +3 (+12.66%) Average annual rate: 0.36 %

Comparison, 2023

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

Southern Africa 26.4 µg/m³
World 32.9 µg/m³
PM2.5 air pollution — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 26.4 −1 −3.52%
2022 27.4 +0.9 +3.31%
2021 26.5 −0.5 −1.82%
2020 27 −0.6 −2.05%
2019 27.6 +0.9 +3.25%
2018 26.7 −0.8 −2.93%
2017 27.5 +2.4 +9.7%
2016 25.1 −2.3 −8.38%
2015 27.4 +1.8 +7.04%
2014 25.6 −1.8 −6.43%
2013 27.3 −0.3 −1%
2012 27.6 +0 +0.03%
2011 27.6 −4.1 −13.04%
2010 31.8 +4.3 +15.59%
2009 27.5 +0.3 +1.22%
2008 27.1 +0 +0.17%
2007 27.1 +2 +7.95%
2006 25.1 +3.7 +17.21%
2005 21.4 +0.3 +1.49%
2004 21.1 +0 +0.09%
2003 21.1 −1.2 −5.24%
2002 22.2 −0.6 −2.48%
2001 22.8 −0.5 −2.11%
2000 23.3 −0.2 −0.88%
1999 23.5 −0 −0.08%
1998 23.5 −0 −0.07%
1997 23.5 −0 −0.07%
1996 23.6 −0.4 −1.66%
1995 24 +0.4 +1.54%
1994 23.6 −0 −0.07%
1993 23.6 −0 −0.07%
1992 23.6 −0 −0.08%
1991 23.6 +0.2 +0.74%
1990 23.5

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.