World - Particle pollution

PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter)

The value for PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in World was 45.54 as of 2017. As the graph below shows, over the past 27 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 50.77 in 2011 and a minimum value of 44.26 in 1990.

Definition: Population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution is defined as the average level of exposure of a nation's population to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing severe health damage. Exposure is calculated by weighting mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 by population in both urban and rural areas.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 44.26
1995 44.88
2000 45.94
2005 48.36
2010 50.25
2011 50.77
2012 47.54
2013 47.96
2014 45.96
2015 47.24
2016 45.17
2017 45.54

PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guideline value (% of total)

PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guideline value (% of total) in World was 91.31 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 95.77 in 2011, while its lowest value was 91.31 in 2017.

Definition: Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the WHO guideline value is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 10 micrograms per cubic meter, the guideline value recommended by the World Health Organization as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 95.32
1995 95.18
2000 95.21
2005 95.44
2010 95.14
2011 95.77
2012 94.48
2013 93.74
2014 92.67
2015 92.60
2016 91.33
2017 91.31

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Emissions