Ireland vs Sweden: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- Ireland
- Sweden
How they compare
Ireland currently reports 5.64 micrograms per cubic meter against 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter in Sweden, a difference of 0.44 micrograms per cubic meter.
That makes Ireland's figure about 1.1 times Sweden's.
The two have swapped places 11 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Sweden ahead.
Ireland ranks 179th and Sweden ranks 182nd of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Ireland averaged higher in 2 and Sweden in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Ireland | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.98 micrograms per cubic meter | Sweden |
| 2000s | 6.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.45 micrograms per cubic meter | Sweden |
| 2010s | 5.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.095 micrograms per cubic meter | Ireland |
| 2020s | 5.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.658 micrograms per cubic meter | Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, Ireland or Sweden?
- Ireland, at 5.64 micrograms per cubic meter against 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter in Sweden as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to air pollution from human sources between Ireland and Sweden?
- 0.44 micrograms per cubic meter, with Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and Sweden?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Ireland and Sweden rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Ireland ranks 179th and Sweden ranks 182nd of 240 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Exposure to air pollution from human sources. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Annual population-weighted average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, which can pose significant health risks. This data excludes natural sources of PM2.5, such as dust and sea salt, to focus on human-caused pollution.