Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
How they compare
Saudi Arabia currently reports 37.51 micrograms per cubic meter against 35.89 micrograms per cubic meter in Kuwait, a difference of 1.62 micrograms per cubic meter.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Kuwait ahead.
Kuwait ranks 14th and Saudi Arabia ranks 11th of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Kuwait averaged higher in 1 and Saudi Arabia in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Kuwait | Saudi Arabia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 29.75 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.66 micrograms per cubic meter | Kuwait |
| 2000s | 30.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.704 micrograms per cubic meter | Saudi Arabia |
| 2010s | 35.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.57 micrograms per cubic meter | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 37.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 38.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.19 micrograms per cubic meter | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia, at 37.51 micrograms per cubic meter against 35.89 micrograms per cubic meter in Kuwait as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to air pollution from human sources between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia?
- 1.62 micrograms per cubic meter, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Kuwait and Saudi Arabia rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Kuwait ranks 14th and Saudi Arabia ranks 11th 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.