Nauru vs Samoa: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- Nauru
- Samoa
How they compare
Samoa currently reports 1.37 micrograms per cubic meter against 1.28 micrograms per cubic meter in Nauru, a difference of 0.09 micrograms per cubic meter.
That makes Samoa's figure about 1.1 times Nauru's.
The two have swapped places 13 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Nauru ahead.
Nauru ranks 229th and Samoa ranks 228th of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Nauru averaged higher in 3 and Samoa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Nauru | Samoa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.12 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.985 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.14 micrograms per cubic meter | Nauru |
| 2000s | 1.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.079 micrograms per cubic meter | Nauru |
| 2010s | 1.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.326 micrograms per cubic meter | Nauru |
| 2020s | 1.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.074 micrograms per cubic meter | Samoa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, Nauru or Samoa?
- Samoa, at 1.37 micrograms per cubic meter against 1.28 micrograms per cubic meter in Nauru as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to air pollution from human sources between Nauru and Samoa?
- 0.09 micrograms per cubic meter, with Samoa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Nauru and Samoa?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Nauru and Samoa rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Nauru ranks 229th and Samoa ranks 228th 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.