Palau vs Tonga: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- Palau
- Tonga
How they compare
Tonga currently reports 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter against 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter in Palau, a difference of 0.12 micrograms per cubic meter.
That makes Tonga's figure about 1.1 times Palau's.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Tonga ahead.
Palau ranks 227th and Tonga ranks 225th of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Palau averaged higher in 3 and Tonga in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Palau | Tonga | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.035 micrograms per cubic meter | Tonga |
| 2000s | 2.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.567 micrograms per cubic meter | Palau |
| 2010s | 2.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.884 micrograms per cubic meter | Palau |
| 2020s | 2.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.352 micrograms per cubic meter | Palau |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, Palau or Tonga?
- Tonga, at 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter against 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter in Palau as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to air pollution from human sources between Palau and Tonga?
- 0.12 micrograms per cubic meter, with Tonga ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Palau and Tonga?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Palau and Tonga rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Palau ranks 227th and Tonga ranks 225th 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.