Samoa vs Tonga: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- Samoa
- Tonga
How they compare
Tonga currently reports 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter against 1.37 micrograms per cubic meter in Samoa, a difference of 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter.
That makes Tonga's figure about 1.1 times Samoa's.
The two have swapped places 8 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Tonga ahead.
Samoa ranks 228th and Tonga ranks 225th of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Samoa averaged higher in 1 and Tonga in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Samoa | Tonga | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.985 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.44 micrograms per cubic meter | Tonga |
| 2000s | 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.337 micrograms per cubic meter | Tonga |
| 2010s | 1.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.055 micrograms per cubic meter | Samoa |
| 2020s | 1.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.252 micrograms per cubic meter | Tonga |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, Samoa or Tonga?
- Tonga, at 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter against 1.37 micrograms per cubic meter in Samoa as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to air pollution from human sources between Samoa and Tonga?
- 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter, with Tonga ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Samoa and Tonga?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Samoa and Tonga rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Samoa ranks 228th 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.