Afghanistan vs Mongolia: Exposure to outdoor air pollution
Afghanistan
40 µg/m³
in 2024
Mongolia
38.2 µg/m³
in 2024
Afghanistan rank
20th
Mongolia rank
22nd
Exposure to outdoor air pollution over time
- Afghanistan
- Mongolia
How they compare
Afghanistan currently reports 40 µg/m³ against 38.2 µg/m³ in Mongolia, a difference of 1.8 µg/m³.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Mongolia ahead.
Afghanistan ranks 20th and Mongolia ranks 22nd of 241 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Afghanistan averaged higher in 1 and Mongolia in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Afghanistan | Mongolia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.85 µg/m³ | 25.45 µg/m³ | 3.6 µg/m³ | Mongolia |
| 2000s | 32.66 µg/m³ | 31.55 µg/m³ | 1.11 µg/m³ | Afghanistan |
| 2010s | 33.21 µg/m³ | 40.03 µg/m³ | 6.82 µg/m³ | Mongolia |
| 2020s | 35.6 µg/m³ | 41.66 µg/m³ | 6.06 µg/m³ | Mongolia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to outdoor air pollution, Afghanistan or Mongolia?
- Afghanistan, at 40 µg/m³ against 38.2 µg/m³ in Mongolia as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to outdoor air pollution between Afghanistan and Mongolia?
- 1.8 µg/m³, with Afghanistan ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Afghanistan and Mongolia?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Afghanistan and Mongolia rank globally for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- Afghanistan ranks 20th and Mongolia ranks 22nd of 241 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Exposure to outdoor air pollution. 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.