India vs Iraq: Exposure to outdoor air pollution
India
44.2 µg/m³
in 2024
Iraq
48.8 µg/m³
in 2024
India rank
12th
Iraq rank
9th
Exposure to outdoor air pollution over time
- India
- Iraq
How they compare
Iraq currently reports 48.8 µg/m³ against 44.2 µg/m³ in India, a difference of 4.6 µg/m³.
That makes Iraq's figure about 1.1 times India's.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Iraq ahead.
India ranks 12th and Iraq ranks 9th of 241 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, India averaged higher in 1 and Iraq in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | India | Iraq | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.65 µg/m³ | 38.2 µg/m³ | 6.55 µg/m³ | Iraq |
| 2000s | 43.22 µg/m³ | 46.34 µg/m³ | 3.12 µg/m³ | Iraq |
| 2010s | 54.16 µg/m³ | 48.98 µg/m³ | 5.18 µg/m³ | India |
| 2020s | 48.02 µg/m³ | 49.1 µg/m³ | 1.08 µg/m³ | Iraq |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to outdoor air pollution, India or Iraq?
- Iraq, at 48.8 µg/m³ against 44.2 µg/m³ in India as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to outdoor air pollution between India and Iraq?
- 4.6 µg/m³, with Iraq ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for India and Iraq?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do India and Iraq rank globally for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- India ranks 12th and Iraq ranks 9th 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.