Kenya vs Malawi: Exposure to outdoor air pollution
Kenya
22 µg/m³
in 2024
Malawi
21.8 µg/m³
in 2024
Kenya rank
72nd
Malawi rank
73rd
Exposure to outdoor air pollution over time
- Kenya
- Malawi
How they compare
Kenya currently reports 22 µg/m³ against 21.8 µg/m³ in Malawi, a difference of 0.2 µg/m³.
The two have swapped places 7 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was Malawi ahead.
Kenya ranks 72nd and Malawi ranks 73rd of 241 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Kenya averaged higher in 3 and Malawi in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Kenya | Malawi | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.15 µg/m³ | 12.05 µg/m³ | 0.9 µg/m³ | Malawi |
| 2000s | 20.13 µg/m³ | 19 µg/m³ | 1.13 µg/m³ | Kenya |
| 2010s | 20.45 µg/m³ | 18.4 µg/m³ | 2.05 µg/m³ | Kenya |
| 2020s | 20.64 µg/m³ | 19.16 µg/m³ | 1.48 µg/m³ | Kenya |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to outdoor air pollution, Kenya or Malawi?
- Kenya, at 22 µg/m³ against 21.8 µg/m³ in Malawi as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to outdoor air pollution between Kenya and Malawi?
- 0.2 µg/m³, with Kenya ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Kenya and Malawi?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Kenya and Malawi rank globally for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- Kenya ranks 72nd and Malawi ranks 73rd 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.