Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Albania
Albania: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
15.51 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 5.7%
World rank
114th
of 200 countries
All-time high
25.42 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2003
All-time low
15.51 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Albania, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
Albania recorded 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.7% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Albania peaked at 25.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places Albania 114th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Albania, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 23.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 22.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 22.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 22.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 22.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 22.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 21.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 21.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 21.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 20.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 23.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2003 | 25.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 22.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.7% |
| 2005 | 22.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 21.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 21.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 20.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 19.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 18.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 21.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +19.3% |
| 2012 | 19.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.1% |
| 2013 | 18.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 16.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 18.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.9% |
| 2016 | 16.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2017 | 17.27 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 17.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 15.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 15.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 16.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.7% |
Albania compared with similar countries
- Albania's 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 84% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Albania's 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Albania
- 111 Haiti 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 112 Croatia 15.78 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 113 Suriname 15.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 115 Paraguay 15.33 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 116 Singapore 15.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 117 Panama 15.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Albania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.6356 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 0.8208 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.434 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.89 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -11.58 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Albania?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Albania was 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Albania?
- The highest recorded value was 25.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Albania?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Albania rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Albania ranks 114th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Albania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Albania data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average level of exposure of the population to suspended particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and damaging health. This is measured in micrograms per cubic meter.