Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Australia
Australia: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Australia, 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
In 2023, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Australia stood at 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of up 21.0% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Australia peaked at 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019 and was at its lowest, 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2010.
Australia ranks 181st of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 6 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 179 Canada 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 180 Fiji 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 182 Estonia 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 183 Norway 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 184 Bahamas 5.28 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Australia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 591.45 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 21.75 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 84.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.4769 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 43.21 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.1578 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 144.58 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.104 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1978 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 15.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Australia?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Australia was 6.41 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 Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.29 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Australia ranks 181st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.