Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
37.32 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 10.2%
World rank
28th
of 200 countries
All-time high
50.08 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2004
All-time low
34.08 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2019
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Burkina Faso, 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
The most recent figure for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Burkina Faso is 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 10.2% on the previous year and up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Burkina Faso peaked at 50.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004 and was at its lowest, 34.08 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2019.
That places Burkina Faso 28th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 39.3 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 38 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 38.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 38.61 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 38.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 36 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 1996 | 39.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.8% |
| 1997 | 39.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 40.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 40.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 42.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 38.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.9% |
| 2002 | 42.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2003 | 34.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -20.0% |
| 2004 | 50.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +46.3% |
| 2005 | 42.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.2% |
| 2006 | 44.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 46.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 46.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 42.02 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.1% |
| 2010 | 41.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 42.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 41.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 35.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.3% |
| 2014 | 37.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 48.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +30.1% |
| 2016 | 43.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.1% |
| 2017 | 41.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 35.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.0% |
| 2019 | 34.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 38.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.6% |
| 2021 | 37.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 41.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.3% |
| 2023 | 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for low income countries, which is 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 36 micrograms per cubic meter | 40.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 42.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 48.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 41.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
- 25 Gambia 38.27 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 26 Afghanistan 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 27 Sudan 37.61 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 29 Congo 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 30 Rwanda 36.01 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 31 Democratic Republic of Congo 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Burkina Faso
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.331 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9413 % 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 -0.3634 % 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 Burkina Faso?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Burkina Faso was 37.32 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 50.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2019.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Burkina Faso ranks 28th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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.