Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Canada
Canada: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Canada, 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 Canada stood at 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Canada peaked at 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Canada 179th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 176 United States 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 177 New Zealand 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 180 Fiji 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 181 Australia 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 182 Estonia 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Canada
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 768.06 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 18.61 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 30.53 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.7994 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 71.72 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2499 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 133.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1643 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.5773 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 28.85 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Canada?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Canada was 6.55 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Canada ranks 179th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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.