Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
35.81 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
31st
of 200 countries
All-time high
41.39 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2013
All-time low
32.74 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2017
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 41.39 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 and was at its lowest, 32.74 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2017.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 31st of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35.72 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 36.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 36.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 36.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 36.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 36.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 37.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 37.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 37.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 37.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 39.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 38.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 38.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 40.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 39.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 35.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 36.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 36.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 39.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 37.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 40.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.0% |
| 2013 | 41.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 36.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 40.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.4% |
| 2016 | 36.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 32.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.4% |
| 2018 | 33.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 37.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.7% |
| 2020 | 36.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 36.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 36.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 35.81 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)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 36.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 40.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 32.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 41.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 35.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 36.85 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 28 Burkina Faso 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 29 Congo 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 30 Rwanda 36.01 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 32 Burundi 35.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 33 Mali 35.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 34 Myanmar 35.07 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 5.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Democratic Republic of Congo was 35.81 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 41.39 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.74 micrograms per cubic meter in 2017.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 31st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.