What is the highest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Congo?

The highest recorded value was 41.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.

What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Congo?

The lowest recorded value was 32.19 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007.

How does Congo rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?

Congo ranks 29th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.

Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Congo?

Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this 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.

Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Congo

Name: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Congo
Creator: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Congo: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)

36.54 micrograms per cubic meter

Change on year

down 2.8%

World rank

29th

of 200 countries

All-time high

41.03 micrograms per cubic meter

in 2004

All-time low

32.19 micrograms per cubic meter

in 2007

Years of data

1990–2023

Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in 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 Congo stood at 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter.

The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Congo peaked at 41.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004 and was at its lowest, 32.19 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2007.

Congo ranks 29th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1990s	35.11 micrograms per cubic meter	33.33 micrograms per cubic meter	36.86 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2000s	37 micrograms per cubic meter	32.19 micrograms per cubic meter	41.03 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2010s	36.44 micrograms per cubic meter	32.87 micrograms per cubic meter	40.13 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2020s	37.06 micrograms per cubic meter	36.54 micrograms per cubic meter	37.57 micrograms per cubic meter	4

Countries ranked near Congo

26 Afghanistan 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter compare
27 Sudan 37.61 micrograms per cubic meter compare
28 Burkina Faso 37.32 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
32 Burundi 35.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare

See the full ranking of 200 places →

More environment data for Congo

Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 24.62 Mt CO2e (2024)
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.89 t CO2e/capita (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 0.4604 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.4601 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 13.3 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0013 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 14.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0052 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0073 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 0.7254 Mt CO2e (2024)

All data for Congo →

Frequently asked questions

What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Congo?: Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Congo was 36.54 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 Congo?: The highest recorded value was 41.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Congo?: The lowest recorded value was 32.19 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007.
How does Congo rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?: Congo ranks 29th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Congo?: Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution
Unit: micrograms per cubic meter
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 200 places, 6,800 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.