Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
23.8 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
63rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
25.23 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2011
All-time low
18.41 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1995
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Ethiopia, 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 Ethiopia stood at 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Ethiopia peaked at 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1995.
That places Ethiopia 63rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.31 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 20.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 20.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 20.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 20.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 1996 | 20.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 20.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 20.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 20.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 22.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 25.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 23.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 22.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 22.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 22.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 23.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 23.35 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 22.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 24.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 24.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 24.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 21.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.4% |
| 2015 | 24.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.0% |
| 2016 | 23.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 25.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 2018 | 23.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 22.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 23.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 23.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter, 72% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 87% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 60 Bosnia and Herzegovina 26.09 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 61 Laos 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 62 Vietnam 24.78 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 64 Azerbaijan 23.71 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 65 South Sudan 23.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 66 Thailand 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Ethiopia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.272 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.39 °C (2025)
- 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 2.83 % 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 0.1478 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Ethiopia?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Ethiopia was 23.8 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 1995.
- How does Ethiopia rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Ethiopia ranks 63rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.