Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Germany
Germany: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
8.81 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
163rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
22.36 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1990
All-time low
8.81 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Germany, 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 Germany is 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 8.7% on the previous year and down 35.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Germany peaked at 22.36 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places Germany 163rd 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.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Germany, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 22.36 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 22.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 21.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 21.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 21.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 21.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 20.02 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 19.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 19.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 18.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 17.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 18.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2005 | 17.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 15.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2007 | 14.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 14.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 15.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 15.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 15.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 12.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.2% |
| 2013 | 13.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 13.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 12.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 11.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 12.27 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 9.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.9% |
| 2020 | 9.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 9.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 9.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 88% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Germany's 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 68% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Germany
- 160 Seychelles 9.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 161 Andorra 8.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 162 Saint Kitts and Nevis 8.87 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 164 Portugal 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 165 Netherlands 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 166 Belgium 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % 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 -0.0079 % 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 Germany?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Germany was 8.81 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 22.36 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Germany rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Germany ranks 163rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Germany 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
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.