Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Greenland
Greenland: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1.64 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 7.7%
World rank
200th
of 200 countries
All-time high
2.08 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2012
All-time low
1.39 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2004
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Greenland, 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
Greenland recorded 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.7% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Greenland peaked at 2.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2004.
That places Greenland 200th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Greenland, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 1.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 1.61 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 1.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 1.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 1.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 1.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 1.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 1.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 1.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2003 | 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 1.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.4% |
| 2007 | 1.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 1.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 1.98 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 1.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 2.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.2% |
| 2013 | 1.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.7% |
| 2014 | 1.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 1.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 1.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 1.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.3% |
| 2019 | 1.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.6% |
| 2020 | 1.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2021 | 1.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 1.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
Greenland compared with similar countries
- Greenland's 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 16% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Greenland's 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 13% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Greenland
- 197 Micronesia (country) 3.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 198 Guam 3.47 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 199 Northern Mariana Islands 2.68 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Greenland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.3961 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Temperature change 2.17 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.605 °C (2025)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Share of GDP 24.29 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Annual growth 2.61 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Annual growth 5.11 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Share of GDP US$ 24.29 % (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Use per capita 0.02 kg/cap (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Agricultural Use 1 t (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Greenland?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Greenland was 1.64 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 Greenland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.08 micrograms per cubic meter in 2012.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Greenland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.39 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does Greenland rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Greenland ranks 200th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Greenland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Greenland 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.