Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Iraq
Iraq: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Iraq, 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 Iraq is 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.9% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Iraq peaked at 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 and was at its lowest, 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2001.
Iraq ranks 13th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 49.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 57.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 47.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 11 India 54.05 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 12 Nepal 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 14 Oman 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 15 Yemen 46.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 16 Mauritania 46.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Iraq
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 413.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 8.98 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 4.3 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0366 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 145.34 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0141 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 163.16 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1325 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1389 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 13.2 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Iraq?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Iraq was 49.47 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- How does Iraq rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Iraq ranks 13th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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.