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
Latest (2023)
49.47 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 16.9%
World rank
13th
of 200 countries
All-time high
59.53 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2022
All-time low
43.32 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
Years of data
34
1990–2023
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.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Iraq, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.25 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 47.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 47.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 47.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 47.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 44.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 47.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 47.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 46.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 48.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 44.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 47.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 44.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 48.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 50.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 53.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 54.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 57.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 51.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 53.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 51.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 47.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 52.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 49.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 47.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 51.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 47.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 48.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.0% |
| 2023 | 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % 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 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.