Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
19.6 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
88th
of 200 countries
All-time high
21.51 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2013
All-time low
16.41 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2004
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Kazakhstan, 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 Kazakhstan is 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Kazakhstan peaked at 21.51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 and was at its lowest, 16.41 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2004.
Kazakhstan ranks 88th of 200 countries on this measure, 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 Kazakhstan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.43 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 19.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 19.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 19.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 19.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 18.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 18.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 17.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 17.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2001 | 17.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 17.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 16.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 16.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 16.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 19.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.7% |
| 2007 | 20.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2008 | 21.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 20.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 20.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 20.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 20.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 21.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 21.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 20.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 19.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 20.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 19.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 20.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 20.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 20.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 18.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.2% |
Kazakhstan compared with similar countries
- Kazakhstan's 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Kazakhstan's 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.79 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kazakhstan
- 85 Libya 20.01 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 86 Angola 19.91 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 87 Bulgaria 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 89 Cambodia 19.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 90 Serbia 19.34 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 91 Venezuela 19.2 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Kazakhstan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.9617 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.801 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 3.29 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.08 % 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 1.11 % 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 Kazakhstan?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Kazakhstan was 19.6 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 Kazakhstan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.51 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Kazakhstan?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.41 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does Kazakhstan rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Kazakhstan ranks 88th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Kazakhstan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kazakhstan 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.