Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Kuwait
Kuwait: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 62.35 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Kuwait, 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
In 2023, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Kuwait stood at 62.35 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is down 16.3% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Kuwait peaked at 74.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 and was at its lowest, 50.39 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1995.
Kuwait ranks 6th 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 | 55.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 56.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 67.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 66.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 56.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 74.5 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 3 Bangladesh 69.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 4 Nigeria 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 5 Niger 65.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 7 Pakistan 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 9 Bahrain 56.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Kuwait
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 173.33 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 35.39 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 0.2602 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0034 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 27.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0093 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 38.69 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0749 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0609 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 11.14 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Kuwait?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Kuwait was 62.35 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 74.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.39 micrograms per cubic meter in 1995.
- How does Kuwait rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Kuwait ranks 6th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.