Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Netherlands
Netherlands: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
8.59 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 11.6%
World rank
165th
of 200 countries
All-time high
21.66 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1990
All-time low
8.59 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Netherlands, 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
Netherlands recorded 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.6% on the previous year and down 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Netherlands peaked at 21.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
Netherlands ranks 165th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.66 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 21.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 21.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 20.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 21.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 20.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 20 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 19.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 17.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.5% |
| 2002 | 17.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 19.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 17.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.1% |
| 2005 | 17.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 15.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 15.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 15.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 16.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 16.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 15.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 13.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.7% |
| 2013 | 13.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 13.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 12.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2016 | 11.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 11.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 12.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 10.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.3% |
| 2020 | 8.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.0% |
| 2021 | 10.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.9% |
| 2022 | 9.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 85% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 67% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 162 Saint Kitts and Nevis 8.87 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 163 Germany 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 164 Portugal 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 166 Belgium 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 167 Antigua and Barbuda 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 168 Switzerland 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Netherlands
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3 % 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 -0.1867 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2541 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) -6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Netherlands?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Netherlands was 8.59 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 21.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Netherlands rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Netherlands ranks 165th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.