Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Norway
Norway: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
5.52 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 8.3%
World rank
183rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
12.46 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1990
All-time low
5.35 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Norway, 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
Norway recorded 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023.
The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Norway peaked at 12.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 5.35 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Norway 183rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Norway, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.46 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 12.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 12.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 12.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 11.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 11.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 11.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 11.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 11.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 11.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 9.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.2% |
| 2002 | 10.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 10.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.1% |
| 2004 | 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.1% |
| 2005 | 9.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 8.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.8% |
| 2007 | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 7.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 7.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 7.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 8.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 6.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.6% |
| 2013 | 7.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 7.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 6.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.9% |
| 2016 | 6.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.9% |
| 2019 | 6.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.1% |
| 2020 | 5.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.0% |
| 2021 | 6.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 6.02 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 55% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Norway's 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 43% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 180 Fiji 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 181 Australia 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 182 Estonia 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 184 Bahamas 5.28 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 185 Sweden 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 186 Tuvalu 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Norway
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.9857 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 0.8118 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.738 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.52 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.08 % 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 -0.28 % 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 Norway?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Norway was 5.52 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 12.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.35 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Norway rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Norway ranks 183rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway 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.