Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Pakistan
Pakistan: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
58.37 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
7th
of 200 countries
All-time high
61.5 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2018
All-time low
50.92 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2009
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan stood at 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Pakistan peaked at 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018 and was at its lowest, 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2009.
That places Pakistan 7th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Pakistan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.49 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 57.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 56.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 56.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 56.73 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 54.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 56.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 56.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 56.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 56.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 57.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 56.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 57.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 58.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 56.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 56.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 54 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 52.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 52.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 57.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 55.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 55.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 54.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 54.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 57.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 56.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 56.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.5% |
| 2019 | 53.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.1% |
| 2020 | 54.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 58.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 57.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 53.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 4 Nigeria 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 5 Niger 65.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 6 Kuwait 62.35 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
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Pakistan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -10.53 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.373 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.7034 % 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 3.1 % 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 Pakistan?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Pakistan was 58.37 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.92 micrograms per cubic meter in 2009.
- How does Pakistan rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Pakistan ranks 7th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.