Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Palau
Palau: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 4.94 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Palau, 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 Palau stood at 4.94 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is down 6.1% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Palau peaked at 8.43 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002 and was at its lowest, 4.44 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Palau 187th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.75 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 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
- 188 Iceland 4.93 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 189 Nauru 4.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 190 Tonga 4.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Palau
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 1.53 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 86.68 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 0 Mt CO2e (2023)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0003 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.0323 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0001 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 0.0388 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0005 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0016 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 0.0039 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Palau?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Palau was 4.94 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 Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 8.43 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.44 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Palau rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Palau ranks 187th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Palau 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.