Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Portugal
Portugal: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Portugal, 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
The most recent figure for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Portugal is 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Portugal peaked at 14.14 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 8.15 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2014.
That places Portugal 164th 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 | 13.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.75 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 161 Andorra 8.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 162 Saint Kitts and Nevis 8.87 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 163 Germany 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 165 Netherlands 8.59 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
More environment data for Portugal
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 53.17 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 4.97 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 4.92 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.296 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.9579 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0441 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 11.4 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0464 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0253 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 5.1 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Portugal?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Portugal was 8.77 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 14.14 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.15 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- How does Portugal rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Portugal ranks 164th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal 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.