Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
7.84 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 23.7%
World rank
170th
of 200 countries
All-time high
8.38 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2021
All-time low
6.18 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2011
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 23.7% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Puerto Rico peaked at 8.38 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2011.
Puerto Rico ranks 170th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 7.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 7.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 7.57 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 7.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 7.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 7.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 7.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 8 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 7.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 7.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 7.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 6.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.4% |
| 2005 | 6.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 7.35 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 7.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 6.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.7% |
| 2011 | 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -20.4% |
| 2012 | 7.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.9% |
| 2013 | 6.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 2014 | 6.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 6.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 7.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 8.19 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.3% |
| 2018 | 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 7.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 8.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 8.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 6.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -24.4% |
| 2023 | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +23.7% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 78% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 15.33 micrograms per cubic meter, 51% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 8 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 167 Antigua and Barbuda 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 168 Switzerland 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 169 France 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 171 Brunei 7.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 172 Ireland 7.51 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 173 Denmark 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Puerto Rico
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.4091 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5906 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.16 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2025)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value US$ 864.98 million USD (2024)
- Land area equipped for irrigation — Area 22.04 1000 ha (2024)
- Land area equipped for irrigation — Share in Cropland 30.48 % (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Value Standard 864.98 million SLC (2024)
- Value Added (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) — Share of GDP US$ 0.6901 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Puerto Rico?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Puerto Rico was 7.84 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 8.38 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Puerto Rico ranks 170th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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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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.