Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Qatar
Qatar: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
107.76 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
1st
of 200 countries
All-time high
124.66 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2003
All-time low
90.61 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2007
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Qatar, 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 Qatar stood at 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Qatar peaked at 124.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 90.61 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2007.
That places Qatar 1st out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Qatar, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 109.8 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 107.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 1992 | 107.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 107.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 107.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 103.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 107.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 107.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 107.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 107.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 109.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 104.61 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 94.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 124.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +32.5% |
| 2004 | 117.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 120.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 97.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.2% |
| 2007 | 90.61 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 96.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 105.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 98.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 98.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 107.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 97.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.0% |
| 2014 | 90.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 109.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.7% |
| 2016 | 106.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 107.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 107.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 99.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 99.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 107.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 111.92 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 10.7× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 107.76 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 107.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 103.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 109.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 106.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 90.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 124.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 90.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 109.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 106.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 99.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 111.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
- 2 Saudi Arabia 73.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 3 Bangladesh 69.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 4 Nigeria 65.74 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Qatar
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -61.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -51.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.396 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.77 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.24 % 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 0.0001 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -2.79 % 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 Qatar?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Qatar was 107.76 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 Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 124.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 90.61 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007.
- How does Qatar rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Qatar ranks 1st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Qatar 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.