Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Russia
Russia: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
11.57 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
142nd
of 200 countries
All-time high
28 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1990
All-time low
11.57 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Russia, 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 Russia stood at 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Russia peaked at 28 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
Russia ranks 142nd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Russia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 27.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 26.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 26.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 25.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 24.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 24.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 23.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 23.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 22.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 22.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 20.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 22.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 19.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 18.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 16.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 15.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 15.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 15.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 18.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.5% |
| 2011 | 13.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -27.2% |
| 2012 | 14.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 14.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 14.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 13.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 13.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 13.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 12.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.8% |
| 2019 | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 12.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Russia's 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 90% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 28 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Russia
- 139 Madagascar 12.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 140 East Timor 11.99 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 141 Belarus 11.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 143 Dominica 11.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 144 Japan 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 145 Monaco 11.38 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Russia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.5 % 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 -1.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5219 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Russia?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Russia was 11.57 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 28 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Russia rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Russia ranks 142nd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Russia 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.