Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
22.46 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
69th
of 200 countries
All-time high
26.7 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2004
All-time low
19.76 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2003
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone stood at 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Sierra Leone peaked at 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004 and was at its lowest, 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2003.
That places Sierra Leone 69th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 23.89 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 23.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 22.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 22.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 21.25 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 1996 | 22.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 22.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 22.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 22.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 23.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 20.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.3% |
| 2002 | 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.7% |
| 2004 | 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +35.1% |
| 2005 | 24.02 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 22.98 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 24.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2009 | 24.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.6% |
| 2011 | 24.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.1% |
| 2012 | 21.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.0% |
| 2013 | 20.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 26.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +31.0% |
| 2016 | 24.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 23.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 24.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 22.5 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2020 | 22.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 21.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 22.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter, 67% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 22.46 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 82% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.06 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 66 Thailand 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 67 Chile 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 68 Sri Lanka 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 70 Palestine 22.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 71 Philippines 22.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 72 Israel 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Sierra Leone
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.232 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.72 % 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 1.11 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Sierra Leone was 22.46 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 26.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.76 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Sierra Leone ranks 69th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.