Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in South Africa
South Africa: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in South Africa peaked at 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010 and was at its lowest, 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2003.
That places South Africa 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 52 Armenia 28.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 53 Ghana 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 54 Bolivia 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 56 Guinea 27.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 57 Lebanon 26.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 58 Lesotho 26.44 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 569.81 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 8.9 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 25.85 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.31 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 40 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.1686 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 93.23 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.055 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1946 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 25.44 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in South Africa?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in South Africa was 27.72 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.