Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Tanzania
Tanzania: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
20.17 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 7.6%
World rank
83rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
24.94 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
All-time low
16.27 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1995
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Tanzania, 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 Tanzania stood at 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.6% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Tanzania peaked at 24.94 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001 and was at its lowest, 16.27 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1995.
Tanzania ranks 83rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.87 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 16.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 16.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 17.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 17.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 16.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 18.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.7% |
| 1997 | 18.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 18.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 19.21 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 20.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 24.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.6% |
| 2002 | 22.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.2% |
| 2003 | 21.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 21.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 21.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 22.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 23.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 24.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 22.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 23.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 24.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 23.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 23.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 20.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.0% |
| 2015 | 20.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 19.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 22 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 22.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 20.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 21.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.6% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 73% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.21 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
- 80 Kenya 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 81 Zambia 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 82 Cape Verde 20.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 84 Kyrgyzstan 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 85 Libya 20.01 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 86 Angola 19.91 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Tanzania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.06 % 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 5.16 % 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 % 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 Tanzania?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Tanzania was 20.17 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 24.94 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.27 micrograms per cubic meter in 1995.
- How does Tanzania rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Tanzania ranks 83rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.