Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Tuvalu
Tuvalu: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Tuvalu, 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 Tuvalu stood at 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Tuvalu peaked at 6.43 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001 and was at its lowest, 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2011.
That places Tuvalu 186th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Tuvalu, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 5.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 5.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 5.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 5.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 1996 | 5.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 6.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 6.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 6.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 6.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 6.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 6.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 5.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.9% |
| 2005 | 6.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 5.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 5.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 5.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 5.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.2% |
| 2012 | 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.2% |
| 2013 | 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.6% |
| 2014 | 5.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 5.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 5.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 4.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 5.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.1% |
| 2019 | 5.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 5.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 4.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 5.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.0% |
| 2023 | 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
Tuvalu compared with similar countries
- Tuvalu's 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 28% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Tuvalu's 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 53% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.78 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tuvalu
- 183 Norway 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 184 Bahamas 5.28 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 185 Sweden 5.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 187 Palau 4.94 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 188 Iceland 4.93 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 189 Nauru 4.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Tuvalu
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Temperature change 0.836 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.202 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Export value 0 1000 USD (2024)
- Primary wood and paper products (export/import) — Import value 945 1000 USD (2024)
- Primary wood and paper products (export/import) — Export value 2 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Import quantity 11,137 m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value 58 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 0 m3 (2024)
- Sawnwood — Import quantity 19,913 m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Tuvalu?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Tuvalu was 5.22 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 Tuvalu?
- The highest recorded value was 6.43 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Tuvalu?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- How does Tuvalu rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Tuvalu ranks 186th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Tuvalu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tuvalu 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.