Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
57.19 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 15.5%
World rank
8th
of 200 countries
All-time high
67.69 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2022
All-time low
47.92 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in United Arab Emirates, 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
The most recent figure for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in United Arab Emirates is 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 15.5% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in United Arab Emirates peaked at 67.69 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 and was at its lowest, 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
United Arab Emirates ranks 8th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.24 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 56.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 56.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 56.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 56.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 56.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 56.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 56.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 56.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 56.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 56.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 56.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 48.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.3% |
| 2003 | 60.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +24.3% |
| 2004 | 61.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 56.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 53.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2007 | 54.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 56.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 55.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 55.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 57.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 64.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.2% |
| 2013 | 55.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.9% |
| 2014 | 50.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2015 | 58.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.4% |
| 2016 | 53.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 55.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 58.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 55.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.9% |
| 2021 | 56.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.5% |
| 2022 | 67.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.2% |
| 2023 | 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.5% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 5.7× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 57.19 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 56.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 56.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 48.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 61.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 64.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.28 micrograms per cubic meter | 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 67.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 5 Niger 65.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 6 Kuwait 62.35 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 7 Pakistan 58.37 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 9 Bahrain 56.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 11 India 54.05 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for United Arab Emirates
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -80.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -85.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.331 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.5 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.87 % 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 1.89 % 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 United Arab Emirates?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in United Arab Emirates was 57.19 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 67.69 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 8th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.