Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
6.99 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 4.0%
World rank
175th
of 200 countries
All-time high
9.64 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
All-time low
6.11 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Vanuatu, 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 Vanuatu stood at 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Vanuatu peaked at 9.64 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001 and was at its lowest, 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Vanuatu 175th 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 Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 9.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 9.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 9.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 9.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 9.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 9.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 9.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 9.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 9.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 9.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 8.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 9.27 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 8.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.5% |
| 2005 | 8.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 7.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 7.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 7.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 7.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 7.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 8.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.3% |
| 2014 | 7.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 7.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 7.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 8.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.6% |
| 2018 | 8.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 7.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.7% |
| 2020 | 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 6.18 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 7.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.9% |
| 2023 | 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter, 27% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 6.99 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 72% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.06 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 172 Ireland 7.51 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 173 Denmark 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 174 Luxembourg 7.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 176 United States 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 177 New Zealand 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Vanuatu
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.225 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.02 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.53 % 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 -2.35 % 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 Vanuatu?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Vanuatu was 6.99 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 9.64 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.11 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Vanuatu rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Vanuatu ranks 175th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.