Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Zambia
Zambia: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
20.24 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 13.8%
World rank
81st
of 200 countries
All-time high
25.47 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
All-time low
19.45 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 13.8% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Zambia peaked at 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001 and was at its lowest, 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Zambia 81st out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Zambia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.73 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 21.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 21.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 21.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 20.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 21.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 21.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 22.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 22.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.2% |
| 2002 | 23.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 22.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 23.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 23.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 23.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 24.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 22.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 23 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 22.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 20.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 22.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 21.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 19.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 21.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 22.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.1% |
| 2021 | 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +19.9% |
| 2023 | 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 20.24 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)
- Zambia's 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 74% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 78 Nicaragua 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 79 Cote d'Ivoire 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 80 Kenya 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 82 Cape Verde 20.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 83 Tanzania 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 84 Kyrgyzstan 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % 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 3.49 % 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 Zambia?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Zambia was 20.24 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Zambia rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- Zambia ranks 81st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia 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.