Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa
South Africa: Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas was 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa, 2010–2023
Source: World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
In 2023, exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa stood at 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.6% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa peaked at 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023 and was at its lowest, 17.15 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2011.
That places South Africa 81st out of 226 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 2011 | 17.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 17.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 17.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 17.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 17.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 17.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 18.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 18.19 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 18.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 18.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 18.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 19.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 78 Türkiye 21.11 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 79 Cambodia 20.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 80 Palestine, State of 20.41 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 82 Republic of Korea 19.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 83 Lesotho 19.08 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 84 Algeria 18.82 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Sawnwood — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Production, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Production, per capita 0.0329 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood — Import quantity, annual growth rate 21.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa?
- Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa was 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- What is the lowest exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.15 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- How does South Africa rank for exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas?
- South Africa ranks 81st out of 226 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted), by location (micrograms per cubic meter).