Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Afghanistan, 1998–2024
Source: Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exposure to air pollution from human sources in Afghanistan is 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 38.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Afghanistan peaked at 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024 and was at its lowest, 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1998.
Afghanistan ranks 20th of 240 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.5 micrograms per cubic meter | 23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 17 Iraq 34.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 18 Equatorial Guinea 32.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 19 Nigeria 30.53 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 21 Central African Republic 30.07 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 22 Myanmar 29.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 23 El Salvador 29.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Afghanistan
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 33.03 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 0.7746 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 12.48 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.2033 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 1.5 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0094 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 16.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0035 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.026 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 2.03 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Afghanistan?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Afghanistan was 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, according to Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 1998.
- How does Afghanistan rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Afghanistan ranks 20th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to air pollution from human sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual population-weighted average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, which can pose significant health risks. This data excludes natural sources of PM2.5, such as dust and sea salt, to focus on human-caused pollution.