Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Barbados
Barbados: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
3.48 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 11.9%
World rank
199th
of 240 countries
All-time high
3.54 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2010
All-time low
2.65 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2013
Years of data
27
1998–2024
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Barbados, 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 Barbados is 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 11.9% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Barbados peaked at 3.54 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010 and was at its lowest, 2.65 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2013.
Barbados ranks 199th of 240 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Barbados, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.86 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 3.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.8% |
| 2000 | 2.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.5% |
| 2001 | 3.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.1% |
| 2002 | 2.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.5% |
| 2003 | 3.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 2.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.9% |
| 2005 | 3.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 2.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 3.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 2.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 3.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 3.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 2.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.2% |
| 2012 | 3.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 2.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.0% |
| 2014 | 2.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 2.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 2.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 3.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.8% |
| 2018 | 3.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.2% |
| 2019 | 2.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 3.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 3.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 2.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 3.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.4% |
| 2024 | 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.9% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 43% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.09 micrograms per cubic meter, 38% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.79 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 196 Puerto Rico 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 197 Saint Lucia 3.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 198 Dominica 3.61 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 200 Grenada 3.47 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 200 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.47 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 202 Montserrat 3.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Barbados
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -8.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 111.15 % change on previous year (2023)
- Standard Deviation 0.587 °C (2023)
- Temperature change 1.03 °C (2023)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.61 % 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 -0.3571 % 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 exposure to air pollution from human sources in Barbados?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Barbados was 3.48 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 Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 3.54 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.65 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013.
- How does Barbados rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Barbados ranks 199th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Barbados 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.