Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Kiribati
Kiribati: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Kiribati, 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 Kiribati is 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 35.2% on the previous year and down 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Kiribati peaked at 2.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.97 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2021.
That places Kiribati 235th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Kiribati, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 0.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 1.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 1.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.9% |
| 2003 | 1.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.8% |
| 2004 | 1.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.6% |
| 2006 | 1.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 1.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -21.2% |
| 2008 | 1.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.1% |
| 2009 | 1.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +49.6% |
| 2010 | 1.3 micrograms per cubic meter | -23.1% |
| 2011 | 1.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.4% |
| 2012 | 1.18 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 1.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 1.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +25.4% |
| 2015 | 2.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +35.0% |
| 2016 | 1.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -40.0% |
| 2017 | 1.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.3% |
| 2018 | 1.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 1.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.1% |
| 2020 | 1.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 0.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 1.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 1.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +57.4% |
| 2024 | 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -35.2% |
Kiribati compared with similar countries
- Kiribati's 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kiribati's 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 19% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 1 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
- 232 Cook Islands 1.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 233 Tokelau 1.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 234 Niue 1.04 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 236 Greenland 0.83 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 237 Marshall Islands 0.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 238 Guam 0.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Kiribati
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.182 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.02 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.97 % 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 3.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Kiribati?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Kiribati was 1.03 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 Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 2.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2015.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021.
- How does Kiribati rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Kiribati ranks 235th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Kiribati?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kiribati 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.
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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.